Silver Medal for Torbay Coxswain
28/02/2008
Coxswain Mark Criddle of Torbay lifeboat will be awarded the RNLI's Silver Medal for Gallantry for his leadership and outstanding seamanship during the rescue of the crew of the Ice Prince on 13 January.
His six volunteer crew members on the night will all be honoured with the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum.
The Ice Prince was 34 miles south east of the Devon coast with 20 crew onboard when severe gale force 9 winds and rough seas shifted her cargo of timber, causing a 25° list.
The Coastguard requested the launch of Torbay and Salcombe lifeboats just after 7.30pm, along with its own rescue helicopter. By 8.17pm, Ice Prince's list had increased to 45° and she had lost all power. The vessel and her crew were in danger, and Mark increased the Torbay lifeboat's speed to 20 knots, even though at times this meant the lifeboat clearing the water.
At 9pm, Torbay lifeboat and the helicopter arrived on scene. The helicopter began to winch crew from the Ice Prince, and the lifeboat was positioned so that it could help by shining its searchlight on the operation. The helicopter crew showed tremendous skill and bravery, and will also be recognised by the RNLI with Thanks of the Institution on Vellum.
The Salcombe lifeboat arrived at 9.30pm and helped illuminate Ice Prince as winching continued. The helicopter left the scene at 10pm with 12 rescuees onboard.
Ten minutes later, Mark contacted the Master of the Ice Prince, who said he and the remaining crew were preparing to abandon ship. The lifeboat now needed to evacuate the last eight crewmen onboard, while the smaller Salcombe lifeboat stood by.
With the noise of the sea and wind limiting communication to hand signals, and with the rolling motion and sideways drift of the vessel combined with the broken water around her stern, there was only a limited area for the lifeboat to get alongside the Ice Prince. The crew of the Torbay lifeboat made the first of more than 50 approaches
Several attempts were needed to rescue each crewman. Each time the lifeboat and crew were at risk from the submerged superstructure of the vessel, her severe rolling motion and unstable cargo. If Mark overshot the approach there was a real danger of the Ice Prince's starboard quarter smashing down on to the lifeboat's bow.
With the first three rescued, the fourth was in position when the lifeboat rolled unpredictably and the two vessels collided. The man ended up under water, and the Salcombe lifeboat began to manoeuvre to rescue him. He managed to clamber along the submerged section of the ship and get back to his colleagues, and he got onto the Torbay lifeboat on her next approach.
The remaining Ice Prince crew now needed much persuading to attempt the transfer. One crew member's jump was short and he came close to being caught between the two vessels. However, the Torbay crew grabbed him and hauled him onboard. The remaining crewmen were rescued, but each time the lifeboat crew had to lean forward to catch them, risking being struck by the starboard quarter of the Ice Prince.
Rescuing the eight men had taken almost 2 hours of constant manoeuvring in close proximity to a listing, rolling, powerless, cargo ship at night in atrocious conditions.
The crew of the Salcombe lifeboat will receive a letter of thanks from the RNLI's Chief Executive.
Video footage of Ice Prince taken from the lifeboat, with the helicopter overhead
