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Thread: zeebrugge disaster

  1. #1
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    Default zeebrugge disaster

    tonight on channel 5, at 2100, is the program of the above disaster. it does not show as a repeat, but i have not seen that program , so just in case others have not.i remember that night, and what miserable weather it was, and terrible loss of life.
    R689823

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    Default Re: zeebrugge disaster

    I knew two AB's on the Herald, their version of events is different from the inquiry.
    The ship loaded and discharged through the bow. When it came to leave port the practice was to swing on the berth with the bow doors left open to clear the exhaust fumes from the loading decks. With the swing completed and the ship heading for the breakwater the bow doors would be closed, although there were no lights or warning system on the bridge to confirm this. On the night of the disaster the doors were not closed and the Herald sailed out to sea which resulted in her sinking and great loss of life.
    This is their record, I don't know what the programme will show.

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    Default Re: zeebrugge disaster

    Like most TV programs, you have to keep an open mind, and who knows what is swept under the carpet when things like that happen. I will watch and see.
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    Default Re: zeebrugge disaster

    The most generally accepted story of the cause of the accident is that the Asst Bosun was asleep and missed his station to close the doors. But the ultimate reason must be that there was no indicator or alarm on the bridge to confirm that the doors had not been closed.
    David Dearsley

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    Default Re: zeebrugge disaster

    #4 David in every tragic accident causing loss of life there has to be an enquiry to find out the truth so it doesn’t happen again .People can believe the results or not as they please , but if you were involved in that scenario your main issue is to keep as low profile and answer questions truthfully. In 1988 In the summing up at the Piper Alpha tragedy I was cleared . I didn’t even know I was suspected of anything as wasn’t even on the platform . Now if they had asked me why I thought there was such a huge loss of life I would of told them that the two adjacent platforms continued pumping through the common pipeline all the gases and oil causing continuous explosions and making the platform a tomb for so many men. The reason they said was because they didn’t have the authority to do so. As had to receive from ashore and whoever had that authority was unavailable at the time needed.
    Another one hard to believe was when Kennedy was shot in Dallas , his head was removed and sent to Washington for excuses too hard to go into but this was published privately in a book , the smoking gun , and is very believable but won’t go into the reasons why. The book was never disputed as being wrong by any government authority..
    Enquires to me just save face for some people . JS...
    Last edited by j.sabourn; 3rd December 2022 at 12:37 PM.
    R575129

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    Default Re: zeebrugge disaster

    Did Townsend Thorenson during that enquiry not later get taken to court and charged with Corporate manslaughter?
    About 50 metres of wire and a micro switch on the doors and two lights on the bridge may well have avoided that accident from happening.
    Also sorts of stories abounded about at the time, the assistant Bosun? was supposed to have been under the influence of drink and failed to attend his station on departure.

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    Default Re: zeebrugge disaster

    All that was needed to avoid the disaster was for one person from the forward mooring gang to check over the side to see if those doors were closed. No chief officer I ever sailed with or as a chief officer, ever left the focsle without first checking that the forecastle is secure . No master should take his vessel to sea in an unseaworthy condition.
    Apparently the ships bosun has recently died.

    Rgds
    J.A.

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    Default Re: zeebrugge disaster

    The TV didn't report that the Assistant Bosun was under the influence. It report he was in his bunk sleeping. He had worked over 24 hours continuously.
    Vic
    Ps. Why didn't someone go and look for him?
    Last edited by vic mcclymont; 3rd December 2022 at 02:42 PM.
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    Default Re: zeebrugge disaster

    John , expect it was the old adage, familiarity breeds contempt and that is why accidents happen. So sad the young assist bosun had to live with that until the day he died at the early of 58.

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    Default Re: zeebrugge disaster

    #7 with the attitude that I saw before retiring would have been the often repeated phrase “ not my job “. JS
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