Nearly 200 people died when the Herald of Free Enterprise sank off the Flemish coast in 1987, and there will be on- and offshore commemoration events today attended by survivors, rescuers and dignitaries

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster, in which 193 people died when a ferry capsized off the coast of Zeebrugge on its way to Dover in the UK.

Remembrance ceremonies include three ships sailing out to the site of the accident to pay tribute to the victims. West Flanders governor Carl Decaluwé will be accompanied by Alison Rose, the British ambassador to Belgium. Survivors, relatives of victims and members of the rescue services who were on duty that day will also attend.

An enquiry into the disaster found that it was caused by the ferry, operated by Townsend Thoresen, leaving Zeebrugge with its bow doors open. The ship, carrying 459 passengers and 80 crew, left its berth at 19.05 local time and capsized at about 19.28, having taken on water through the open doors.

The ship ended up in shallow water on a sandbar about one kilometre off the coast. Only a fortuitous turn at the last minute prevented the ship capsizing in deeper water, where the casualties would have been even more serious. By chance, the Belgian navy was taking part in exercises close by and was able to help rescue survivors.

The offshore commemoration ceremony will be followed by a conference at the Zeebrugge navy base about the lessons learned from the disaster, and on plans for the event of another such accident. The conference will be attended by Philippe De Backer, federal secretary of state for the North Sea, and there will be a floral tribute and a fly-over by a Navy helicopter over the site of the accident.

Photo: Imago