Since 1997, the station has operated the Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon (ON 1221), only the fourth lifeboat to have served at Lerwick.[1]
History
In the journal The Lifeboat of March 1930, it was announced by the RNLI that they intended to place a lifeboat at Lerwick, following improvements in communication systems by the Board of Trade. As if to prove the need for a lifeboat, only days later, on 28 March 1930, the fishing trawler Ben Doran was wrecked off Shetland, with the loss of all 9 crew. The nearest lifeboat at the time was at Stromness, which made a journey of 55 hours and 360 miles (580km), but to no avail.[2][3]
Lerwick lifeboat station became operational on 17 July 1930, on the arrival of a 51-foot Barnett-class lifeboat built by J. Samuel White, which had departed Cowes some 8 days earlier.[4]
The two first services of the lifeboat would come on two consecutive days. On 21 February 1931, the steamer Everline of Riga was 100 miles west of Shetland, and drifting towards the islands, after losing her propeller. Two Lerwick trawlers set out to tow her to safety. The lifeboat crew were awaiting further news of the steamer, when they were called to the ketchNolsoy of Tórshavn, towing her into harbour at 6:05pm. On hearing that the towline to the Everline had parted, the lifeboat, taking extra fuel, set out again at 7:15pm, spending overnight at Symbister due to the conditions, and then heading out to the Everline at 6:00am on the 22 February, arriving at 09:30am. In worsening conditions, at 12:30pm, the Master decided to abandon ship, and in difficult conditions, all 26 men were rescued by the lifeboat.[5]
At a ceremony on 25 June 1932, attended by over 3000 people, the boat was named Lady Jane and Martha Ryland by the Duchess of Montrose, after a bequest by the late William Ryland of Sheffield.[4]
On 16 October 1958, the Soviet trawler Urbe, with a crew of 25, sank near Holm of Skaw. The lifeboat Claude Cecil Staniforth (ON 943), which had been on station at Lerwick for just over 2 months, was launched on a 50-mile journey in storm conditions. Putting into Baltasound, they collected local pilot Andrew Mouat, who had offered his services. After much difficulty, including use of a local 10-foot boat, and getting one propeller fouled, the lifeboat rescued the only three survivors. Coxswain John Sales was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, Mr Mouat being awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal.[6][7]
A 52-foot Arun-class lifeboat was placed at Lerwick in 1978, 52-10 Soldian (ON 1057). In 19 years service, this boat was launched 245 times, and rescue 260 lives. The boat would see some of the most dramatic rescue services, and RNLI Gallantry Medals were awarded on no fewer than five occasions, a silver and 4 bronze. Coxswain Hewitt Clark was awarded a bronze medal and 2 bars (3 services), and then a silver medal in 1995. Clark would be further awarded with the RNLI Gold Medal, for the service to the Green Lily on 19 November 1997, in the new Lerwick lifeboat 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon (ON 1221), which had been on service for just 4 months, since 19 July 1997. In 2002, Soldian was sold to the Icelandic SAR lifeboat service, and served for a further 19 years as Ásgrímur St. Björnsson (2541).[1][7]
The Green Lily
Lerwick Lifeboat 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon
In storm force 11 conditions, which had battered the Shetland Islands for days, cancelling all ferry services, the 3,624 ton refrigerated cargo vessel Green Lily, with 15 crew, departed Lerwick in the early hours on 19 November 1997, loaded with frozen fish, and bound for West Africa.
15 miles (24km) miles out, she developed engine trouble. Two tugs were dispatched, but when the towline broke, the Lerwick lifeboat Michael and Jane Vernon was called, along with Rescue Helicopter Rescue Lima Charlie from Sumburgh in Shetland.
The lifeboat arrived to find the vessel just over 1 mile (1.6km) off shore, with the helicopter unable to assist due to the rolling of the ship. With great skill and expertise, the lifeboat was brought alongside many times, but the crew didn't seem to appreciate the danger they were in. Often, nobody was ready to leave. Eventually, 5 crewmen were taken off, not assisted by them bring luggage.[8]
Various efforts with tow lines failed, but a tug managed to grapple the anchor chain, and pulled the boat around. The lifeboat then couldn't get close, but the helicopter could now help. Winchman William (Bill) Deacon was lowered to the boat, and he set about sending up the remaining 10 crewmen, two at a time.
Memorial Inscription cairn at Grutwick
As the last two men left the boat, leaving him alone, he was washed off the ship by a large wave. Lowering the winch cable a final time, it got snagged on the wreck. The Pilot had to make the decision to cut the cable, rather than risk the helicopter and all aboard, knowing that they then had no method to try to retrieve the Winchman. With no way of getting close, the lifeboat headed to port, dropped off their five survivors, and headed straight back out to try to find Mr Deacon, but with no success. William Deacon's body was later recovered.[9] He was posthumously awarded the George Medal for his bravery that day. All the lifeboat crew were awarded RNLI Medals.[10][7]
At the fatal accident inquiry at Lerwick Sheriff Court in August 1999, Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie concluded that "unnecessary and cumulative delays by the captain and 14 crew of the Bahamian-registered ship were largely to blame for Mr Deacon's death".[11]
In 2005, a new shore facility was opened at the Old Tolbooth.[12]
Today, the Billy Deacon SAR Memorial Trophy, sponsored by Bristow Helicopters and Breitling UK, is awarded to winch paramedics and/or winch operators from contracted (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) helicopter bases operating in the UK and Irish SAR regions, for meritorious service during SAR helicopter operations.[13]
↑ 51-foot non-self-righting Barnett-class, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, twin 60 h.p. Weyburn petrol engines, providing 8.9 knots, and costing £10,414.
↑ 52-foot Barnett-class, built by Groves and Guttridge, twin 72 hp Gardner 6LW engines giving 9 knots, costing £38,500.
↑ 52-foot Arun-class lifeboat, with twin 460 hp Caterpillar D343 diesel engines, giving a top speed of 18 knots. The GRP hull was moulded by Halmatic of Havant, fitted out by Wm. Osborne of Littlehampton, and cost £250,000
↑ 17m Severn-class lifeboat, with twin Caterpillar 3412 diesel engines, giving 25 knots. The FRC hull was moulded by Green Marine of Lymington, fitted out by FBM of Cowes, costing £1,580,000.
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