HC Deb 31 January 1984 vol 53 cc161-2W
Mr. Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when was the first time Her Majesty's coastguard was aware of the distress of the Liberian vessel, Radiant Med; what assistance was offered; at what time; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what co-operation was achieved between the French and British air/sea rescue services in the operation to assist the Liberian vessel, Radiant Med.

Mr. Ridley

The Liberian MV Radiant Med of 2,997grt on passage from Ghent to the Congo with a cargo of grain, transmitted an urgency message at about 22.54 GMT on 23 January when in a position some 15 miles south-west of Guernsey. The ship reported taking water in No. 2 hold and asked vessels in the vicinity to stand by her.

The vessel was within the French area of responsibility for search and rescue under the joint Anglo-French agreement MANCHEPLAN, and the French regional rescue centre (CROSSMA) at Jobourg near Cherbourg assumed responsibility for search and rescue coordination. The message was acknowledged by the French coast radio station at Brest Le Conquet and re-broadcast. Her Majesty's coastguard was informed at 23.09 on 23 January.

The French authorities responded to the Radiant Med's message by despatching the destroyer Casabianca to escort the vessel to Cherbourg. Subsequently the condition of the Radiant Med deteriorated and at 00.30 Falmouth coastguard offered the French authorities the assistance of HMS Orkney.

The Radiant Med was abandoned by her crew of 24 at about 01.15 into lifeboats and liferafts and at around this time the French authorities requested the assistance of the RNLI St. Peter Port Lifeboat which proceeded at 01.32. HMS Orkney also proceeded and at 02.47 reported that the Radiant Med had sunk.

At 02.51 Falmouth coastguard asked the French authorities if they required United Kingdom helicopter assistance, and at 02.57 the French regional rescue centre at Brest (CROSSCO) which had subsequently taken over the search and rescue co-ordination responsibility from CROSSMA, transmitted a request for assistance to the United Kingdom.

Three Sea King helicopters, one RAF and two RN, were despatched from Brawdy and Culdrose respectively, two being airborne within 45 minutes and the third within 60 minutes of the request. The first Sea King arrived on the scene at about 04.30.

At about 03.50 the St. Peter Port lifeboat rescued nine survivors from a lifeboat; subsequently the bodies of all except one of the missing crew members were recovered by the searching forces which by daybreak had been augumented by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Green Rover, a French search aircraft and a tug.