The service by St Helier's Tyne class lifeboat to the high-speed ferry St Malo - reported in the Summer issue of The Lifeboat- has led to the award of the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum to her ex-coxswain, Robert Vezier.

Vellum service certificates will go to the rest of the lifeboat's crew - 2nd coxswain/ mechanic William Hibbs, assistant mechanic Anthony Bonass and crew members Karl Vallois, Paul Battrick, Andrew Hibbs and David Mills.

The lifeboat was called to the assistance of the ferry on Easter Monday , 17 April 1995, when she struck rocks off St Helier and started to sink. There were 300 passengers and seven crew aboard.

The lifeboat crew not only helped with the evacuation and took people aboard (55 people returned on the lifeboat) but also acted as a 'pontoon' enabling passengers to leave the ferry and move to liferafts whichwere then towed to other vessels. Another 150 people crossed her decks in this way.

In his official report Capt Hugh Fogarty, inspector of lifeboats for the South division said:' This service was particularly notable in terms of the number of persons assisted, and the difficulties encountered due to the age of so many of the survivors. Coxswain Vezier displayed superb seamanship in maintaining station alongside Sf Malo for 35 minutes while the vessel was evacuated.

Lifeboat first-aider Paul Battrick used all his professional ability to tend to badly injured cases. This was a superb team effort.'.