All language subtitles for Disasters.at.Sea.S03E05.Capsized.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

A CAR FERRY

HEADS BACK ACROSS
THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

WE'D HAD A GOOD DAY
OUT AND WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD

TO HAVING A NEW ADVENTURE
ON THE SHIP ON THE WAY HOME.

JUST OUTSIDE
THE HARBOR, DISASTER STRIKES.

WATER
ABSOLUTELY PLOWED IN.

AND JUST HIT ME
LIKE A BULLDOZER.

EVERYDAY HEROES
SCRAMBLE TO THE SCENE.

PEOPLE
INSIDE THE SHIP,

SCREAMING AND SHOUTING, CRYING.

IT'S ABSOLUTE CHAOS
AND CONFUSION.

THE WORST PART OF IT,

HAVING TO SEE THE CHILDREN
FLOATING IN THE WATER.

THE
INVESTIGATION REVEALS

A DEADLY MISCALCULATION.

WE DID HAVE TO
SCRATCH OUR HEADS

AT HOW ON EARTH
THIS VESSEL SANK.

SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
MAKE IT ACROSS THE CHANNEL.

SPEED WAS ALL
IMPORTANT AND SAFETY WAS NOT.

IT WAS ALL
MADNESS REALLY.

MARCH 6TH, 1987.

ZEEBRUGGE HARBOR, BELGIUM.

TANKERS, CONTAINER
SHIPS AND FERRIES

ALL CONVERGE AT THIS
BUSY EUROPEAN PORT,

A VITAL HUB FOR SHIPPING
AND TRANSPORTATION.

ROGER THAT.

WE'VE BEGUN LOADING, CAPTAIN.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU.

AS
DAYLIGHT BEGINS TO FADE,

THE CREW OF THE 430-FOOT FERRY,

THE HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE,

STARTS LOADING
THEIR MASSIVE SHIP.

SHE WAS A VERY
MODERN AND VERY EFFICIENT

ROLL ON ROLL OFF FERRY.

SHE WAS DESIGNED BOTH
FOR SPEED AND FOR VOLUME.

SO CALLED RO-RO
FERRIES, LIKE THE HERALD,

LET CARS AND TRUCKS DRIVE
STRAIGHT THROUGH THE SHIP.

RAMPS AT THE FRONT AND BACK
HELP LOADING AND UNLOADING

HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE SPEED SAVES TIME,

AND TIME IS MONEY IN
THE FERRY BUSINESS.

THE TIME PRESSURES
CAN BE QUITE EXACTING.

IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE
OPTIMUM EFFICIENCY,

YOU'VE GOT TO GET CARGO
ONBOARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S
AN UNRELENTING PACE

FOR CREW MEMBERS LIKE ASSISTANT
BOATSWAIN MARK STANLEY.

THEIR WORKDAY STARTED HOURS
EARLIER IN DOVER, ENGLAND.

A CREW WILL HAVE
AN ASSISTANT BOATSWAIN,

RESPONSIBLE FOR
DIRECTING THE TRAFFIC

INTO THE PROPER PLACES.

YOU CAN GET TRAILERS,
YOU CAN GET LORRIES,

YOU CAN GET COACHES,

AND THEN YOU CAN GET
CARS AND CARAVANS.

KEEP IT MOVING.

KEEP IT MOVING.

THE 9,000-TON
FERRY HAS TWO DECKS

FOR LOADING VEHICLES.

ALSO ON BOARD ARE DUTY-FREE
SHOPS, RESTAURANTS,

CAFETERIAS AND A LOUNGE
THAT SHOWS MOVIES.

KEEP IT MOVING!

THE 100-MILE TRIP
ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL

SHOULD TAKE ABOUT FOUR HOURS.

IT'S THE LAST SCHEDULED
RUN OF THE DAY.

THIS IS A BIG SHIP.

16 YEAR-OLD
GILLIAN BADDELEY AND HER FAMILY

ARE RETURNING HOME FROM
A DAY TRIP TO BELGIUM.

THERE WAS A, A DEAL
ON IN THE "SUN" NEWSPAPER

AND IT WAS A POUND

TO GO TO THESE DIFFERENT
PLACES VIA FERRY.

AND WHEREVER THE TRIP WAS,

THAT WAS WHERE WE
WOULD BE TAKEN.

WE'D HAD A GOOD DAY OUT
AND WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD

TO HAVING A NEW ADVENTURE
ON THE SHIP ON THE WAY HOME.

MARK, YOU KEEP AN
EYE ON YOUR BROTHER.

WE GOT
ONTO THE FERRY;

ALL THE KIDS KIND OF DEPARTED,

THEY ALL WENT THEIR
SEPARATE WAYS TO THE CINEMAS

AND RESTAURANTS AND OTHER THINGS
TO KEEP US ALL ENTERTAINED.

DEAR, ALRIGHT.

COME ON.

NOW, NOT TOO MANY SWEETS, LOVE.

-THANKS, MUM.
-OKAY, LOVE.

SEE YOU IN A MINUTE.
YEAH.

-18 YEAR
- OLD MARTIN BARNES

WORKS IN ONE OF THE
SHIP'S CAFETERIAS.

OH, IT WAS A GREAT
SOCIAL, SOCIAL CIRCLE OF CREW.

WHOA MATE!

WE SOCIALIZED TOGETHER;
WE HAD PLAYED FOOTBALL TOGETHER.

MANY OF US WERE
SORTA GOOD FRIENDS,

YOU KNOW, SOCIALIZING AND
DRINKING OUTSIDE OF WORK.

I'LL SEE YOU
TOMORROW, YEAH?

IT WAS A FRIDAY.

ONE OF OUR FRIENDS WAS
HAVING AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY

ON THE SATURDAY, SO WE
WAS ALL LOOKING FORWARD

TO GETTING OFF ON THAT SATURDAY.

TRUCKER, LARRY
O'BRIEN, IS HEADING BACK HOME

TO IRELAND WITH A LOAD
OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

FOR TRANSPORT DRIVERS USING
THE CROSS-CHANNEL FERRY

IS A ROUTINE PART OF THE JOB.

I'M SORRY, MATE,
YOU'RE TOO LATE.

OH NO, PLEASE.

I PULL IN AND THE
SECURITY MAN SAID,

"YOU'RE TOO LATE."

PLEASE, MY PAPERS
ARE DONE, PLEASE.

LET ME SEE YOUR
PAPERS, PLEASE.

WELL, I WAS IN TRANSIT,

MY LOAD WAS SIGNED FROM
GERMANY DIRECT TO IRELAND,

SO I HAD NO CUSTOMS TO
DEAL WITH, IT WAS DIRECT.

