On This Day 1987: The Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster
- 2 years ago
Townsend Thoresen's Herald of Free Enterprise car ferry capsized moments after she left the Zeebrugge harbour - killing 193 passengers and crew.
The roll-on roll-off ferry, designed for rapid loading and unloading, left port with her bow door open - allowing seawater to flood onto the car decks and tip the vessel over.
The disaster led to major changes to the design and safety procedures of cross-channel car ferries. Report by Guinnesse. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The roll-on roll-off ferry, designed for rapid loading and unloading, left port with her bow door open - allowing seawater to flood onto the car decks and tip the vessel over.
The disaster led to major changes to the design and safety procedures of cross-channel car ferries. Report by Guinnesse. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn