March 6, 1987 (the salvage of the Herald of Free Enterprise)

Op 6 maart 1987 kapseisde de veerboot HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE net buiten de haven van Zeebrugge, België. Pim Korver maakte een indringende documentaire over de berging van het schip en haar lading. ©PKFV
Deze film is meerdere malen internationaal onderscheiden, o.a. met 2 Gold Cameras
On 6 March 1987 the ferry HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE capsized just out of port at Zeebrugge, Belgium. Pim Korver made an award winning documentary on the salvage of the ship and its cargo. ©PKFV
This film was awarded internationally multiple times, among others with 2 Gold Cameras.

[@edlangley4660]

I was based at RAF Gutersloh and was booked to travel on the Herald. As I had made such good time and had an open ticket, I drove on to Calais and caught the ferry there. When I arrived home in Letchworth and knocked on my Mum's door the house was full of people including my Girl friend. They had all been crying. When I walked through the door, they thought I was a ghost. I had no idea what had happened. I collapsed in shock in a chair and watched the footage on TV. RIP to my fellow Airmen who didn't make it.

[@Roscoe.P.Coldchain]

Wow you were one lucky lad , nice one Ed hope your well mate 👍

[@christopherhulse8385]

I was 17 in 1987 and remember this tragedy like it was yesterday, RIP all those lost souls. Excellent documentary without the stupid background music of today's documentaries.

[@charlielynes]

As a 15 year old, on a coach journey from UK to Germany (Munster), we passed this operation at it height. In the early hours of the dawn the lights of the tugs and barges gathered around this desperate scene seemed very surreal for me on our vessel "Free Enterprise IV" It was a sombre moment for all and many people paid respect on that journey. I learned a great deal about my place in the Universe that morning. The sea is a cruel master. ❤️🙏

[@dava73]

Very rarely you stumble across a documentary this good. So interesting, done with respect to the 187 poor souls that perished.

[@andrewcorcoran7718]

I agree with you completely.. a very sad time in history . I remember it well.. May they rest in peace..

[@samantharossiter8808]

They did an amazing job righting her and ensuring victims who had been trapped in the ship were returned to their families for a proper burial....

[@brunster64]

Yes agreed - I don’t like all the music, sound effects and repetition of “modern” documentaries

[@MrNotorius5500]

I thought they said 193 souls,

[@ericgeorge5483]

@@MrNotorius5500 Correct.

[@Squarerig]

I take off my hat to the engineers and workers who achieved this colossal Task!As a former ship´s captain I am fully ware of the hazards and dangers associated with and attendant upon salvage work of this Dimension.Tremendous!

[@terrywilliams6923]

I was a Royal Navy diver who attended the ship to help remove the victims who perished.A hard and sad task.

[@billcro90]

Thank you

[@felixcat9318]

I have always held body retrieval/human remains divers in the highest regard, whilst feeling extremely sorry for them for having to do so and the horrific and hazardous environments they have to operate in! I have always hoped that they don't suffer psychological effects from their experiences, but can't imagine how they can protect themselves from it, given what they're physically doing, and the conditions they operate in. Keeping it locked down and opening another bottle aren't good systems...

Can you describe such task of removing victims from a sunk vessel a bit, please? I'm interested the most in your feelings and the impact it had on you and also the practical and technical aspect of such a job (e.g. how you manipulate with bodies, how they change after a longer time submerged, etc., and anything interesting you remember). Thank you! I have always been fascinated with people who are able of doing such tasks!

[@mikegallant811]

God bless you Terry, child of God, and good man from the sceptred isle of the North Atlantic. The Lord gave you the strength to complete such a sad but necessary task.

[@TheJiveDancer1975]

This is quite a unique programme that they must have been filming during the entire salvage operation and was very good to watch. It is good that there's no over dramatisation of events that you find on modern programmes. 187 people died that night and the remainder will live with the chilling events for rest of their lives.

[@mrkipling2201]

193 people unfortunately.

[@hughrainbird43]

"For those in peril on the sea". An apt theme to open and close this impressive and emotional film. I made numerous crossings on this ship and her sisters, travelling to and from Belgium during my Cycle Racing career in the 1970's and '80's, so seeing her rise from the sea after such a tragedy, was both poignant, and a tribute to the engineering skill of her salvagers, especially the interior shots which brought back my own memories, and a remembrance of the way in which so many lost their lives. RIP. From the perspective of today where computer simulation is everywhere, it was sobering to see the paper cut-out "scale model" and the "pencil and paper" calculations which were crucial elements in the planning and monitoring of this technically very complex operation. Also, work at sea is never without its risks, but I'm sure a present-day "health and safety" officer would be tearing out his hair at some of the scenes shown here!

[@DoubleTroubles729]

These guys who are salvaging the Herald are worth their weight in gold ten times over, ... we have some very brilliant minds and skilled engineers in this particular specialised work. 👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 praying for the loved ones of those who perished

[@mrkipling2201]

This is maybe not the right video but I’m a huge nostalgia addict. I love seeing how things were when I was growing up. The livery’s of different vehicles etc. The world operating as it did back then.

[@sarkybugger5009]

I had never seen this video before. Thank you for releasing it. I worked on 'B' watch on her sister ship The Pride of Free Enterprise for two years, and knew people who lost their lives in this disaster, one of whom was a friend. It was chilling to see the images from inside the ship, and it brought back many memories. A very sad day for the people of Dover, and for those from around the world who lost family and friends. My mother, who worked for Townsend Thoresen at the time, immediately went into work at the office to answer telephones on the passenger helpline. She said it was the most harrowing thing she had ever done. There is a memorial woodland planted with 193 trees just next to the A2 at Whitfield, on the way to Dover docks. May the victims rest in peace.