YEAH, WE'VE GOT
A BIG LORRY HERE.

SO HE SAID, "OKAY, GO
AHEAD, YOU'RE LUCKY."

IT'S YOUR
LUCKY DAY, MATE.

-OH, THANK YOU.
-ALL RIGHT.

SO I DROVE STRAIGHT
DOWN, AND A MAN JUST BECKONED ME

STRAIGHT IN ON THE BOAT
AND I WAS THE LAST TO LOAD.

O'BRIEN'S
GLAD HE GOT ON BOARD.

HE HAS A YOUNG DAUGHTER
AND A PREGNANT WIFE

WAITING FOR HIM AT HOME.

CREW TO
HARBOR STATIONS.

CREW TO HARBOR STATIONS.

ON MY WAY.

WITH THE LAST
PASSENGERS AND VEHICLES LOADED,

THE HERALD IS READY
TO LEAVE PORT.

-OKAY, TAKE HER OUT.
-TAKE HER OUT!

TONIGHT, THE
HUSTLE OF THE CREW PAYS OFF.

THE HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE

DEPARTS JUST A FEW
MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE.

I WENT OFF TO
THE RESTAURANT

TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

I WAS LOOKING AROUND, SO MANY
PEOPLE, FAMILIES AND KIDS.

I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY
SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE BOAT.

YOU KNOW, NORMALLY
THAT TIME OF YEAR

THERE'D BE ONLY JUST TRUCK
DRIVERS AND NO ONE ELSE ON IT.

QUITE A LOT
OF THE FAMILIES

USED TO MAKE IT A
DAY OUT ON THE FERRY.

AND WE HAD THE RETURN LEG
FROM ZEEBRUGGE ON THAT NIGHT.

SO, IT WAS PARTICULARLY BUSY.

I DECIDED
TO GO OUTSIDE

AND HAVE A LOOK AT THE VIEW

AS WE WERE LEAVING PORT,
WHICH WAS QUITE AMAZING.

I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON
THE OUTSIDE OF THE SHIP.

LESS THAN 25
MINUTES INTO THE VOYAGE,

WITH THE HARBOR STILL IN SIGHT,

THE HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE
SUDDENLY LURCHES TO THE LEFT.

IT LOOKED LIKE THE
BOAT WAS GOING UNDER THE WATER.

I THOUGHT, WELL, IT
MUST BE LIKE A MIRAGE.

I WAS IMAGINING IT.

BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

MUMMY, WE'RE SINKING!

BELOW DECKS,
WHERE THE VEHICLES ARE PARKED,

MORE PROOF THAT SOMETHING
IS HORRIBLY WRONG.

THERE'S WATER
COMING DOWN THE STAIRS!

WHAT ON EARTH
IS GOING ON HERE?

THE
HERALD RIGHTS ITSELF.

SHE CAME BACK OUT OF
THAT AND KIND OF STRAIGHTENED.

BUT WITHIN SECONDS,

THE CREW REALIZES THE
CRISIS IS FAR FROM OVER.

ONCE AGAIN, THE HERALD LISTS
DANGEROUSLY TO ONE SIDE.

BUT SHE DIDN'T COME
BACK FROM THIS ONE,

SHE WENT STRAIGHT OVER.

HAPPENED SO QUICKLY,

COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
HAPPENED SO QUICKLY.

PLATES AND PEOPLE
STARTED FALLING.

ANYTHING THAT WASN'T
STRAPPED DOWN OR TIED DOWN

WAS GOING THROUGH THE
AIR, INCLUDING PEOPLE.

DIDN'T REALIZE EXACTLY
WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

I FELL AGAINST THE WINDOW
AT THE SIDE OF THE SHIP.

THE HERALD HAS
ROLLED OVER IN JUST 90 SECONDS.

539 PEOPLE ARE TRAPPED ON BOARD.

AND THE ICE COLD SEA WATER

IS ABOUT TO MAKE THE TERRIFYING
SITUATION MUCH WORSE.

THE HERALD OF FREE
ENTERPRISE HAS CAPSIZED

IN THE FRIGID WATERS

JUST OUTSIDE OF BELGIUM'S
ZEEBRUGGE HARBOR

WITH 539 PEOPLE ON BOARD.

THROUGHOUT THE SHIP,

PASSENGERS AND CREW ARE
STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE.

AND THE SITUATION IS
ABOUT TO GET EVEN WORSE.

THERE WAS A MASSIVE
WINDOW AND WHEN IT BURST,

THE WATER ABSOLUTELY PLOWED IN.

PORTHOLE WINDOWS, EXIT
DOORS, ENTRY DOORS,

CAME UP THROUGH DECKS,
CAME IN EVERYWHERE.

THE WATER HAD COME
UP FROM THE CAR DECK,

UP THE LIFT SHAFT AND
RUSHED AND THEN JUST HIT ME

LIKE A BULLDOZER.

WHERE I WAS,
COMPLETELY UNDER WATER,

THE LIGHTS SORT OF STARTED
APPEARING AS IF I'D GONE.

I CAN REMEMBER THINKING
ALMOST THAT WAS IT.

GAME OVER.

I WAS STILL HOLDING THE
TABLE AND I SAID TO MYSELF,

WHAT AM I DOING HERE?

THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY
OUT AND THAT WAS UP.

NOW TO GO UP, IF YOU
CAN IMAGINE A SHIP

THAT'S COMPLETELY
GONE ON ITS SIDE,

TO GET UP WAS GOING
TO BE A PROBLEM.

FELT LIKE A TRUE,
A NIGHTMARE.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS HAPPENING

TIL I POPPED UP OUT OF
THE WATER AND I THOUGHT,

SUDDENLY THOUGHT,
THIS IS, THIS IS REAL.

GILLIAN
BADDELEY WAS UP ON DECK

WHEN SHE WAS KNOCKED OUT.

AND, WHEN I AWOKE,

THEN I REALIZED THEN
THE BOAT HAD CAPSIZED,

AND I NEEDED TO GET
BACK INTO THE SHIP

TO ACTUALLY FIND MY PARENTS.

THAT'S WHAT I
THOUGHT I HAD TO DO.

I HAD TO GO BACK
AND FIND MY PARENTS.

I REALIZED I COULDN'T
PHYSICALLY DO IT

BECAUSE THE WATER WAS
RISING ON THE INSIDE

AND IT WAS GETTING
HIGHER AND HIGHER.

THAT'S WHEN I KNEW THAT I
HAD TO JUMP INTO THE SEA,

OTHERWISE I MIGHT HAVE
DROWNED ON THE ACTUAL SHIP.

