Early in the evening of 6 March 1987, the Townsend Thoresen ferry "Herald of Free Enterprise" cast off its moorings from the dockside at Zeebrugge, Belgium. She was headed out for a 4 hour crossing to Dover, England, a journey the ship undertook several times a day. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary - until she suddenly capsized just outside the harbour. Pandemonium ensued amongst the 650 passengers. Several managed to break out windows to await rescue, sitting on the outside of the ship's hull. There was no time to send out an SOS.
In the end, 186 passengers lost their lives, one of the worst maritime disasters in peacetime. An investigation later found that the most likely cause for the accident was that the ship's bow doors were open as she went to sea. Water washed onto the cardeck, quickly destabilising the vessel and causing her to capsize.
The disaster led to changes in practices on board roll-on roll-off ferries across the world, as well as in requirements for the design of these ships. A memorial service has been held at Dover today, and a special service of remembrance will also take place in the port on the day of the actual anniversary, Tuesday. A peal of bells will be rung from 6.30pm, and the names of the dead will be read out.
Technorati Tags: herald, of, free, enterprise
that is catastrophic! A pity I cannot hear the bells
ReplyDeleteValerie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/iiimagicxx/surreality/
How I remember that tragic day Guido. We travelled on her sister ship, the Spirit of Free Enterprise only a week before and we thought at the time, there but for the grace of God.
ReplyDeleteSandra xx
I too remember that incident. What an awful tragedy ! An event that I'm sure has impacted the lives of the loved ones of those lost and of those saved. Events like that tend to change lives forever. Linda in Washington state
ReplyDeleteIs that really 20 years gosh where does the time go ,still feels saddening those poor folk wont ever forget ,how could you ? We went on the Spirit of free enterprise shortly after ,and my daughter and I stood on the bow watching them close the doors ..love Jan xx
ReplyDeleteI remember it well Guido. It was such an awful needless tragedy. Jeannette xx http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels/
ReplyDeleteI remember this day. I lost my first love and it changed my life forever. Even though I moved on the hurt remains to this day
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