[@millomweb]

I wasn't aware of this either. I don't think it's been broadcast in the UK. 35·8% people on board killed (193 according to Wikifigures). My bro & I sailed on the Spirit of Free Enterprise. Pretty sure it was after this disaster.

[@brianprice544]

…" …

[@yampk1]

The entire board of directors should have been jailed for corporate manslaughter

[@ashdrive]

I lived in Dover when the ship went down, I was on nights working for another shipping company when news came through...Devastating night for all in Dover...God bless all that lost their lives..

[@plumduff3303]

I was on this ship the week before it sank I still have the photos of our history trip....it was a very sad time I remember eating in the canteen and playing on the gambling machines...week later this happened...awful

[@johncassels3475]

Excellent documentary. I am always impressed by the ingenuity of Dutch salvage teams. Also noteworthy, watching some 33 years later (in 2020) how health and safety requirements have changed - for example, almost no hard hats were worn, many wore simple blue 'boiler suits' with no hi-viz component, and there were precious few safety lines as men climbed over slippery decks. Computer technology was almost absent with only one "computer" in evidence and the use of the cardboard cutout to trace ships angle as it progressed slowly to upright would not be seen today. Once again, this was excellent coverage.

[@mrkipling2201]

Agreed. They did it a lot quicker than would probably happen today as well. No messing around with checks upon checks upon checks. They formulated a plan, did the measurements etc and then carried out the salvage. I know why we have health and safety procedures today but I think they go over the top sometimes.

[@jonnysl6560]

I was on the Enterprise a number of times . I will never forget the ship leaving harbour whilst I was securing my motorcycle . I was alerted by a wave sweeping through the vehicle deck soaking up to my knees . The door was still open and was closed as we left harbour into the open sea .

[@noelgilsenan6987]

Well Done

[@noelgilsenan6987]

Alpha the

[@jessstone7211]

Quite remarkable! Seeing salvage of this magnitude is beyond impressive - much respect and thank you to all involved.

[@gangesexcavating]

These programs are just great. Very somber, yet enjoyable and informative to watch.

[@richardboudville5188]

What a mighty success of salvage. May all those who died rest in peace. Congratulations to the men and women who made the salvage a success. Thank you for the video.

[@robinwells8879]

How I managed to watch this excellent documentary all the way through when there was no hint of artificial jeopardy in the commentary is remarkable! It is almost as if the remarkable feat of engineering ingenuity and human endeavour was enough to grip me on its own! The camera team were definitely granted some remarkable access with some of it quite gruelling to watch. God bless.

[@CARLIN4737]

Yep absolutely

[@jontownsend8090]

I was only 11 years old at the time of the disaster. Very good footage of the salvage operation, it just brings the whole thing to light, how difficult and dangerous this work was. My thoughts go out to all involved in this tragedy. Their legacy lives on with shipping being so much safer today.

[@jsecure1]

This documentary is a great public resource. I did wonder what became of all the cars and lorries on board after the disaster. It's interesting to see it's pretty much what you would expect; a lot of twisted metal and sludge. It's an interesting historic record that coming along behind all the memorial and dramatic tragedy documentaries, this one also exists. And a word for the disaster itself - I continue to think this disaster is a lasting tribute to how truly stupid we can be as a species if we take our eyes off the ball. It's the greatest reminder that the worst things happen not at the appointed moment but at a perfectly ordinary moment when you've become distracted. A lesson for everyone to never forget.

[@spud74]

I remember being up late as a kid (aged 12) watching this as it broke on our news, around 12-1 am, if I remember rightly. As the following days went on I always recall one story of a man on there that used himself as a "human bridge" so kids (and others I presume) could cross over a danger point on there.

[@stampsy1]

I have the Swiss customs at Basel to thank for messing me about with my signed papers (my own fault as i'd missed a 'D' ring out with the seal wire on my trailer), which meant i had to stay an extra night in Basel as out of time, thanks to them they saved me from a 50/50 chance of being on that ferry. Set off home next day running with another driver from my home town of York, and that evening it was reported on the radio news that 'a boat had capsized' near the port. Didn't really come across as a 'Biggie'. As we got closer to Zeebrugge, the roads were in chaos with motor accidents on most junctions and cars even overtaking the ambulances that were on route to the port. Mayhem. Fuelled up in Zeebrugge and travelled down the corridor into France where we had trouble convincing the french customs police what had happened in Zeebrugge and that we had no french permits. Eventually we were on our way and did a cheeky and chanced it to Calais where we eventually got on a ferry back to Dover (my tacho disc makes for an interesting read). But, at least we made it home, unlike the 193 unfortunate souls that were either working, on holiday or just day trippers. May they Rest In Peace.

[@mrkipling2201]

I have huge respect for the blokes who went on board the ship after it was righted to recover the bodies of the poor people who perished. I certainly wouldn’t have liked that job. Sod’s law as well. The Herald is nearly fully vertical and a huge storm gets in the way. Cheers nature!!

[@pommiebears]

I didn’t think this could still make me weep. It really does.

[@conscienciapositiva8706]

finally! I have found a not biased documentary.

