tanker some 800 miles away from Bermuda reads like something out of a Tom Clancy novel.

Two US Air Force helicopters, two refuelling aircraft and one US Coast Guard reconnaissance aircraft effected the rescue of three crew, flying hundreds of miles off the Island to first drop medical technicians onto the heaving deck of the tanker and later to winch the injured crew to the helicopters.

This was a courageous rescue, aided and abetted by local officials from Harbour Radio and the hospital, where the three men are now recovering from the injuries.

Tragically, a crewman died immediately from his injuries incurred in Thursday's accident and another died as a result of his injuries on Friday aboard the ship.

Questions have been asked about why it was not possible for the US aircraft, which flew to the Island overnight on Thursday, to leave earlier. This newspaper was originally told that the requirement for the air crews to rest was the cause of the delay.

That begged the question of why second air crews had not been brought to the Island as well, but it was later stated that the poor weather conditions around the ship meant the rescue effort could not have been launched any earlier.

That is a reasonable explanation, but it once again raises the question of whether Bermuda should establish an air-sea rescue base on the Island.

Ever since the closure of the US Naval Air Station in St. David's, the Island has been without such a facility, meaning ships and yachts which get into trouble to the east of the Island have little recourse.

To be fair, the US Navy helicopters at the US Base would have been unable to assist the crew on board the Johann Schulz , because they had a range of just 100 miles.

Later attempts to establish a local helicopter rescue operation were rejected by the then-Government for cost reasons.

This newspaper continues to maintain that it is impossible to measure the value of a human life and Bermuda has an obligation to provide assistance and rescue facilities for those who get in trouble on the sea.

It is certain that this would be expensive and it is possible that it will be called on infrequently, but like the Fire Service, it is an essential service.

Bermuda owes its livelihood to the ships and crews which supply it with food and goods. The Island should afford them with some measure of security as well.

GIVING CREDIT EDT Giving credit Last week, Premier Jennifer Smith "set the record straight'' on a Royal Gazette editorial which credited the Police for publishing the Core Functions Review.

She said Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox should be congratulated for the Core Functions Review, since it was she who brought it to the House of Assembly and saw it through, rather than Commissioner of Police Jean-Jacques Lemay.

Ms Smith is correct. Ms Cox, along with Government House, was instrumental in launching the review and seeing it through and deserves credit along with Mr.

Lemay for having the courage to later publish the report when it highlighted a great many of the Service's deficiencies.

It should be noted that a great many of the problems, especially those concerning staffing, were obvious months ago and should have been solved then.

For that failure, Ms Cox and her Government deserve no credit.