The friends and family of late Master Mariner Michael Dolding have paid an unusual tribute to him at sea.

Mr. Dolding, of St. David's, passed away aged 60 on August 18 after losing his battle with prostate cancer.

He worked for many years at the Department of Marine and Ports, where he rose to the position of Assistant Director and Harbourmaster.

For the past two years he worked as Port Operations Manager for the Corporation of Hamilton, the same organisation where he first began his career after qualifying as a Master Mariner.

He left instructions before his death that he did not want a formal funeral – leading to the tricky excursion to the North Rock beacon to scatter his ashes there on Wednesday morning.

Mr. Dolding's sister Karen Warren explained: "Michael was very clear and very explicit as to what he wanted to have happen when he died. His ashes were to be scattered in four places North, South, East and West.

"The first place he selected was a place that was very dear to his heart - North Rock, which is located on an isolated reef about 16 km (10 miles) northwest of St. David's Light.

"Michael was key in rebuilding the North Rock beacon more than 17 years ago and there is a poem which his wife Ellie wrote as a dedication which is bronzed and mounted on the side of the beacon."

However, his loved-ones had to go to elaborate lengths to fulfill his last wish.

Mrs. Warren explained: "The family met the pilot boat in St. George's under very dark, stormy clouds with the occasional flash of lightning and burst of thunder. We all boarded with close colleagues from Marine and Ports and Harbour Radio and made the hour trip out to the rock.

"There were four boats in total – the pilot boat that took everyone out, TheDragon, which was Mike's favourite boat as it was the work boat –a runaround boat and the ferry.

"The pilot boat tied up to TheDragon and the launch boat tied up to TheDragon. We had to get onto TheDragon in order for us to get onto the launch boat as that is the only way to get onto North Rock."

The launch boat took the party out to the reef and then they had to get out and walk across it to the beacon.

"This can only be done at what is called 'dead low tide' so there is a timing issue with this and it has to be done in accordance with the tides or it can be very dangerous," explained Mrs. Warren.

"We assembled on North Rock and said a few words, and each of us scattered Mike's ashes under beautiful blue skies.

"We then returned to the boats, made a toast and slowly took the trip back to St. George's – and in accordance with Michael's instructions went to the Black Horse in St. David's for fish sandwiches."

She thanked the staff of Marine and Ports for their support in organising the difficult excursion.

The rest of Mr. Dolding's ashes will be scattered over the next 18 months at the other locations he chose – his garden at home, Mexico and the Grand Canyon.