[@anonov1]

This caused the installation of green lights in the bridge and cameras to indicate ro ro doors were closed before the vessels headed out to sea. I crossed the Channel many a time in the HFE run by TT. I have sat in my truck getting my log book up to date on the cargo deck while the ferry....not just her...others too....turned to sea with the ro ro doors open. I drove twin steer IVECO 190.38 for Maritana, sub'd to TEMPO Freight out of Claydon. This time though I was at Zeebrugge from Italy 8 hours after she sunk. Other drivers said the same about being on the cargo deck with ro ro doors open at sea before the deck officer closed them. We were never rushed off the cargo deck at any time and some Turk and Yugoslav drivers often slept in their cabs during the crossing. Only time we were ushered off the cargo deck was out of Hull or Felixstowe for Rotterdam.

[@johnswimcat]

To me, as an ex yacht designer, it was at the the time and still is almost unbelievable that the bridge had no way of telling whether the bow doors were closed. It was said on the news at the time that this was on grounds of cost. Too expensive to install a sensor or whatever, a cable and an indicator on the bridge. Really? How much did the ship cost? Is it sensible to rely on a crew member who could be asleep, drunk or absent, or who simply didn't realise how important it was to close the doors? The sheer extent of human complacency and stupidity is sometimes quite amazing, unfortunately we often see it. Full marks to the very competent engineers and seamen who coped with the salvage

[@johnswimcat]

And for that matter, why wasn't the bow door closure controlled from the bridge?

[@SimonElenor]

Strange how a member of the crew couldn't tell if the doors were closed!

[@benmac940]

@@johnswimcat because you need to be able to see what you are doing.

[@benmac940]

Led to alot more than just bridge indication of hull openings and camera monitoring of them. Water sensors on vehicle decks increased size and number the removal of the operating model where one crew member was solely responsible and contributed to a overhaul of fatigue management. Among other things.

[@lorispain1]

Dutch engineering at its best, SMIT used the same method to salvage Costa Concordia but on a much bigger scale. They are professional and respectful. Great documentary and RIP to those poor souls.

[@simonwilson1151]

1 of my lives went that night as I was the last lorry to board the one before. I heard the very sad news when I returned to Nantwhich in Cheshire The next day. To their relief, as my employers thought I was on the Herald. There was no tracking or mobile's in those days.

[@georgeplagianos6487]

@EFEZZE6280 😧😳

[@dannyboyy31]

@EFEZZE6280 T.T.T.T.T.T.T.T.T.T.T.T.TOSSER

[@GarethT902]

It's amazing how many people were on "the one before" it must have been a superferry

[@5ANDEZ]

@@GarethT902 its the same with the estonia tragedy. in every video there is like 200 finnish comments all saying their uncle was on her that night, despite there only being 10 finns onboard that night.

[@emusaurus]

Santeri Hämäläinen same thing with titanic “I’m 12 and my grandmother was on titanic and survived, but she was travelling under a different name, so you can’t verify my story”

[@darrenpeden4592]

The Dutch are super smart, this is the best documentary about the herald

[@countteddy]

a close friend was on his way to the ship in his classic rally car , fortunately for him and his navigator their car broke down and they missed their sailing . this awful event will always bring me to tears....so so sad......

[@mickbaker2483]

This film is so respectful to all who died in this avoidable incident and I class myself as the luckiest man on earth as I was coming up the corridor from France into Belgium and had a puncture on my truck and by the time I got into into docks the Herald of Free Enterprise was just departing the quayside then all hell broke loose, I had a booked passage on board the Herald of Free Enterprise thank god for me having that front wheel blow out because I could of been one of the poor souls that lost there lives on board, I hope every one involved can rest that this should never happen again.

[@clydebalcom8252]

Very good documentary. Respectful of those lost, and those who survived.

[@TheDaf95xf]

So sad RIP all who perished on board. Great worn by all the salvage team 😄 I used that ship many times as a English European lorry driver.

[@Roscoe.P.Coldchain]

Wow so sad to see what a state it was in Steve..?

[@kennethpointon2941]

Missed this sailing by 30 minutes.was in the booking office when thay said it was full .decided to go to calais it was on the way to calais when I saw all the emergency trucks going to zeabrugge that I found out what had happened.very lucky man .

[@TheMinimansam]

It was the most overbooked boat in history, every uk driver was on there way or missed it that night

[@ac9110]

@@TheMinimansam Yes, it's amazing how many people narrowly miss these accidents by a whisker. ;-)

[@blackpoolram]

Sailed on the Heralds many times when stationed in Germany. It was common for the doors to still be open as the ferries left port! Just luck we were not on this one.

[@weebolddavy]

For the accident to happen so soon after leaving port, people who were below deck must have been completely disorientated when the ship went on her side and the lights went out. Can't imagine the terror and helplessness they must have felt

[@av9109]

Bless the 173 may you all rest in peace x

[@ronanrogers4127]

Mark Powell Indeed...but what about the other 20 lives?

[@carljones7466]

I went on her sister ship a week after this happened as we got closer to her the ferry stopped and the horn sounded me the crew stood and bowed they're heads as did the people on her

[@jimcrawford5039]

Amazing programme. Very well done! Thank you. Ex seaman, Australia.

[@Truthseeker1515]

Not Human error but Human incompetence...

[@PhilOsGarage]

It still seems incredible to me that the design of the ship allowed it to set sail with the bow doors open.

[@U2QuoZepplin]

Fascinating seeing how they did the job and very interesting seeing how ferry and ship design has changed since then

[@Tuffydipstick]

My late husband and I and the 2 children we had then went on that ship from Dover to Zeebruge January 1980.

[@binkyboobosh1]

Some heroic stories came out at the time as desperate people took desperate measures to survive. One was of a father who climbed up through the capsized ship carrying his baby between his clenched teeth. I think they both survived.