AND I KNEW I HAD TO
FIGHT FOR MY LIFE.

MOM HAD TAUGHT ME HOW TO
SWIM AS A YOUNG CHILD,

OTHERWISE I WOULD
NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE

TO SAVE MY OWN LIFE THAT NIGHT.

IT WAS FREEZING COLD AND
THE SEA WAS REALLY ROUGH.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,

AND I THOUGHT I COULD
ACTUALLY SWIM BACK TO SHORE.

AND THEN I REALIZED OF
COURSE I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO

BECAUSE IT WAS TOO ROUGH.

INSIDE THE SHIP,

O'BRIEN AND HUNDREDS
OF OTHER PASSENGERS

ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT

AS THE ICE-COLD WATERS
CONTINUE TO RISE.

THE WORST PART FOR ME,

TO HEAR THE PEOPLE
SCREAMING AND SHOUTING.

AS THE CRISIS
WORSENS ON BOARD THE HERALD,

PORT CONTROLLERS
IN ZEEBRUGGE HARBOR

RECEIVE AN URGENT RADIO
CALL FROM A NEARBY SHIP.

A CAR FERRY
HAS JUST ROLLED OVER

NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE HARBOR.

THE PORT
CONTROLLER ISSUES A MAYDAY.

MALCOLM SHAKESBY
IS CHIEF OFFICER

ON BOARD THE DUKE OF ANGLIA.

WHAT'S THIS
ABOUT THE FERRY?

HIS CREW HEARS THE
CALL AS THEY NEAR THE HARBOR

AND THEY IMMEDIATELY BEGIN
LOOKING FOR THE VESSEL.

THERE WAS A MAYDAY,

WILL ALL VESSELS PROCEED
IN THE AREA

TO LOOK FOR THE BLOODY FERRY?

ON THE HERALD,

PASSENGERS CAN'T WAIT
FOR HELP TO ARRIVE.

THERE'S ONLY ONE THING
THAT CAME INTO MY MIND

WAS ABOUT ME SURVIVING
AND ME TRYING TO LIVE.

I FOUND A HOSE REEL,
A FIREHOSE REEL,

AND I THREW IT UP TO
GET AROUND A CHAIR

AND I MISSED, OF COURSE,
AND I TRIED IT AGAIN.

I GOT AROUND IT SO I SAID
NOW, COULD I PULL MYSELF UP?

IN ANOTHER
PART OF THE SHIP,

MARTIN BARNES IS STILL
ALIVE, BUT HE HAS NO WAY OUT

AS THE FRIGID NORTH SEA
CONTINUES TO POUR IN.

THE BACKS OF THE SEATS,

THEY'RE ALL FIXED TO THE DECK,

SO THE BACKS OF THE SEATS
THEN BECAME A LADDER SYSTEM.

SO, I CAN REMEMBER LIKE,

PULLING MYSELF UP THE
BACKS OF THESE SEATS,

FALLING BACK OFF AGAIN,
'CAUSE I WAS WET, I WAS COLD.

I WAS HEAVIER WITH THE WATER
ALL SOAKING IN MY CLOTHES.

USING THE
FIREHOSE, LARRY O'BRIEN

HAS MANAGED TO PULL
HIMSELF CLEAR OF THE WATER.

HE SCALES THE CHAIRS,

BUT NOW THERE'S
ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

I CLIMBED UP AND THE
WINDOW WAS IN FRONT OF ME.

THERE'S NO
WAY TO OPEN THE WINDOW.

O'BRIEN IS TRAPPED.

I TOOK OFF MY BOOT.

I KEPT BEATING IT WITH A BOOT

AND EVENTUALLY BROKE OUT OF IT.

I PUT MY HAND IN MY POCKET AND
I TOOK OUT 20 WET CIGARETTES.

SO WE WEREN'T GOING
TO HAVE A SMOKE.

I SAID, I HAVE TO GET
SOMEONE'S ATTENTION.

SO I TOOK OUT MY CIGARETTE
LIGHTER, OUT OF MY POCKET,

AND I STARTED TO FLASH IT,

FLICKING IT LIKE THIS,
LIGHT AT THE SEA.

COULD THE SHIP TWO
OR THREE MILES AWAY--

HEY!
O'Brien:--SEE ME DOING THIS

TO GET THEIR ATTENTION?

THAT WAS ONLY A MOMENT OF PANIC.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WITH MORE PEOPLE

STILL TRAPPED INSIDE THE
FERRY, O'BRIEN GETS TO WORK.

SO I GOT THE BIG ROPE
AND I THREW IT BACK DOWN.

PEOPLE STARTED COMING UP.

COME ON, COME ON.

PUT THEM IN THE LIFEBOAT, RIGHT.

ON
THE DUKE OF ANGLIA,

MALCOLM SHAKESBY AND THE
CREW SWING INTO ACTION.

-ALRIGHT.
-BUT THE WATERS

ARE TOO SHALLOW FOR THE
SHIP TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH

TO THE CAPSIZED FERRY.

WE CAN'T STEAM AROUND
HERE BECAUSE OF THE BANKS.

COME ON BOYS,
LET'S MOVE IT!

WE LAUNCHED
THE LIFEBOAT

AND OFF WE WENT
IN THE DARK.

I MEAN, WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT,

IT WAS ALL MADNESS REALLY.

GILLIAN
BADDELEY IS STRUGGLING

TO STAY ABOVE THE WATER
IN THE COLD NORTH SEA.

SHE THOUGHT GETTING
AWAY FROM THE HERALD

WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.

NOW SHE'S NOT SO SURE.

I LOOKED
BACK AT THE SHIP

AND I COULD SEE HOW IT WAS
CAPSIZED ONTO ONE SIDE.

AND IT WAS REALLY
ALMOST SURREAL.

IT WAS SUCH A ROUGH
NIGHT THAT NIGHT,

THE SEA WAS BATTLING AGAINST ME.

IT WAS SO COLD.

I'D LOST THE FEELING IN MY LEGS,

WITH HYPOTHERMIA COMING IN.

INSIDE THE HERALD,

HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS
ARE STILL TRAPPED.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT
AS THE FREEZING WATER

STARTS TO TAKE ITS TOLL.

SUDDENLY, THE
DARKNESS IS PIERCED

BY THE FLASHLIGHTS
OF THE RESCUERS.

WE SAW ALL THE LIGHTS AT
THE TOP OF THE STARBOARD SIDE.

THE ONLY WAY THAT WE
COULD GET PEOPLE OUT

WAS BY SMASHING THE
WINDOWS WITH FIRE AXES.

THAT WAS WHEN WE HEARD
ALL THE BIG HEAVY SMASHING.

