The Herald of Free Enterprise

[grumpy52]

Never forgotten.
6th March 1987 .

[alangla]

Accident report https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/54c...

[Furbo]

grumpy52 said:

Never forgotten.
6th March 1987 .

It's one of those events where you will always remember what you were doing, when you heard about it.

I was on a ferry into Zeebrugge about two weeks afterwards and the weather conditions were so bad we could not enter the port. We drifted directly past the vessel, still on its side.

Our decks were awash with vomit. Most passengers felt too ill to disembark, and we all just returned through the same horrific storm. Not the most enjoyable day and night of my life.

[Simpo Two]

And this one in 1982: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-6394...

[Wheel Turned Out]

Quite an interesting video on the salvage operation for anyone who may be interested.

[LimmerickLad]

grumpy52 said:

Never forgotten.
6th March 1987 .

R.I.P.

[grumpy52]

I feel for my cousin on every anniversary. He was first officer on her but was pulled off just before she left Dover on the outward journey. Even his family didn't know of this . Even his father didn't know as he was down off shore in South Africa representing England in an international big game fishing competition. In those days there was always employment available for local people on the ferries so lots of connections in my home town

[996Type]

I had a medical exam (for a life policy I think) and I mentioned to the lady examiner I was a recreational diver.

She had also been a diver, but a commercial one, and was one of the team that went into the vessel on recovery duty.

It obviously haunted her to that day and was one of the reasons she left the industry. Such a terrible loss of life.

[Furbo]

996Type said:

I had a medical exam (for a life policy I think) and I mentioned to the lady examiner I was a recreational diver.

She had also been a diver, but a commercial one, and was one of the team that went into the vessel on recovery duty.

It obviously haunted her to that day and was one of the reasons she left the industry. Such a terrible loss of life.

That would have been as horrible a job as I can think of.

[WelshChris]

I was there. Not on her when she sailed but one of the first on the scene after the capsize. Many stories to tell but here/now is not the time. RIP those who didn't make it, and God bless all those who helped on the night.