[@MissRandomwriter]

No, they didn't.

[@cryptomaniac2022]

Absolutely loved this. An epic youtube effort

[@phoebecarter8269]

Very interesting documentry - thank so much for posting xxx

[@weyiman2002]

Very interesting. A great watch. Thank you very much for sharing

[@jasbarsoph]

Back then I always thought that the ro ro doors had a safe light mechanism on the bridge, Terrible to believe that this happened over pure incompetence

[@benmac940]

This incident lead to requirements for that among a number of other changes on ropax ships in particular internationally.

[@ffinybryn]

Hand drawn progress diagrams and the ships inclination measured using a spirit level! How technology has changed! Superb engineering though.

[@mercedes_and_more]

very, very sad day when she sank. Excellent documentary, and resisted the urge to cry until I saw the child's teddy bear at the end.

[@chrisyboy666]

M & M she didn’t sink she capsized

[@mercedes_and_more]

@@chrisyboy666 missed the point dickhead

[@granskare]

The Great Lakes between Canada & the US have had many boats go down (we call the vessels boats) I believe the Dutch are the finest salvors.

[@shape-shiftingcatandhermin2508]

My dad was stationed in Germany at the time, we were supposed to be on that ship going back to England for my birthday, but a couple of days before I took really ill with a really bad bladder infection so our trip was cancelled, I was only 9 at the time so wasn't so aware just how close we could have come to death as we most probably would have as usual gone for our meal once on the ship, seeing this now is kind of freaky as has just brought it home how different things could have been, other people from our camp weren't so lucky God rest their souls, gives me chills knowing had been on that ship & if not for being sick would have that day

[@AwesomeAngryBiker]

Absolutely perfect brilliant documentary. If that was made by discovery or BBC etc, it would be non stop Hollywood action music and constant narrator dramatically saying "this could result in the end of the operation" etc. Gawd modern doc's are just unwatchable

[@chrisburn7178]

Love the brass intro of the hymn tune "Melita".

[@KeithThebeast]

ONE OF MY MATES bought one of the salvaged trucks off the ship, ive been in it too, i remember been at school when this happened, RIP to everyone who lost their lives

[@annettehadley9718]

The Smit-Tak workers certainly earn their wages, I hope they are all well paid..... well done Smit-Tak !

[@msjacksshipsadventures8382]

R.I.P Herald of Free Enterprise 1980 - 1988

[@Paul-jz1lv]

I liked how they were respectful of the dead and their families, and did not try to play off that. Very well done.

[@johnthomson1960]

i remember this ship and was going across regular with wagon it was a nice ship and my hart goes out to all lost on it

[@TurbulentDreamsStark]

What an interesting film but such a tragedy. I remember this so well. We were almost late for a wedding as I couldn't take my eyes off the TV as the rescue operation was going on. So so sad.

[@robshaw3655]

one of those tragedies you remember where you were...along with Hillsborough and 911

[@ianholmes3761]

Yes it sticks in your mind like hungerford.

[@emusaurus]

* Googles Hillsborough *

[@brianhurkett5128]

May all the poor souls who lost their lives on that ship forever rest peacefully in heaven RIP

[@hughrainbird43]

After watching this film, I decided to take a closer look at the circumstances of the sinking, and they don't make good reading. The stark facts are that the ship went to sea with the bow doors to her car decks open, took on water, and capsized onto a sandbank about a kilometre off of Zebrugge harbour. The design of Ro-Ro ferries makes them by their nature liable to swamping and sinking if water comes on board. The vehicle decks render them in effect a "floating shoe box", with little opportunity to install watertight bulkheads. But the "back story" from the subsequent Court of Inquiry is a quite alarming one. The "Spirit" class ships were usually used on the Dover-Calais route and were designed for the loading arrangements at these ports. To facilitate faster off- and on-loading of vehicles, the bow doors were of a clam-shell design, rather than the more usual raised "visor" configuration, more visible from the bridge of the ship. At Zeebrugge where the linkspan to the ferries was of a different design, loading of vehicles had to be amended to accommodate this. One of these measures was to increase the water ballast at the forrard part of the ship making her slightly "bow down". This was not remedied before the ship sailed, so the "freeboard" forrard was even less than normal when the assistant boatswain responsible for ensuring that the bow doors were closed before the ship left her moorings failed to materialise for duty having fallen asleep in his cabin after unloading the vehicles from the previous crossing. The first officer was responsible for ensuring that the bow doors were closed before leaving the car decks for the bridge, but on this occasion, thought he saw the assistant boatswain approaching as the ship made for sea, and left for the bridge without ensuring that the doors had actually been closed. The boatswain, the last member of crew left on the car deck, noticed that the doors were still open, but left without closing them as it "was not his responsibility". The Captain on the bridge, given the design of the doors, had no visual check and with no monitoring signals then installed on the bridge had no way of telling whether he was sailing out to sea with bow doors open or closed. In October 1983, the court was told, the sister ship "Pride of Free Enterprise" had in fact sailed the whole voyage from Dover to Zeebrugge with the bow doors open, again after that ship's assistant boatswain fell asleep. The tragedy had the effect of introducing improvements to the design of this type of ship, not least the installation of bow door indicators oh the bridge, and from 1990 the requirement in new built ships to increase the freeboard (the height between the water level and the car deck) to 49 inches, from the previous 30 inches. Some RoRo's are now built with rear doors only, and further regulations limit the undivided length of a car deck on this type of ship. Herald of Free Enterprise's adventures didn't end with her towing to Flushing (Vlissingen). It had been hoped that she might be repaired and sold on to another operator, but not surprisingly this failed to happen. (Townsend Thoresen's parent company P&O, with all the adverse publicity had already rebranded the Townsend Thoresen image as P&O European Ferries, repainted the ships and obliterated the TT branding). She was sold to a company in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Renamed "Flushing Range" and with her TT branding painted over, she left under tow on the 5th October 1987 for scrapping in Taiwan. The tow ran into the great storm of 1987 four days later off Finisterre, and she was cut adrift when her towline parted. Ten days later she was under tow again, but her hull began to disintegrate off of South Africa and she was taken into Port Elizabeth on 2nd January 1988 for temporary repairs. She finally arrived in Taiwan on 22nd March 1988, just over a year after the tragedy.