ALL YOU HEARD WAS THIS GLASS
BREAKING AND "WATCH OUT BELOW."

THERE'S PEOPLE
INSIDE THE SHIP,

STILL SCREAMING AND SHOUTING.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW IT'S, IT'S
ABSOLUTE CHAOS AND CONFUSION.

-RIGHT!
-WE SAW THE ROPES

COMING DOWN IN A, IN
A LOOP TYPE THING.

THEY WERE SHOUTING, "PUT
IT UNDER YOUR ARMS."

COME ON!

GRIP ONTO
THE ROPE LIKE SO,

AND THEN WE'LL LIFT.

AND I CAN REMEMBER LOOKING
UP AND THEY WERE JUST SAYING,

OBVIOUSLY, "HOLD ON,
HOLD ON, WE'RE PULLING."

HELICOPTERS
HOVER OVER THE CAPSIZED FERRY

AS MORE RESCUE BOATS
ARRIVE ON THE SCENE.

I SAW THE LIFEBOAT.

IT WAS JUST A LOCAL FISHERMAN.

HELP!

HELP ME!

I WAVED MY ARMS
AT HIM LIKE THIS

AND THEY POINTED OVER AT
ME AND THEN CAME OVER.

HELP ME!

OVER HERE, PLEASE!

AND PULLED
ME UP ON THE BOAT.

THE FEELING, KNOWING
THAT I'D SURVIVED,

AND I WAS GOING TO LIVE

WAS JUST SO
OVERWHELMING, THE RELIEF.

BY SEA AND AIR

RESCUE EFFORTS
CONTINUE FOR HOURS.

THERE WAS BODIES
FLOATING IN FRONT OF ME.

THERE WAS SO MUCH DESTRUCTION,
DEATH, THAT NIGHT.

BY EARLY MORNING,

IT'S CLEAR THERE ARE
NO MORE SURVIVORS.

BY THE END
OF THE NIGHT,

WE'D RESCUED 300 AND
SOMETHING ODD PASSENGERS.

WE MANAGED TO RECOVER 58 BODIES,

AND THEN WE COULDN'T
FIND ANYBODY ELSE.

GILLIAN BADDELEY
IS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

BUT SHE DOESN'T
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED

TO THE REST OF HER FAMILY.

A COUPLE OF MORE
SURVIVORS CAME IN.

AND THEN IT WAS MY BROTHER MARK.

MARK, MARK!

-GILLIAN, GILLIAN!
-MARK!

WE HAD A
LOVELY REUNION.

WE HUGGED AND CRIED.

MARK!

GILLIAN'S
OTHER STEP-BROTHER,

COLIN, ALSO SURVIVES.

OH, EXCUSE ME.

EXCUSE ME.

I'M GILLIAN BADDELEY.

MARK BADDELEY,
AND MY BROTHER COLIN,

WE'RE LOOKING FOR OUR PARENTS.

OH, AND
UNCLE DAVID.

THE LADY FROM THE
RED CROSS CAME OVER,

WITH LIKE A CLIPBOARD
IN HER HAND,

AND SAW OUR NAMES ON THE LIST

AND SHE LOOKED UP
AT US AND SAID,

YOU DO KNOW THAT YOUR
PARENTS ARE DEAD, DON'T YOU?

AND THAT WAS HOW THE
NEWS GOT BROKE TO US.

AS THE NUMBER
OF DEAD CLIMBS TO 193,

THE QUESTIONS BEGIN.

HOW HAD SUCH A MASSIVE
VESSEL CAPSIZED SO QUICKLY?

AND WHO WAS TO BLAME?

THE ACCIDENT THAT KILLED 193

ON THE HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE

IS BRITAIN'S WORST MARITIME
DISASTER IN DECADES.

FROM THE BEGINNING,
THE NATION IS RIVETED.

THERE ARE CONFLICTING
REPORTS OF WHAT HAPPENED.

ONE ACCOUNT SAYS IT
HIT THE HARBOR WALL.

ANOTHER THAT IT RAN
ONTO A SANDBANK.

THE GOVERNMENT
ORDERS A FORMAL INVESTIGATION.

DAVID STEEL IS A LAWYER AND
SENIOR MEMBER OF THE TEAM.

IT WAS SUCH AN
ASTONISHINGLY AWFUL DISASTER

WHICH CAUGHT THE ATTENTION
OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE.

HOW COULD
IT HAVE HAPPENED?

WE EXAMINE THE THEORIES THAT
WILL NOW BE INVESTIGATED.

THE PRIME MINISTER HAS
FLOWN TO THE SCENE.

AH, GENTLEMEN.

PLEASE TAKE A SEAT.

TO ASSIST
WITH THE INQUIRY,

A TEAM OF EXPERTS IS ASSEMBLED.

NAVAL ARCHITECT, TOM ALLAN,

WORKED ON THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHIP.

AT THE TIME THE HERALD OF
FREE ENTERPRISE WAS BUILT

SHE WAS ONE OF THREE SISTERS.

THEY WERE GONNA BE THE
BIGGEST AND THE FASTEST SHIPS

GOING ACROSS FROM
DOVER TO CALAIS.

HOW HAD THIS
STATE-OF-THE-ART SHIP

COME TO SUCH A TRAGIC END?

THE HERALD REMAINS BEACHED
JUST OUTSIDE THE HARBOR.

A PAINFUL REMINDER OF THE
TERRIFYING NIGHT IT SANK.

IT WAS QUITE REMARKABLE
TO SEE THIS PRETTY BIG SHIP

LYING ON ITS BEAM ENDS WITH
HALF THE HULL ABOVE THE WATER.

THE POSITION OF
THE HERALD ALLOWS INVESTIGATORS

TO CHECK FOR OBVIOUS DAMAGE
TO THE SHIP'S STARBOARD HULL.

YOUR FIRST THOUGHT WOULD
BE THAT IT WAS A COLLISION.

AND IT IS A VERY BUSY ROUTE.

IF THE HERALD HAD
COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VESSEL,

IT MIGHT EXPLAIN THE
SUDDEN DRAMATIC TILT

PASSENGERS AND CREW EXPERIENCED.

A HOLE UNDER THE WATER LINE

WOULD ALSO EXPLAIN THE SPEED
WITH WHICH THE BOAT CAPSIZED.

BUT FROM THEIR VANTAGE POINT,

INVESTIGATORS CAN'T
SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WHEN THEY GET TO THE
FRONT OF THE BOAT HOWEVER,

THEY SEE SOMETHING TROUBLING.

THE HUGE, 16-FOOT BOW
DOORS ARE WIDE OPEN.

