Environmental disaster prevented Bronze medal for Thurso Coxswain and awards to Thurso and Longhope crewsThurso lifeboat Coxswain William Farquhar has been awarded the RNLI's Bronze Medal for bravery for his part in an incident involving the burning chemical tanker Mult/tank Ascania in March.

Coxswain Farquhar managed, with his 16m Arun class lifeboat, to take the 102m-long tanker in tow as it drifted out of control towards Dunnett Head.

The RNLI's Inspector of lifeboats for Scotland, John Caldwell said in his report that the incident could have involved loss of life and a major ecological disaster.At 0305 on 19 March, Coastguards at Pentland received reports of an engine fire aboard the 102m-long chemical tanker Multitank Ascania. The casualty was carrying 1,750 tonnes of the highly flammable vinyl acetate monomer. The chemical is extremely irritating to the eyes, skin and lungs, and the vapour can be narcotic.

The master of the Multitank Ascania reported his position as three miles northwest of Stroma in the Pentland Firth. The Longhope Tyne class lifeboat Lord Saltoun launched at 0321. At the same time, the RAF Sea King helicopter was scrambled from Lossiemouth.

Twenty minutes later, it was established thatthe reported position of the casualty was, in fact, three miles northwest of Dunnet Head; there were 15 people on board, the vessel was disabled and drifting seven and a half miles North of Scrabster Harbour.'At 0355, the Thurso Arun class lifeboat The Queen Mother left her berth with Coxswain William Farquhar in command. He had eight crew on board in case some were needed to board the casualty to rig a tow. Weather conditions were severe - with a two metre swell, very rough seas, hail showers and a WNW gale blowing Force 8-9, preventing the lifeboat proceeding at full speed.

Difficult At 0420, as the Thurso lifeboat approached the scene, the Longhope lifeboat fell off a large wave, and Mechanic John Budge fell, breaking his leg. The Longhope lifeboat left the scene to land him at Scrabster. The RAF helicopter arrived on scene at 0431 and assessed the possibility of lifting off non-essential personnel.

But after a practice run, it proved difficult to place the winchman aboard the violently rolling casualty.

Coxswain Farquhar offered to put a line on board and tow the casualty head to sea to reduce the motion, but no-one on board the casualty was prepared to assist. Eventually the helicopter managed to get a hi line on to the casualty and lifted off 14 crew, leaving behind the master, who wished to remain with hisship. By this time the fire was getting worse, the casualty had been drifting southwards and, as the tide decreased, she was being set directly into Thurso Bay.

The Orkney Harbours tug Einar made an attempt to take the casualty in tow. The Thurso lifeboat picked up a line, which the master had dropped over the side, and passed it to the tug.

By 0610 the line was secured and the Einar began towing the casualty bow to bow.

But half an hour later, as the casualty was being towed to the northeast, the tow line parted and the master of the Einar reported there was nothing else he could do. The master of Multitank Ascania was ordered to put on a lifejacket and let go his anchor. The Coastguard helicopter was scrambled from Stornoway to lift him from the casualty. Meanwhile the tanker was drifting ever closer to Dunnet Head.

Catapulted Coxswain Farquhar manoeuvred the Thurso lifeboat close to the casualty and his crew managed to grab the floating mooring rope and establish a tow. Since the anchor had been let go, Coxswain Farquhar had to use full power on both engines. In 6m seas, the lifeboat was pitching and rolling violently, causing both propellers to come out of the water at times.

This, combined with the elasticity of the mooring rope, caused the lifeboat to be catapulted towards the casualty several times.

It first appeared the efforts of the Thurso lifeboat were having little effect. At one point the casualty was less than 400m away from the rocks at Dunnet Head. But by 0705 it was clear the lifeboat was making progress and the casualty was at last clearing the coast.

Throughout this operation the Longhope lifeboat, which had returned to the scene, stood close by the casualty in case the master needed to be taken off in the event of the tow parting.

At 0740 the tug Einar again took up the tow, but the anchor was still holding. The tug could not use full power for fear of the tow parting again.

Coxswain Farquhar had requested that two of his crew be put aboard the casualty to assist in rigging a proper tow. However, the Divisional Inspector advised that no RNLI crew should board the casualty due to the risk of explosion.

Evacuated The Master was winched off at 0819. He reported the fire was still burning and that the cofferdam, between the engine room and cargo, had been flooded to prevent the fire spreading. With all personnel evacuated, the coastguard declared a two mile exclusion zone, and the two lifeboats left the area. The following day, salvage experts went aboard and found the fire extinguished. The casualty was then towed to the sheltered waters of Scapa Flow that evening.

John Caldwell, RNLI inspector of lifeboats for Scotland said: 'Coxswain Farquhar and his crew displayed outstanding skill and seamanship in manoeuvring the lifeboat and picking up the floating mooring line and establishing a tow in very rough seas.' He added, 'All the rescue units involved in this service worked together in an extremely professional manner and it was the teamwork of all involved that resulted in the successful outcome to an incident that could have involved loss of life and a major ecological disaster.' The RNLI's Executive Committee also agreed that Thurso 2nd Coxswain William Munro; Assistant Mechanic Duncan Munro, and crew members Gordon Munro, Donald MacKay, John Webster, James Brims, Kevin Oag and Scott Youngson be presented with medal service certificates and badges. Framed letters of appreciation, signed by the Chairman of the RNLI, go to Coxswain Ian McFadyen and the crew of the Longhope lifeboat, the captain and crew of RAF helicopter Rescue 137, and the master and crew of the tug Einar. A letter of appreciation signed by the RNLI's Director will be sent to the master of the Multitank Ascania..