[@mikegallant811]

Are you serious... one of them had the damn doors open the WHOLE GODDAMN WAY on one crossing? 😢Omfg! I'm sorry about the blue language, but omg, they're lucky that time that it didn't flood the vehicle deck... Hold on a minute while I pick my jawbone up off my lap.... There we go.... Oh Madonn'....

[@andyspokes1652]

Always amazed me how they said the bow doors were stuck open, now l had sailed on that ferry and it`s sister ship the pride many times while going home on leave from the army in West Germany, lost count how many times each of those ferries left Zeebrugge with the doors open, all went wrong that night an in my opinion somebody should have served a long jail sentence.

[@gwynbennett-williams]

I remember crossing the Channel on her and her sister ships prior to this with a truck sticking out of the bow doors.

[@mazzottafrancesco]

@Floyd1504 Cargo can shift at sea. In 2009 on a stena ship from Scotland to N. Ireland, a cement mixer shifted and broke open the loading doors. They were half way across the sea and continued on their journey with a cement mixer hanging out of the ship. Just google the photos. Not the first case. Won't the last. I sincerely doubt his story is BS. You can also check out photos of Irish Ferries ship the Epsilon that sailed into storm imogen in 2016, the photos of the car deck look like an explosion occured.

[@dafyddthomas7299]

Sailed a few times on Herald and pride as well - as I was only 12-14 at time didn't know about the situation of the Ferries leaving port with door open, unfortunately operating lax safety measures like this and no light indicator was unfortunately an accident waiting to happen and only saving grace was that the ferry did not sink in deeper water The narration style and sombre key to this documentary reminds me of the same style in the horrible docu-film Threads in 1984 about a realistic nuclear attacked between East vs West narrated by Paul Vaughan

[@MissRandomwriter]

Andy Spokes- You kind of contradict yourself... You say you sailed on her many times with the bow doors open... yet, THIS night, 'somebody' should have served a long jail sentence' -??? It seemed to be a combination of things regularly done... but never done TOGETHER, that caused this tragedy. We live and learn. Every accident can be 'blamed' on someone.

[@brianprice544]

Gwyn Bennett-Williams.

[@Dave-id6sj]

I'm not a religious person, I don't subscribe to the notions of God, Jesus, resurrection etc. but as a boy I was compelled to attend church with my parents, go through all the rigmarole of being baptised then attending classes to receive communion. Once I reached 16 I said, look this isn't for me, I'm not going to attend church anymore except for weddings and funerals. However having said all that, the only hymn that chokes me up is Those in Peril on the Sea. That and the last post on remembrance day. Probably because my dad served 21 years in the Royal Navy, as did my mum until she was discharged for getting married and getting pregnant, back in those days that's just how it was. The start of this video was beautiful and poignant, a credit to those who go down to the sea in ships and engage in the work of the salvers. Brave men, one and all and a credit to the maritime tradition of assisting even when that assistance places your own life in danger.

[@pommiebears]

Davidski my grandfather was committed to the sea after he died. The Royal Navy offered this because my grandad had been mentioned in dispatches, and earned oak leaves for bravery. That hymn was used, and it’s extremely touching, immensely touching. I believe you’d need a heart of stone not to be moved by that hymn. I am also not a religious person......but, the Royal Navy did my grandad very proud the day that they committed him to the sea. I used to ask him if he was a hero.....he would say no. He was ordered to go into the ships fire and turn some equipment off, for which he suffered burns to his hands and forearms. He managed to do as ordered though. I adore my grandad, and weep as I share this with you. He raised me. I remember him weeping when this ferry capsized....I like to humble myself in this busy world to remember them, and others lost at sea. 🌹

[@ryankenyon5010]

I remember this. So tragic.

[@geoffmitchell6515]

Very moving total respect well done. RIP ALL

[@robarnold4104]

How things have changed!!, no life jackets, no hard hats, no safety harness!!!

[@swskating3865]

Rob Arnold H&S has been blown out of proportion....

[@paulkazjack]

No net zero.

[@PKFVchannel]

@mobyyy7777 It was refloat to be towed to a scrapyard (under the name Flushing Range), but fell apart during the transportation. After repairs it was finally towed to the scrapyard. You can find all details on Wikipedia.

[@ac9110]

Excellent documentary.

[@bigredc222]

Very impressive. It seemed odd that they stopped all operations for a couple days to retrieve the victims, rather than waiting till it was further along so it could handle bad weather if it arose which it did. My condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

[@chloesdad1000]

Remember this well, think it was a Friday if I recall. Very sad day in our history and RIP to all that died.

[@BlytheWorld1972]

The men that worked on this are amazing

[@borkumriff642]

Goede film Pim, laten de slachtoffers van deze afschuwelijke scheepsramp niet vergeten worden ! Indeed a great piece of film, may the casuals of this disaster not be forgotten !