YOU COULD SEE
ALL AROUND THE SHIP

AND YOU COULD SEE THAT
THE DOORS WERE OPEN.

SO THAT WAS THE SURPRISE.

AS INVESTIGATORS
INTERVIEW EYEWITNESSES,

THEY LEARN THAT THE DOORS
AT THE FRONT OF THE SHIP

WEREN'T CLOSED WHEN THE HERALD
SAILED OUT OF ZEEBRUGGE.

THE SHIP SHOULD NOT HAVE
SAILED WITH THOSE DOORS OPEN.

AS A SHIP IS MOVING FORWARD,

SHE BUILDS UP A WAVE AT THE
FORWARD END OF THE SHIP.

AS YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD,

THAT WAVE CAN THEN
INCREASE IN SIZE.

IT'S PURELY A PRESSURE WAVE

OF THE SHIP GOING
THROUGH THE WATER,

IT JUST PUSHES THE WATER UP

AND THEN IT CAN PUSH
IT BACK INTO THE SHIP.

BUT
FERRIES LIKE THE HERALD

ARE DESIGNED TO KEEP WATER OUT
EVEN IF THE DOORS ARE OPEN.

IN HARBOR, THERE'S
NORMALLY EIGHT-FEET

BETWEEN THE SHIP'S DECK
AND THE WATER LINE.

IT'S CALLED THE FREEBOARD

AND IT'S KEPT SHIPS
SAFE IN THE PAST.

THERE WAS ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF A VESSEL

THAT ACTUALLY SAILED
WITH THE DOORS OPEN.

IN OCTOBER 1983,
THE HERALD'S SISTER SHIP,

THE PRIDE OF FREE ENTERPRISE,

SAILED FROM DOVER TO
CALAIS WITHOUT INCIDENT

EVEN THOUGH ITS BOW AND
STERN DOORS WERE LEFT OPEN.

SEE, SHE SAILED
ACROSS AND NOBODY KNEW.

BUT IT COULD
HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS,

SO THE CAPTAIN OF THAT
SHIP ASKED FOR CHANGES

TO MAKE SURE IT
COULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT WITH NO DAMAGE
TO THE VESSEL,

THE FERRY COMPANY DECIDED
NO CHANGES WERE NECESSARY.

INVESTIGATORS DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY THE PRIDE CROSSED SAFELY,

BUT THE HERALD DIDN'T.

WE DID HAVE TO
SCRATCH OUR HEADS

AT HOW ON EARTH
THIS VESSEL SANK.

EVEN WITH THE BOW DOORS OPEN,

SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
MAKE IT ACROSS THE CHANNEL.

ARE WE CLOSE YET?

ALMOST READY HERE.

TO UNDERSTAND
HOW, INVESTIGATORS REPLICATE,

AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE, THE
LAST MINUTES OF THE DOOMED SHIP.

THEY RE-ENACT THE VOYAGE USING
THE HERALD'S SISTER SHIP,

THE PRIDE OF FREE ENTERPRISE.

THE TWO FERRIES HAVE
THE EXACT SAME DESIGN

AND INVESTIGATORS LOAD THE
PRIDE TO ITS MAXIMUM TONNAGE.

USING A SERIES OF CAMERAS
MOUNTED ON THE SHIP,

THEY MONITOR EVERY
STAGE OF THE EXPERIMENT.

-CAMERA'S MOUNTED.
-OKAY, LET'S GET STARTED.

TONY MORRALL
COORDINATED THE TEST.

ON BOARD WE HAD DEVICES

TO MEASURE THE POWER
OF THE SHIP AND SPEED.

WE HAD PEOPLE TRACKING
THE SHIP FROM THE SHORE.

WE WANTED TO TAKE OVER
THE SHIP, IF YOU LIKE,

AND HAVE A DEPARTURE AT THE
SAME TYPE OF CONDITIONS,

AT THE SAME TIME OF DAY, AS
THE HERALD LEFT ZEEBRUGGE.

OKAY, WE'RE READY.

THE ONLY
CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE,

THIS TIME, THE BOW
DOORS ARE CLOSED.

THE INVESTIGATORS ARE MOST
INTERESTED IN THE FREEBOARD,

THE DISTANCE FROM THE
WATERLINE TO THE CAR DECK.

HOW HAD THE HARBOR WATERS
LEAPT 10 FEET ONTO THE HERALD?

FIRST, THEY TURN THEIR ATTENTION

TO THE LOADING
PROCESS AT ZEEBRUGGE.

HOW ARE THE
BALLAST TANKS?

NUMBER 14, 268 TONS.

TANK THREE IS AT 42 TONS, SIR.

VERY GOOD.

WHILE
THE HERALD IS DESIGNED

TO BE LOADED ON TWO
LEVELS AT THE SAME TIME,

ZEEBRUGGE HARBOR ONLY HAS
A SINGLE LOADING RAMP.

THE PROCEDURE
WAS TO USE THE SAME RAMP

FOR LOADING THE LOWER
DECK AND THE HIGHER DECK.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO
ACTUALLY FACILITATE THIS

WAS TO BALLAST THE BOW
DOWN SO THAT THE RAMP

COULD TOUCH ONTO THE TOP DECK

AND THEN LOADING COULD PROCEED.

BEFORE
THE HERALD LEFT HARBOR,

THE CREW BEGAN THE
TWO-HOUR LONG PROCESS

OF EMPTYING THE TANKS.

BUT IT WAS STILL
CARRYING TONS OF BALLAST

AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

FOR THE TEST,
INVESTIGATORS MAKE SURE

THE PRIDE OF FREE ENTERPRISE
HAS A SIMILAR AMOUNT ON BOARD.

BALLASTS 14 AND
THREE AT 260 TONS.

WHAT'S THE FREEBOARD?
THAT'LL BRING THE BOW DOWN

HALF A METER.

DID
THE EXTRA BALLAST

CAUSE THE FLOODING
OF THE CAR DECKS?

IT REDUCED
THE FREEBOARD,

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN
THE WATERLINE AT THE BOW

AND THE VEHICLE DECK ITSELF.

SO AT THE START, WHEN
IT LEFT ZEEBRUGGE,

THAT FREEBOARD WAS
ALREADY REDUCED.

WITH THE
FREEBOARD NOW REDUCED

BY NEARLY TWO FEET,
INVESTIGATORS KEEP A CLOSE WATCH

AS THE SHIP SAILS
THROUGH THE HARBOR.

THE INTENTION WAS
LOOKING AT THE BOW WAVE

USING A WHOLE HOST OF CAMERAS,

INCLUDING ONE LOOKING
VERTICALLY DOWN AT THE BOW WAVE.

