Heavy seas and poor conditions as D class saves threeA service by Port Talbot's D class inshore lifeboat in difficult conditions has led to the award of the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum to crew member Robert Harris. The other crew members during the service, Lee Worth and Stanley May, have received a framed letter of thanks from the Chairman of the RNLI.It was at 1520 on 4 March 1995 that the station heard from Swansea Coastguard that a vessel was in distress, firing red flares, half a mile west of Port Talbot harbour. Sixteen minutes later the station's D class lifeboat launched in a SSW Force 6 to 7 wind and a 10-15ft swell topped by breaking waves. Although the sky was overcast visibility was good.

The casualty was a 24ft converted ship's lifeboat named Panama, which had suffered engine failure earlier in the day and been towed into Port Talbot harbour by the lifeboat. She had not been allowed to remain in the harbour and, with the wind only Force 2 and the sea calm, the lifeboat had towed her back out to sea, where she had anchored. A motor fishing vessel called Moyana had agreed to tow Panama back to her moorings later but, with the sudden change of weather, the situation had changed dramatically and Panama was now in difficulty.

Concerned Robert Harris took the helm of the lifeboat and headed straight for Panama, coming alongside her starboard side as she lay head to the weather. The three people on the casualty were becoming more and more concerned about their situation and one even wanted to try to swim ashore. Robert Harris boarded the casualty to calm them down, handing the helm over to Lee Worth.

The lifeboat then returned to the shore, entering the Afan river over a bar on which there 4 to 5ft waves on top of a 10 ft swell, to collect a hand-held VHP radio from the station and also to find out atwhen there would be enough water to allow Moyana to get out of the river.

Moyana''s crew said they would be able to clear the river at 1630, so the lifeboat went back out over the bar to pass the radio to crew member Harris and stand by Panama.

Moyana (a 36ft crabber with two crew) arrived on the scene at 1645, and two attempts were needed to pass a tow.

Robert Harris secured the line and weighed anchor as Moyana took up the tow .

The lifeboat stayed close by as the two boats headed slowly towards the RiverAfan. After about ten minutes a bigger than average wave hit both boats, one after the other, and the tow parted. The three men on the casualty became extremely agitated and wanted to be taken off, but Harris told them that they were safer on board.

Made fast The lifeboat, with Lee Worth at the helm, moved in and was able to pick up the parted tow line and keep Panama head to sea. Moyana then made another approach to the bow of Panama and passed her part of the broken tow line to'the lifeboat, where Stanley May made the two pieces fast to each other. The tow was then taken up again and Moyana speeded up to bring the tow safely over the bar and into the river.

Once inside the river the lifeboat took over the tow, secured Panama to a mooring and took her crew ashore. The lifeboat then went back out over the bar once more and returned to station at 1721.

The Chief of Operations has sent a letter of appreciation to the skipper of Moyana for his help in the service..