[@jonjo164580]

My father was a lorry driver,booked on this ferry on that Friday night,but unknown to the rest of us,had missed the boat due to groupage paperwork in Germany.for 6 hour's i had lost my father+best friend.....luckily he came home,but my thought's go out to those that were not as lucky....RIP to those that did not come home.......................

[@marklloyd3536]

Excellent fascinating video.

[@graham2sexy955]

👏 excellent documentary

[@astra47420]

Very interesting such a big loss remember this we I wos 17 yes old never thought about it at the time so sad😢

[@thesceptic1018]

Watch the BBC Real Men series video on saturation diving; one of them who helped recover the victims can’t even talk about what he saw

[@gbasquille9101]

Watching the mammoth engineering task come to a successful conclusion then 28:55 😔 devastating

[@danentwisle8885]

Yes, that got me too.

[@Stormgebieder]

Today 30 years ago!

[@Jimmy87nottingham]

My old manager for Ethel Austin's was on board when he was a teenager. I think he said he was in the canteen. He made it out but 3 of his friends died.

[@georgetempest9627]

first of all - I used this ferry a lot in the 80's and they always left port with the bow loading bay wide open whatever the weather - this was asking for disaster to happen. But what disgusts me is the mentioning of 'recovering casualties' from the cafeteria - a friend of mine was one of the divers and he described the retrieval of body parts as pulling bones out of well cooked chicken... He had to leave his job because of depression - if you don't know what a body looks like after being under water for a few days only, don't try to make it sound so casual please! It is the usual nanny state Britain's attitude - don't scare the bystanders...

[@andyspokes1652]

An l can confirm that about the bow doors open.

[@birbiebirdie]

Frequent Germany to UK traveller here, my parents also confirmed the doors were left open for a few minutes on the way out onto the sea to speed up boarding.~

[@BigLebowski2000]

also the ballast tanks were not emptied, so the ship was lying 1 meter lower too. :-(

[@daveevans8256]

The impossible accomplished.Well done.

[@ako5bcv]

I came home on this boat a week before this when it was going Calais to Dover 😱😱

[@wimrobberechts1230]

Nog steeds een indrukwekkende film.

[@Maryonpark]

If you'd like to know more about this tragedy I suggest you read 'Zeebrugge, A Hero's Story' written by Stephen Homewood. He was working as an Assistant Purser on board that evening. A fascinating read, very well written.

[@LisaSimpson2]

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely look out for that :-)

[@HEDGE1011]

Andy D Completely agree Andy. It's a great read that puts a survivor's perspective and the human element into a picture that's frequently obscured by the magnitude of the technological tragedy of the "Herald". This was a great but sobering documentary of the job Smit faced. They certainly excelled in a very difficult mission.

[@MissRandomwriter]

Hmm... Any autobiography that claims the term 'hero' in it's title, is off-putting.

[@147sterling6]