BUT EVEN WITH
THE BALLAST TANKS FILLED

AND THE FERRY LOADED
THE CAMERAS SHOW

THAT THE WATER STILL ISN'T
REACHING THE BOW DOORS.

INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE
THE HARBOR ITSELF

MAY HAVE PLAYED A
ROLE IN THE DISASTER.

AT JUST 52-FEET DEEP,

ZEEBRUGGE HARBOUR IS
RELATIVELY SHALLOW.

THE PRIDE'S HULL SINKS
ALMOST 20-FEET INTO IT.

AS IT LEAVES ZEEBRUGGE, THE
NARROW GAP BETWEEN THE HULL

AND THE HARBOR FLOOR PULLS
THE SHIP EVEN DEEPER.

BECAUSE OF THE
RESTRICTED AMOUNT OF WATER

BENEATH THE KEEL, THE
SEABED, THE WATER SPEEDS UP,

AND THAT HAS A CONSEQUENCE
OF ALLOWING THE SHIP TO SINK.

IT'S
CALLED THE SQUAT EFFECT

AND IT DROPS THE BOW ANOTHER
FOOT AND A HALF INTO THE WATER.

BUT EVEN AS THE SHIP SAILS
THROUGH THE SHALLOW HARBOR,

INVESTIGATORS STILL CAN'T GET
THE WATER ONTO THE BOW DECK.

IT WAS STILL
A REASONABLE,

EVEN THOUGH SMALL,
SMALL FREEBOARD.

CAPTAIN, CAN WE TAKE
IT TO FULL SPEED, PLEASE?

INVESTIGATORS GET
THE CREW TO MATCH THE SPEED

OF THE HERALD AS
IT LEFT THE HARBOR.

WHEN THEY DO, THEY FINALLY FIND

THE LAST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

HEY, LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS.

THE WATER
THAT WAS LURKING JUST BELOW

NOW REACHES THE BOW DOORS.

THE CAMERAS
SHOWED VERY CLEARLY

THAT AT A CRITICAL SPEED,

WATER ROSE HIGH ENOUGH
TO ENGULF THAT DECK,

IF THE BOW DOORS WERE OPEN.

FOR THE HERALD,

THIS WAS THE
BEGINNING OF THE END.

WITH TONS OF BALLAST
IN THE BOW TANKS,

A SHALLOW HARBOR AND
AN INCREASED SPEED

THE FREEBOARD SHRANK
TO A CRITICAL LEVEL.

THE RATE OF FLOW,
WATER COMING IN,

WAS 40 TONS A SECOND IN
THE FIRST 15 SECONDS.

ONCE THE WATER CAME IN

IT HAD FREE ACCESS
ONTO THE CAR DECK.

SO, IT WOULD HAVE MADE ITS WAY

AROUND ALL OF THE
FREIGHT THAT WAS ABOARD.

THEN THE VESSEL WOULD
CAPSIZE WITHIN ONE MINUTE.

WITHIN ONE MINUTE.

I MEAN, SO THIS
WAS DRASTIC STUFF.

ONE REASON THE
HERALD WENT OVER SO QUICKLY

WAS THE DESIGN OF
THE SHIP ITSELF.

LIKE MOST RO-RO FERRIES,

ITS CAR DECKS WEREN'T BUILT
WITH DIVIDING BULKHEADS.

IF THERE'S ANY FLOODING
IT CAN SPREAD RAPIDLY.

THE EXTREME MOVEMENT
OF WATER ACROSS A DECK

IS CALLED THE FREE
SURFACE EFFECT.

AND IT CAN BE DEADLY.

IF YOU TAKE A NORMAL TRAY
AND YOU PUT WATER IN IT,

NOW, WHILE YOU'RE HOLDING
IT THE WATER IS STILL.

YOU MOVE SLIGHTLY ALL THE
WATER MOVES TO ONE END.

NOW IF YOU CAN IMAGINE ON A
SHIP WHICH IS 50 METERS WIDE,

AND YOU HAVE A METER OF WATER,

THEN AS YOU HEEL TO ONE SIDE,

IT'S THE WEIGHT OF
THE WATERS MOVING,

THAT IS WHAT'S
CALLED FREE-SURFACE.

IT'S ACTUALLY A MOVEMENT OF
WEIGHT FROM ONE SIDE OF THE SHIP

TO THE OTHER AS THE SHIP HEELS.

THAT
MOVEMENT OF WEIGHT

WAS WHAT CAUSED
THE SHIP TO TILT,

AND RIGHT ITSELF,
THE FIRST TIME.

BUT IF THE WEIGHT
GETS TOO GREAT,

THE INHERENT
STABILITY IN THE SHIP

WILL NOT HOLD IT AND
SHE WILL HEEL OVER.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE
OF THOUSAND TONS OF WATER

WHICH IS ACTUALLY MOVING

FROM ONE SIDE OF THE
SHIP TO THE OTHER.

AND THAT HAS A BIG IMPACT.

IT
TAKES JUST SECONDS

FOR THE HERALD TO CAPSIZE.

THE OPEN BOW DOORS LED TO
THE FLOODING OF THE HERALD

AND TO THE DEATH OF 193 PEOPLE.

BUT WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
CLOSING THE SHIP'S BOW DOORS,

AND WHY HADN'T THEY?

THE CAPSIZE OF THE
HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE

TOOK THE LIVES OF 193 PEOPLE.

INVESTIGATORS UNDERSTAND THE
MECHANICS OF THE DISASTER,

BUT THE REASON THE FERRY'S
BOW DOORS WERE OPEN

IS ANOTHER STARTLING DISCOVERY.

THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION

WAS OF COURSE ON WHY
THEY WERE OPEN

AS THEY OBVIOUSLY
SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN.

THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN

COMES UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY.

WHY HAD HE LEFT HARBOR
WITHOUT SECURING THOSE DOORS?

NOW YOU GOTTA REMEMBER
THE BOW DOORS ON THE HERALD

ARE DIFFERENT FROM MOST OF
THE OTHER FERRIES AT THE TIME.

MOST OF THE OTHER FERRIES,
THE BOW DOOR CAME UP AND OVER

SO THAT YOU COULDN'T ACTUALLY
SEE OUT OF THE BRIDGE

BECAUSE YOU HAD THE DOOR
SITTING UP ABOVE YOUR HEAD.

WITH THE HERALD OF FREE
ENTERPRISE THEY WERE CLAM DOORS,

SO THEY CAME 'ROUND THE SIDE.

SO IT WASN'T IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS
THAT THE DOORS WERE OPEN.

INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER

THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT

TO TELL THE CAPTAIN THE
DOORS HADN'T BEEN CLOSED.

ISOLATED ON THE BRIDGE,

HE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING HE
WAS SAILING INTO DISASTER.

AN INQUIRY IS ASSEMBLED
TO GET ANSWERS.

THE CENTRAL WITNESS IS THE
SHIP'S CAPTAIN, DAVID LEWRY.

BUT HE WAS BADLY
INJURED IN THE DISASTER,

AND HIS MEMORY IS UNCLEAR.

HOW DID YOU TRAVEL
WITH THE BOW DOORS OPEN?

I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER.

I HAD ASSUMED IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

-TAKE HER OUT.
-TAKE HER OUT!

WHAT LEWRY CAN SAY

IS THAT NO ONE TOLD HIM
THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS
WHICH WE FIND

DURING THE INVESTIGATION

WAS THAT THEY OPERATED A
NEGATIVE REPORTING SYSTEM.

NOW WITH A NEGATIVE
REPORTING SYSTEM,

THE CAPTAIN ASSUMES
THAT EVERYTHING'S OKAY

UNLESS SOMEBODY TELLS
THAT HIM THAT IT'S WRONG.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE
HAD TO INSTIGATE AFTER

WAS TO HAVE A POSITIVE
REPORTING SYSTEM.

SO THAT THE CHIEF OFFICER
OR THE OFFICER ON THE DECK

HAS TO CONFIRM TO THE BRIDGE,
RIGHT, THE DOORS ARE CLOSED,

AND YOU CAN NOW SAIL.

THE INQUIRY
LEARNS THAT THE CAPTAIN

DIDN'T ENSURE THE BOW DOORS
WERE CLOSED BEFORE DEPARTURE.

WHAT ABOUT HIS CHIEF OFFICER?

LESLIE SABEL,
CHIEF OFFICER,

HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE.

IT'S
SABEL'S JOB TO OVERSEE

THE LOADING AND
UNLOADING OF THE SHIP.

KEEP IT MOVING.

KEEP IT MOVING.

WHEN
SABEL TELLS HIS STORY,

INVESTIGATORS MAKE AN
UNSETTLING DISCOVERY.

I FAILED TO STAY
AT THE CONTROLS

THAT OPERATED THE BOW DOORS.

CREW TO
HARBOR STATIONS.

CREW TO HARBOR STATIONS.

ON MY WAY.

JUST MINUTES BEFORE

THE HERALD'S SCHEDULED
DEPARTURE TIME,

SABEL LEAVES THE LOADING DECK

EVEN THOUGH THE BOW
DOORS ARE STILL OPEN.

THE INQUIRY HEARS THAT
LEAVING EARLY WAS THE ONLY WAY

FOR SABEL TO SATISFY
ANOTHER REQUIREMENT

OF HIS STANDING ORDERS...

-OKAY, TAKE HER OUT.
-TAKE HER OUT, PLEASE

TAKING HER OUT.

BEING ON
THE BRIDGE FOR DEPARTURE.

THE REQUIREMENT THAT
THE CHIEF OFFICER

BE ON THE CAR DECK,

TO SEE THE DOORS CLOSED, WAS
OBVIOUSLY WHOLLY INCONSISTENT

WITH HIS NEED TO BE ON THE
BRIDGE TO ASSIST IN DEPARTURE.

YOU'VE GOT A SITUATION
HERE THE OFFICER

IS PULLED BETWEEN ENSURING
SAFETY DOWN ON THE CAR DECK

AND ACTUALLY SAFETY
UP ON THE BRIDGE.

THE INQUIRY LEARNS
THAT IF THE CHIEF OFFICER

WAITED TO CONFIRM THE
BOW DOORS WERE CLOSED,

DEPARTURE WOULD BE DELAYED
BY SEVERAL MINUTES.

IN FACT, IN A MEMO ISSUED SEVEN
MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT,

THE COMPANY THAT
OPERATED THE FERRY

URGED THAT IT LEAVE
15 MINUTES EARLY

AND THAT PRESSURE BE
PUT ON THE FIRST OFFICER

TO ENSURE PROMPT DEPARTURE.

THIS MEMO
WAS SO SHOCKING.

AND THAT ANY MANAGER
WOULD PUT IT IN WRITING

THAT SPEED WAS ALL IMPORTANT
AND SAFETY WAS NOT.

THE CAPTAIN DIDN'T
NOTICE ANYTHING IRREGULAR

AND THE CHIEF OFFICER
WAS TOO BUSY TO CHECK.

THE INQUIRY HEARS FROM
ASSISTANT BOSUN MARK STANLEY.

THE BOSUN HAS MANY
TASKS, NO DOUBT,

BUT HIS PRIMARY TASK ON
DEPARTURE FROM A PORT

WAS TO CLOSE THE DOORS.

THANK YOU FOR
APPEARING HERE TODAY.

DID YOU CLOSE THE BOW DOORS?

NO.

MARK STANLEY
ADMITS THAT ON MARCH 6TH, 1987

HE FAILED TO DO HIS JOB.

THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE
FOR CLOSING THE DOORS

CONCEDED THAT HE HADN'T DONE SO.

-TIME FOR TEA.
-SURE.

MARK STANLEY
ADMITS HE LEFT HIS POST

FOR HIS BREAK.

HIS SHIFT STARTED HOURS EARLIER

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

HUMANS WILL
MAKE MISTAKES.

HOWEVER WELL DISCIPLINED,
HOWEVER WELL TRAINED,

THEY GET TIRED.

AND TIRED HUMANS
CAN MAKE MISTAKES.

WHEN STANLEY RETURNS
TO HIS CABIN FOR TEA,

HE FALLS ASLEEP.

CREW
TO HARBOR STATIONS.

CREW TO HARBOR STATIONS.

IT'S A NAP
HE WON'T WAKE UP FROM

UNTIL THE SHIP CAPSIZES.

STANLEY'S TESTIMONY
SHOCKS BRITAIN.

THE INQUIRY FINDS THE
BOW DOORS WERE LEFT OPEN

BECAUSE A SINGLE CREW
MEMBER WAS ASLEEP.

AND THE HERALD HAD
NO ADEQUATE BACK-UPS

TO CATCH HIS MISTAKE.

THERE WAS NO
REDUNDANCY HERE.

IF ONE MAN FAILED, THERE
WAS NOBODY THERE TO STEP IN.

A TIRED CREW AND
A RUSH TO SAVE A FEW MINUTES

COST THE LIVES OF
NEARLY 200 PEOPLE.

IT'S A SOBERING WAKE UP
CALL FOR FERRY OPERATORS.

