Who was to blame for Zeebrugge disaster?
Who was to blame for Zeebrugge disaster? A public court of inquiry into the disaster placed the blame on three of the ferry's staff: assistant boatswain Mark Stanley, who failed to close the bow doors after falling asleep in his cabin during a short break; first officer Leslie Sabel, who failed to ensure the bow doors were closed; and captain David Lewry for ...
How many people drowned on the Herald of Free Enterprise?
The MS Herald of Free Enterprise was a Roll-On Roll-Off (RORO) ferry which capsized moments after leaving the Belgian port of Zeebrugge on the night of March 6, 1987, killing 193 passengers and crew.
What happened to the bosun of the Herald of Free Enterprise?
Mark Stanley, the assistant bosun on the day of the tragedy, died in hospital on July 20, aged 58. He had not closed the bow doors when the ship set sail and he had been haunted by the tragedy, which was said to have severely affected his health, working life and family. Mr Stanley had fallen asleep in his cabin.
Was anyone prosecuted for Zeebrugge?
The Crown Prosecution Service charged P&O European Ferries with corporate manslaughter in 1989 and seven employees with manslaughter. The case collapsed but it set a precedent for corporate manslaughter being legally admissible in an English court.
Why did the Zeebrugge disaster happen?
A combination of procedural errors and oversights and the design of the ferry itself caused the vehicle deck to flood, after the ferry set sail with the bow doors open.
Who was responsible for the Zeebrugge disaster?
Investigation and inquiry While the court determined the immediate cause of the capsizing was Stanley's failure to close the bow doors, it was very critical of Sabel for not being in a position to prevent the disaster, calling his actions the most immediate cause of the capsizing.
What is the history of Zeebrugge?
The history of the port of Zeebrugge goes back to the origins of the city of Bruges: from the creation of the first navigable canals, to the rise of the flourishing economic and cultural centre in the late Middle Ages, to its decline from the 15th century onwards.
Is Zeebrugge worth visiting?
Zeebrugge is a city in West-Flanders, Belgium. It has many popular attractions, including St. Donatian's Cathedral, De Fonteintjes, Visserskruis, making it well worth a visit.
Who was the youngest survivor of Zeebrugge?
Carly Zutic, from Dumfries, Scotland passed away suddenly at her home after a long battle with drug addiction, the Daily Record reported. Carly was just nine weeks old when she survived the sinking of the Herald of Free Enterprise in March 1987.
Did the survivors of the Herald of Free Enterprise get compensation?
Sue and the children were each offered a pounds 5,000 fixed payment for being aboard the Herald of Free Enterprise when it capsized.
What happened to the free enterprise 1?
MS Free Enterprise (I) was a cross-Channel ferry operated by Townsend Brothers and later Townsend Thoresen between 1962 and 1980. She was their first purpose built roll-on/roll-off passenger and vehicle ferry. She was sold to Greece in 1980, where she served until being sold for scrap in 2013.
How safe is a ferry?
The simple answer is: they are generally very safe. In fact, ferries are normally considered one of the safest means to travel in Europe.