Lucky escape indeed. I had one as a young lad when the shipping federation wanted me to join a coaster called the Lovat in 1975. I wasn't the greatest with seasickness at the time so refused as coasters are small and roll a lot. I went cold later on when I heard she'd sank and the lad who had taken my position had died.
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Zeebrugge disaster documentary.
- Thread starter paulchapo
- Start date
Lucky escape indeed. I had one as a young lad when the shipping federation wanted me to join a coaster called the Lovat in 1975. I wasn't the greatest with seasickness at the time so refused as coasters are small and roll a lot. I went cold later on when I heard she'd sank and the lad who had taken my position had died.
Millwallawayveteran1988
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I would imagine nowadays systems would stop ships sailing if the doors were open. It’s quite amazing really that a disaster of this magnitude was caused by only a couple of things going wrong and by Human errorI know I worked on it for 42 years. Sorry but every single person who said it thought they were the first to say it and laughed loud as they did. It was actually one of the safest times to travel as after the disaster safety was paramount as you'd imagine. Crew were working 24 hours on at that time so it was no surprise occasionally one would fall asleep on a break. Unfortunately on that night it was the man who's job it was to close the bow doors. The coroner rightly panned the company's procedures and the profit before people policy. Fast forward 35 years and the same company has just done the same thing again, sacked all the long established experienced crew and replaced them with cheap foreign labour, working Ng long hours with no rights.
Saying that nearly every disaster is linked to human error.
Millwallawayveteran1988
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Chilling that. Lucky really.Lucky escape indeed. I had one as a young lad when the shipping federation wanted me to join a coaster called the Lovat in 1975. I wasn't the greatest with seasickness at the time so refused as coasters are small and roll a lot. I went cold later on when I heard she'd sank and the lad who had taken my position had died.
gordondaviesmoustache
Well-Known Member
Was thinking the same when I watched it. Cunts moaning about red tape and H&S are utter fucking fools.Over the years I have heard some tools say that the Estonia sinking was similar which is just wrong. The Estonia foundered because of the failure of a bow shield in heavy weather. Ultimately the problem with the Herald was the quick turnaround required, the lack of visibility on the bow door and lax practises that allowed it to embed itself in usual practise - had it not been this vessel it would have likely been another one another time......... the installation of camera's and monitors on the bridge to cover the bow doors is what always comes to mind when anyone says Red Tape. Red Tape is there for a reason - it saves lives
I would imagine nowadays systems would stop ships sailing if the doors were open. It’s quite amazing really that a disaster of this magnitude was caused by only a couple of things going wrong and by Human error
Saying that nearly every disaster is linked to human error.
It was an accident waiting to happen as the enquiry said.
Chilling that. Lucky really.
Yes, when you're a kid you laugh it off but now I'm older I do think about it. I feel for the kid who took the job. He'd just finished his training and it was his first trip to sea. Tonight has reawakened some hidden demons, I've opened a bottle of wine.
cleavers
Moderator
I was booked the following day, but I could have been the day earlier, but I was finishing a night shift that day so decided for the following day, we watched in horror when it happened.I was meant to be on that ferry but my Sergeant Major put my leave back a week. I went from calling him every name under the sun (not to his face) to buying him a pint. What struck me when I left Zeebrugge a week later was just how close to port the HOFE actually was when it capsized. I can’t begin to imagine what the crew/passengers went through especially on what thousands of people saw as a routine trip.
I was booked the following day, but I could have been the day earlier, but I was finishing a night shift that day so decided for the following day, we watched in horror when it happened.
There was a crew member I believe called in sick so survived, but a couple of weeks later died in a motorbike accident. Fate I think.
bluethrunthru
Well-Known Member
I would imagine nowadays systems would stop ships sailing if the doors were open. It’s quite amazing really that a disaster of this magnitude was caused by only a couple of things going wrong and by Human error
Saying that nearly every disaster is linked to human error.
Thats just EU red tape mate - JRM would be anti that - just turn the ferry around asap - if you want safety take the Chunnel .......... until that starts leaking
gordondaviesmoustache
Well-Known Member
Amazing the death toll wasn’t much higher.