CHANGES WERE REQUIRED TO
PREVENT A DISASTER LIKE THIS

FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

AFTER MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION,

THE REPORT ON THE HERALD
OF FREE ENTERPRISE DISASTER

IS FINALLY RELEASED.

MEMBERS OF THE CREW AND
FERRY MANAGEMENT ARE BLAMED.

MR. JUSTICE SHEEHAN
SAID OF THE TOWNSEND COMPANY

THAT, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM,

IT WAS RIDDLED WITH THE
DISEASE OF SLOVENLINESS.

THERE'D BEEN A LAMENTABLE
LACK OF DIRECTION

AND A VACUUM AT THE CENTER.

CHANGES ARE
MADE TO THE REPORTING SYSTEM

AND THE STANDING ORDERS.

BUT THE REPORT ALSO CALLS
FOR ROLL-ON-ROLL-OFF FERRIES

TO BE REDESIGNED.

WE WERE LOOKING AT
IMPROVING THE SURVIVABILITY

SO THERE WAS LESS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

THERE'S
ONE SIMPLE FIX

THAT WOULD HAVE
PREVENTED THE TRAGEDY.

THEY COULD HAVE PUT
AN INDICATOR ON BOARD

WHICH SHOWED THAT THE
DOORS WERE CLOSED.

THIS TRIBUNAL RECOMMENDED
THAT THERE BE LIGHTS

ON THE BRIDGE FOR
JUST THAT PURPOSE.

THE LACK
OF INDICATOR LIGHTS

ISN'T THE ONLY DESIGN FLAW

THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE
CAPSIZING OF THE HERALD.

IN ORDER TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS
IN A COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY,

RO-RO FERRIES ARE
BUILT TO ALLOW CARS

TO DRIVE ON AND OFF THE
SHIPS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT CONVENIENCE COMES
WITH A STEEP PRICE.

WHAT YOU'VE GOT
TO DO IS TO LOOK

AT THE TYPE OF VESSEL ITSELF

AND THEY ARE
EXTREMELY VULNERABLE.

THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR
OPTIMUM EFFICIENCY.

BUT YOU'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING
IN POTENTIAL HAZARDS,

PARTICULARLY THE OPEN CAR DECKS

WHICH EXTEND FROM FORWARD
TO AFT OF THE SHIP

AND FROM SIDE TO SIDE.

THE REPORT
SUGGESTS THAT BULKHEADS BE BUILT

WITHIN CAR DECKS TO REDUCE
THE FREE SURFACE EFFECT.

THERE WAS
CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE

FROM SOME QUARTERS OF
THE MARITIME COMMUNITY

TO BRING TO AN END THE USE
OF OPEN DECKED FERRIES.

BUT
IT'S A DESIGN CHANGE

THAT MEETS STIFF RESISTANCE
FROM THE INDUSTRY.

THE WHOLE CONCEPT
OF RO-RO FERRIES

IS SPEED OF TURNAROUND.

YOU CAN GO IN FROM ONE END

AND YOU JUST DRIVE STRAIGHT
OFF FROM THE OTHER END.

SO AN OPEN DECK IS
ALMOST ESSENTIAL.

AS THE
INDUSTRY STRUGGLES

TO BALANCE THE COMPETING
DEMANDS OF SPEED AND SAFETY,

THE SHADOW OF THE
TRAGEDY STILL LINGERS

FOR MANY OF THE SURVIVORS
OF THE DISASTER.

I SPENT ABOUT
FOUR MONTHS DRIVING,

JUST TO PROVE TO MYSELF
THAT I COULD DO IT.

MY FAMILY WEREN'T VERY
IMPRESSED WITH ME,

BUT WE GOT OVER THAT ISSUE.

AND I SAID, I HAD TO DO THIS.

I HAD TO DO IT.

THERE WAS NO WAY BACK
FOR ME GOING BACK TO SEA.

I TRIED TO IN THE
FOLLOWING YEAR.

THE ANXIETY GOT HOLD OF
ME AND I THOUGHT NO MORE,

I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE.

SO UM, YEAH, I CALLED IT A DAY.

IT'LL BE WITH ME
'TIL THE DAY I GO.

ONCE YOU'VE SEEN TRAUMA,
YOU DON'T FORGET IT.

WE WERE TOLD

WE WERE GOING TO HAVE
TO IDENTIFY THE BODIES.

AND WE WERE TAKEN TO A GYMNASIUM

AND THEN I SAW ME
MOM LYING THERE.

AND THEY SAID I
COULDN'T TOUCH HER,

BUT I DID ANYWAY.

I PUT MY HAND ON HER
SHOULDER TO SAY GOODBYE

AND THAT I LOVE YOU.

I SUPPOSE THE WORST
PART OF IT FOR ME

WAS TO SEE THE CHILDREN
FLOATING IN THE WATER.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT PUT ME

THINKING OF MY
LITTLE GIRL AT HOME,

YOU KNOW, AND HOW LUCKY I
WAS THAT SHE WAS AT HOME.

LARRY
O'BRIEN HELPED SAVE

AS MANY AS 40 PEOPLE THAT NIGHT.

IF NOT FOR HIM AND THE DOZENS
OF PASSENGERS AND CREWMEMBERS

THAT SUDDENLY BECAME RESCUERS,

THE DISASTER COULD HAVE
BEEN FAR MORE DEADLY.

THERE'S
GREAT CRITICISM

ABOUT THE CREW OF THE
HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE.

NO.

THE CREW OF THE HERALD
OF FREE ENTERPRISE

WENT BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.

SOME OF THE CREW LOST
THEIR LIVES RESCUING PEOPLE

AND THAT SHOULD
NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

WHAT I DID, ANYONE ELSE
WOULD DO THE SAME THING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST
THE WAY IT TAKES YOU.

IF I WAS BACK TOMORROW MORNING

OR THIS HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY,

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW
YOU'RE GOING TO REACT.

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW HOW
YOU'RE GOING TO REACT.

IT TOOK ME,
I'D SAY TWO YEARS

TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AGAIN,

TO BE ABLE TO LIVE A NORMAL
DAY WITHOUT NOT HURTING

AND THINKING ABOUT
IT ALL THE TIME

AND HOW LIFE COULD
HAVE BEEN SO DIFFERENT.

I'D LOST MY WHOLE
FAMILY IN THE ONE DAY.

I'D LEFT AS A CHILD AND
THEN CAME BACK AS AN ADULT

AND I KNEW MY LIFE WAS
GOING TO CHANGE FOREVER.

IT WOULD NEVER BE
QUITE THE SAME.