@@MissRandomwriter Those 193 victims who died were: Barry Allen, 49, of Folkestone. Cook. Eileen Baddeley, 41, of Wallasey. Passenger. Ian Baddeley, 54, of Wallasey. Passenger. Richard Barnard, 38, of Deal. Quartermaster. Lee Birtles, 38, of River. Storeman. Norman Blanchard, 49, of Essex. Passenger. Robert Boatwright, 36, of Middlesex. Passenger. Daphne Bonner, 41, of Gravesend. Passenger. Terence Bonner, 42, of Gravesend. Passenger. Jennifer Braganza, 20, of Middlesex. Passenger. Jody Bray, 7, of Teynham. Passenger. John Bray, 32, of Teynham. Passenger. Gerard Brazil, 43, of Dover. Cook. Carole Buckley, 37, of Yeovil. Passenger. Nichola Buckley, 13, of Yeovil. Passenger. Patrick Buckley, 44, of Yeovil. Passenger. Diana Bunker, 29, of Germany. Passenger. Nadine Bunker. Passenger. Lynda Burt, 38, of Dover. Stewardess. Daniel Burthe, 42, of Folkestone. Cafeteria supervisor. Laura Bushaway, 12, of Milton Keynes. Passenger. Ronald Bushaway, 63, of Milton Keynes. Passenger. Rosina Bushaway, 59, of Milton Keynes. Passenger. Glen Butler, 25, of Folkestone. Steward. Astrid Cain, 55, of Middlesex. Passenger. Janice Cain, 32, of Middlesex. Passenger. Percy Calder, 45, of Sholden. Steward. Linda Cockram, 24, of Wembley. Passenger. Edward Crofton, 52, of River. Passenger. Robert Crone, 48, of St Margaret’s. Senior chief engineer. Margaret Cross, 42, of Berkshire. Passenger. Stanley Darby, 57, of Hawkinge. Chef Petty Officer. Wayne Davies, 25, of Wales. Passenger. Brian Delafield, 47, of Maidstone. Passenger. Carol Delafield, 43, of Maidstone. Passenger. Sharon Delafield, 17, of Maidstone. Passenger. David Disbury, 37, of Dover. Assistant Purser. Andrew Dockrill, of Essex. Passenger. Emma Dockrill, 17, of Essex. Passenger. Patricia Dockrill, 41, of Essex. Passenger. Paul Donnelly, 24, of Southampton. Passenger. Paul Dowman, 22, of Essex. Passenger. Carol Dowie, 32, of Chatham. Passenger. Irene Dowie, 65, of Chatham. Passenger. Clayton Dyer, 18, of Whitfield. Steward. Brian Eades, 47, of St Margaret’s. Senior Purser. Maureen Edwards, 48, of Nottinghamshire. Passenger Ann English, 29, of Strood. Passenger. Graham Evans, 43, of St Margaret’s. Electrician. Thomas Everard, 23, of County Meath. Passenger. Steven Ewell, 23, of Folkestone. Steward. Louise Finnegan, 20, of Cambridgeshire. Passenger. Roy Finnegan, 41, of London. Passenger. Alan Firbank, 21, of Leicester. Passenger. Andrew Fox, 11, of Maidstone. Passenger. Terence Frame 34, of Deal. Senior barman. Alison Gaillard, 27, of north west London. Passenger. Francis Gaillard, 27, of north west London. Passenger. John Gaylard. Passenger. Christopher Glendenning, 41, of Cheriton. Passenger. Nicholas Gough, 19, of Aylesham. Steward. Eileen Gudgeon, 48, of Essex. Passenger. Julius GutwurcelI, 78, of Surrey. Passenger. Geoffrey Haney, 30, of Dover. Second cook. David Harris, 24, of London. Passenger. Lita Harris, 34, of West Malling. Passenger. Nicholas Harris, 39, of Gillingham. Passenger. Elsie Hartley, 65, of Derbyshire. Passenger. Hazel Hartley, 38, of Derbyshire. Passenger. Joseph Hartley, 65, of Derbyshire. Passenger. Richard Hartley, 31, of Derbyshire. Passenger. Patricia Hawley, 40, of Derbyshire. Passenger. Dean Hayward, 27, of Deal. Motorman. Barry Head, 25, of St Mary’s Bay. Steward. Robert Heard, 36, of Coventry. Passenger. Steven Helkvist, 24, of Dover. Cook. Richard Higgins, 20, of Surrey. Passenger. Peter Hilling, 47, of Germany. Passenger. Simon Hinton, 32, of Basingstoke. Passenger. Susan Hinton, 36, of Basingstoke. Passenger. Richard Hobbs, 23, of Aylesham. Able Seaman. Peter Hood, 51, of Dover. Passenger. Rebecca Horton, 23 days, of Essex. Passenger. Sharon Horton, 28, of Essex. Passenger. Anna Howard, 46, of east London. Passenger. Catherine Howard, 2I, of east London. Passenger. Stuart Hurley, 17, of Yeovil. Passenger. Maurice Ibbotson-Gale, 36, of Scunthorpe. Passenger. Ivy Jackson, 66, of Burton-on-Trent. Passenger. Patricia Jefferson, 38, of Sussex. Passenger. William Jefferson, 40, of Sussex. Passenger. Edward Johnson, 17, of Milton Keynes. Passenger. Kathleen Johnson, 43, of Milton Keynes. Passenger. Stephen Kenny, 33, of Gillingham. Passenger. Brenda Lamb, 31, of London. Passenger. Frances Lamy, 42, of east London. Passenger. Kim Lamy, 20, of east London. Passsenger. Steven Lamy, 11 months, of east London. Passenger. Victoria Lamy, 66, of east London. Passenger. Christopher Lawrence, 49, of Lancashire. Passenger. Ian Lawson, 24, of Dover. Steward. Graham Lennox, 38, of Essex. Passenger. Mark Lennox, 13, of Essex. Passenger. Gary Lloyd, 19, of Leicestershire. Passenger. Shirley Lopez, 40, of Surrey. Passenger. Angus MacKay, 43, of Deal. Cook. Terence Maloney, 55, of Hertfordshire. Passenger. Robert Mantle, 40, of Deal. Radio Officer. Paul Marshall, 34, of Rochester. Passenger. Mildred Martin, 61, of Basingstoke. Passenger. Peter Martin, 53, of Sussex. Passenger. Catherine Mason, 28, of Germany. Passenger. Loranda Massey, 25, of Middlesex. Passenger. Sheila McKenny, 53, of St Leonard’s-on-Sea. Passenger. Alan Medhurst, 25, of Dover. Steward John Millgate, 26, of Dover. Passenger. Ivor Moat, 36, of Canterbury. Cook. Christopher Moy, 29, of Cheriton. Passenger. Edward Oldfield, 54, of Dover. Steward. Kiran Parsons, 28, of Nottinghamshire. Passenger. Hugh Pashley, 37, of Farnborough. Passenger. Neil Patterson, 47, of High Wycombe. Passenger. Nicola Payne,20, of Hastings. Passenger. Thomas Peach, 42, of Staffordshire. Passenger. Margaret Pelling, 58, of Beckenham. Passenger. Lea Pennicard, 18, of Essex. Passenger. Darren Perkins, 21, of Hastings. Passenger. Simon Perkins, 18, of Hastings. Passenger. Bettina Picinco, 49, of Cleveland. Passenger. Emily Peirce, 4, of Sittingbourne. Passenger. Fiona Pinnells, 20, of Aylesbury. Passenger. Heidi Pinnells, 12, of Aylesbury. Passenger. Egerton Quested, 39, of Eythorne. Steward. Karen Ray, 22, of Middlesex. Passenger. Stephen Redman, 30, of Middlesex. Passenger. Jacqueline Reeder, 16, of Dunstable. Passenger. Jonathan Reynolds, 19, of Buckinghamshire. Passenger. Merna Richards, 31, of Canterbury. Stewardess. Ernest Rodgers, 52, of Dover. Motorman. David Santer, 48, of Folkestone. Steward. Michael Saunders, 41, of Gillingham. Passenger. David Saxby, 44, of Luton. Passenger. William Schmidt, 34, of London. Passenger. David Scott, 20, of Cheshire. Passenger. Wayne Sculthorpe, 19, of Leicester. Passenger. John Seely, 62, of Swanley. Passenger. Joyce Seely, 61, of Swanley. Passenger. Norman Sherratt, 40, of south east London. Passenger. Patricia Simpson, 39, of Welwyn Garden CIty. Passenger. Sadersham Lal Singhal, 57, of Nottinghamshire. Passenger. Michael Skippen, 29, of Canterbury. Head waiter. Brian Smith, 29, of Manchester. Passenger. Donna Smith, 27, of Manchester. Passenger. Sean Smith, 2I months, of Manchester. Passenger. Mary Smith, 44, of Essex. Passenger. Michael Smith. Passenger. Richard Smith, 33, of Gillingham. Passenger. Rosemary Smith, 25, of Middlesex. Passenger. Stephen Smith, 32, of Heme Bay. Passenger. Barry Sopp, 39, of Bedfordshire. Passenger. Anthony Spink, 41, of Whitfield. Steward. Martin Spooner, 31, of Enfield. Passenger. Neil Spooner, 37, of Essex. Passenger. Stephen Sprules, 17, of Dover. Catering assistant. James Stanyer, 48, of Farnborough. Passenger. Alan Stedman. Passenger. Piotr Swietochowski, 33, of west London. Passenger. Beverley Taylor, 36, of Germany. Passenger. Carol Taylor, 30, of south east London. Passenger. Stephen Taylor, 34, of south east London. Passenger. Donald Thirkettle, 57, of Middlesex. Passenger. Gary Thomas, 23, of the Royal Artillery. Passenger Christopher Thumwood, 30, of Broadstairs. Second Engineering Officer. Janet Turner, 30, of Meopham. Passenger. Stephen Turner, 38, of Meopham. Passenger. Colin Virtue, 46, of Bromley. Passenger. Jacqueline Virtue, 44, of Bromley. Passenger. John Warwick, 29, of Folkestone. Steward. Alan Waters, 61, of Berkshire. Passenger. Molly Waters, 56, of Berkshire. Passenger. Dolvis Wellington-Fray, 28, of West Norwood. Passenger. David Whitworth, 36, of Liverpool. Passenger. Margaret Wieliczko, 22, of south London. Passenger. Derek Wilson, 61, of Sheffield. Passenger. Melanie Wilson, 23, of Middlesex. Passenger. Alan Woodall, 24, of Luton. Passenger. Derek Woodhouse, 62, of Essex. Passenger. Nora Woodhouse, 54, of Essex. Passenger. Kevin Worsley-Smith, 25, of Dover. Steward. Betty Wren, 32, of Middlesex. Passenger. Stephen Wren, 32, of Middlesex. Passenger. Jacqueline Wyatt, 24, of London. Passenger. Christine Young, 32, of Sittingbourne. Passenger.

