Herald of Free Enterprise - BBC1

[Jack Kane]

Herald of Free Enterprise disaster on BBC1 tonight at 9pm

[Coldrop]

My mom n dad was supposed to be on that ship that day, something happened at home so they couldn't go

They had been on that trip the year before and had planned a second visit

I remember my mom cried for days when she saw the news on tv

[Coldrop]

viewtopic.php?t=2550&highlight=herald+free+enterprise

[Phil]

A distant relative of my wifes, being unemployed at the time, took advantage of a newspapers trip for £1 offer to treat his family. Little did he know that the treat he planned was going to cost the lives of his wife and one of his children.

I didn't get home in time to see the program but, from what he told me, there were no heroes inside the ship that day.

[Jack Kane]

So tragic.

At the end of the programme, one of the survivors spoke of how he stood watching another roll on roll off ferry leaving port some time after the Herald disaster with its doors wide open. This just defeats me

[Rochelle]

I watched the above programme as well. Another thing which amazed me was that disaster was the springboard for the 'Corporate Manslaughter Bill'.

I think the disaster was in 1987 and we are nearly into 2007!
How further forward are we with this - oh sorry it was mentioned in the Queens Speech yesterday at the Opening of Parliament!

Or am I being cynical?

[Waterbaby]

" Zeebrugge ferry disaster, 30 years on: Deadly failings behind one of UK's worst peacetime maritime tragedies

Thirty years ago this Monday, shortly after setting out to Dover from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, the ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized with the loss of 193 lives – Britain’s worst peacetime maritime disaster since 1919. Godfrey Holmes examines the catastrophic failings both on the day an in the aftermath, and finds numerous lessons still to be learnt"

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 83131.html

Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster BBC News report (1987) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P28rSUJHYHA

"Flooding and capsize of ro-ro passenger ferry Herald of Free Enterprise with loss of 193 lives"

From: Marine Accident Investigation Branch
Date of occurrence: 6 March 1987
Vessel type: Merchant vessel 100 gross tons or over
Report type: Investigation report

Formal Investigation Report: Herald of Free Enterprise
One of the outcomes of the investigation of this accident was the formation of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) in 1989."

https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/floodin ... es#summary

WB

[ScottD]

I was based in Germany with the RAF at the time and was booked on the Herald for that specific trip. It was to go home and introduce the families to my new born son but he contracted scarlet fever and the doctor advised delaying the trip for 1 week.
I remember leaving Zeebrugge the following week and seeing the Herald still on her ribs, one of my 9 lives used up that day.

[Alexis]

I was based in Germany with the RAF at the time and was booked on the Herald for that specific trip. It was to go home and introduce the families to my new born son but he contracted scarlet fever and the doctor advised delaying the trip for 1 week.
I remember leaving Zeebrugge the following week and seeing the Herald still on her ribs, one of my 9 lives used up that day.

Wow!

[Waterbaby]

Maritime&Coastguard_Twitter

6 March 2017_ http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-39116394

WB

[Messy]

Thanks for the reminder. It was an awful tragedy and one where even the London Fire Brigade sent resources to Belgium as it was hoped survivors could be trapped in air pockets. Specialist equipment was gathered at Manston (RAF Manston then) and sent to a Belgium airport in a Hercules with a number of Kent & London staff. Sadly, after an awful waiting period at that airfield, the decision was made that there were no survivors and the rescue bid stood down. We had some very tired crews returning the next day

[Alexis]

I remember this as though it was yesterday.

Everyone spoke of this for months and things did change because of it.