Herald of Free Enterprise: it's 25 years ago!
The ship had left the port in a hurry with its bow doors open. Seawater swept inside and within minutes of the vessel's car deck was flooded. The crew just had time to sound the alarm before the Herald capsized within sight of the port.
The Townsend Thoresen ferry was supposed to leave at 5:30 PM bound for Dover, but because of the large number of passengers it was delayed. Many of the passengers were taking advantage of an offer from The Sun newspaper that allowed them to travel to the Continent for a pound for some shopping.
When the ferry finally departs the bow doors have been left open by accident. The staff member responsible is having a nap and fails to communicate this to the bridge. As a result of the delay that captain has decided to increase speed creating a wave that leads to tons of water entering the vessel within minutes.
The Herald loses all stability. Ballast tanks filled to lower the vessel in the water to allow boarding and still full. As a result the ship is too low in the water. Within a minute and a half the ferry has capsized. There is no time for an evacuation. There is total panic and many of the passengers are trapped with no possible escape.
At 7:35 the port authorities are alerted. Local fishermen and staff from a dredging company try to provide assistance. Rescue divers are sent in together with Seaking helicopters that ferry the injured to hospital.
Seven hours after the disaster divers were still searching the vessel. They found two Britons trapped in a loo. They were the last to be rescued alive from the ship.
The dead are taken to a sports hall. Many are disfigured complicating identification. The Herald's passenger list also appears to be incomplete. Seventy volunteers, many barely older than 18, wash the dead so that they can be identified by relatives.
In all 193 bodies are recovered. Most of the victims are Britons.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher flies in to thank the Belgian rescue workers. Together with the then Belgian Premier Wilfried Martens she visits the injured in hospital as does King Boudewijn.
The Herald disaster is the worst maritime disaster in Belgian waters, but lessons are also learnt. The tragedy leads to a major redesign of roll-on/roll-off ferries increasing safety on what is still a busy maritime route.