[@MissRandomwriter]

@@147sterling6 - Jesus, that is one, tedious and boring list, however, I thank you for the two who are genetically and emotionally connected with me, and were grabbed from me the day/night after my 8th birthday - 6th March 1987. I grew up in Folkestone, but day-trips to Europe were never taken so casually again. That day changed my life, and those who squeal about screams at fairgrounds know NOTHING - I hope they die, continuing to know nothing, as their value is that of bacteria, compared to those I lost that night.

[@tedplatt8981]

I also was supposed to travel back on this ship but through what we thought at the time was a catalogue of disasters we missed it .someone was looking out for us that night .

[@mikegallant811]

Ted I know who was looking out for you buddy it was our lord Jesus. And our heavenly father and the holy Spirit and probably our holy mother Mary they were all looking out for you that night to make sure that you would not be on the herald of free enterprise.

[@brashers759]

I was 7 when this happened and can remember sitting at the breakfast table watching the news, and then seeing it in the papers. I believe that there was a charity record released in aid of the victims families, including a young girl who lost both parents, I think it was called ‘a kiss through glass’

[@BlytheWorld1972]

Amazing the men managed to refloat her

[@makethman007]

when i was in college and uni i went on this ferry about 50 times all ruined due to incompentent / lazy staff company went bankrupt shortly after

[@paulpalmer8235]

I was booked on this ferry! Cancelled as my Nan was ill (Dad was in the army living in Germany!)

[@jilldemuynck-ko3si]

My dad was in the navy and was on call that evening when he got the call that he had to go to zeebrugge immediatly because a ship was sinking. He helped a lot of people out of the water that evening and saw horrible things.. after all these years he still hasn´t spoken about it and i think he will never speak about it. I know this because my mom told me

[@davejames1452]

R.i.p ❤

[@chriscollis9315]

I remember this happening may they all in peace.

[@stnicholas54]

Completely avoidable disaster. The sea was the executioner but gross incompetence put their heads on the chopping block.

[@madzzbean3484]

Fun fact: my mum went on the same boat a year before it sank and she watched it sail off to sea in person . She was 16 at the time, now she won’t allow me or my older brothers to go on a boat, in fear of what might happen

[@sr7791]

I assume she lets you get into a car where the chances of being injured or killed are significantly higher

[@paulreilly3904]

@@sr7791 well said

[@DavidChapmanAZ]

9:20 Hard hats? Who needs hard hats?

[@kingjames7273]

Bravo well done

[@bbsb300]

What a tragic incident and such an amazing feat of engineering to salvage the ship.