All language subtitles for Disasters.at.Sea.S03E06.Towed.Under.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

ON SCOTLAND'S
TREACHEROUS RIVER CLYDE.

GIVE US A WEE
PULL TO STARBOARD.

WEE PULL
TO STARBOARD.

A TUGBOAT
AND A MASSIVE SHIP

ARE BLINDED BY FOG.

IT WAS LIKE, WHAT?

WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

WITH
DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.

THEY'RE ALL GONE.

PROBING
THE SUNKEN WRECK.

LOTS OF THE ANSWERS TO
OUR QUESTIONS

WERE ON THE RIVERBED.

INVESTIGATORS
PIECE TOGETHER

A FATAL CHAIN OF EVENTS
THAT KILLED THREE MEN.

PILOT,
WE'RE AGROUND!

AND CHANGED
AN INDUSTRY FOREVER.

WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE
SURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

ABANDON SHIP!

GO!

THE RIVER
CLYDE, A BUSY MARITIME ARTERY

THAT WINDS ITS WAY TO THE
VERY HEART OF SCOTLAND.

YOU GET FERRY
BOATS CROSSING THERE.

YOU GET PLEASURE CRAFT.

YOU GET SMALL TANKERS, COASTERS.

SO, THERE'S QUITE
A LOT GOING ON,

ON THE CLYDE YOU'VE
GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR.

TUGBOATS
ARE THE MUSCLE HERE.

THEIR CREWS GUIDE
HUNDREDS OF VESSELS SAFELY

UP AND DOWN THE NARROW
RIVER EVERY YEAR.

OCEAN-GOING VESSELS
ARE GETTING LARGER

AND CONSEQUENTLY THEY
ARE LESS MANEUVERABLE,

SO WHEN THEY GET
TO CONFINED WATERS,

THEY NEED THE
ASSISTANCE OF TUGS.

AND THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF
DANGER IN WHAT WE DO IN TOWAGE

BECAUSE WE WORK SO CLOSE
TO VERY LARGE SHIPS.

IT'S
DECEMBER 19TH, 2007

AND THE TUGS ON THE
CLYDE ARE GEARING UP

FOR A CHALLENGING MISSION.

FLYING
PHANTOM, RED JASMINE.

AFTERNOON, PILOT.

AFTERNOON, PHANTOM.

THE ENORMOUS
740-FOOT BULK

CARRIER RED JASMINE

HAS ENTERED THE RIVER.

IT'S THE BIGGEST BOAT ON THE
CLYDE IN NEARLY 20 YEARS.

IT WAS JUST HUGE.

IT WAS LITERALLY LIKE
LOOKING AT THE SIDE

OF A MULTI-STORY BUILDING
WHEN YOU WERE STANDING

ON THE BANK GOING PAST.

SHE WAS A BIG BOAT.

THE
JASMINE NEEDS TO MAKE

THE NEARLY 17-MILE
JOURNEY TO GLASGOW

TO DELIVER A LOAD
OF ANIMAL FEED.

IT'S JUST PAST FIVE
IN THE AFTERNOON

WHEN A LOCAL TUG,
THE FLYING PHANTOM,

ATTACHES ITS TOW ROPE TO
THE GIGANTIC CARGO SHIP.

THE PHANTOM IS IN
FRONT OF THE JASMINE

AND WILL GUIDE IT ON THE
WINDING TRIP UPRIVER.

JOINING THE PHANTOM
IS THE WARRIOR III.

IT WILL BE ATTACHED TO
THE JASMINE'S STERN,

ACTING AS A SET OF BRAKES.

A THIRD TUG, THE MALLAIG, WILL
KEEP AN EYE ON EVERYTHING,

READY TO STEP IN
IF THINGS GO WRONG.

FLYING PHANTOM,
YOU'RE ALL FAST.

LINE SECURE, STEVIE.

GREAT, BRIAN,
THANK YOU.

ONCE THEY SIGNALED DOWN
TO THE FLYING PHANTOM

THAT THE LINE WAS FAST,

FLYING PHANTOM WOULD
THEN START TO MOVE AHEAD.

VERY SLOWLY, VERY GENTLY.

STEVIE HUMPHREYS
IS THE PHANTOM'S CAPTAIN.

HE'S ONE OF THE MORE EXPERIENCED
SAILORS ON THE RIVER.

I KNEW
STEVIE QUITE WELL.

HE WAS ALWAYS UP AT THE DOCK.

HE WAS ALWAYS IN
HIS BOATS AND STUFF.

HE KNEW THE RIVER LIKE
THE BACK OF HIS HAND.

HUMPHREYS'
SECOND-IN-COMMAND

IS 37-YEAR OLD BRIAN AITCHISON.

HE'S CREWED ON BOATS
FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

ERIC BLACKLEY IS THE
FLYING PHANTOM'S DECKHAND.

BOB CAMERON IS THE
BOAT'S ENGINEER.

HE WAS ALWAYS FIXING
OR DOING SOMETHING.

BUT VERY HANDS ON,
VERY PRACTICAL.

OH VERY.

HE COULD FIX, THAT'S
WHAT THE OTHER MEN

IN THE TUGBOAT SAID, YOU
KNOW, HE COULD FIX ANYTHING.

HE ALWAYS GOT IT GOING,

WHICH IS ALSO WHAT YOU
NEED IN A MARINE ENGINEER.

TO ENSURE
THE TRIP GOES SMOOTHLY,

AN EXPERIENCED LOCAL PILOT
IS ON BOARD THE RED JASMINE.

PETER BRENNAN WILL STAY IN
CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE TUGS.

I'VE PROBABLY BEEN
UP AND DOWN THE CLYDE

NEARLY A THOUSAND TIMES.

UP AND DOWN.

UP AND DOWN.

I LIVE ONLY ABOUT FOUR, FIVE
MILES AWAY FROM THE CLYDE.

IT'S THE RIVER NEXT DOOR.

ON THE CLYDE,
THERE'S LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR.

THERE'S A STRETCH
OF ALMOST 20 MILES

WHERE THEY CANNOT
TURN A SHIP AROUND.

IT'S A HIGH-PRESSURE JOB

BECAUSE A MISTAKE CAN SEE

A VERY LARGE, VERY
EXPENSIVE SHIP GOING AGROUND

AND BLOCK THE RIVER COMPLETELY.

TIDES
ARE ANOTHER FACTOR.

THEY ROAR IN AND
OUT OF THE CLYDE.

FOR BIG SHIPS, THEY DETERMINE
WHEN A TRIP CAN BE MADE.

SOME SHIPS
ARE SMALL ENOUGH

TO USE THE RIVER 24 HOURS A DAY,

BUT ALL OF THE BIGGER SHIPS
ARE RESTRICTED BY THE TIDE.

ONCE A BIG
BOAT STARTS UPRIVER,

THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

THEY HAVE A LIMITED
AMOUNT OF TIME

TO GET TO THE BERTH BEFORE
THE TIDE STARTS FALLING AGAIN.

AS DARKNESS
FALLS, THE RED JASMINE

AND THE TUGS ARE ABOUT
HALFWAY TO GLASGOW

WHEN THEY FACE THEIR
FIRST MAJOR CHALLENGE,

A TRICKY BEND IN THE RIVER

JUST EAST OF THE
TOWN OF DUMBARTON.

PHANTOM, CAN I GET A
PULL TO STARBOARD, PLEASE?

PULLING TO STARBOARD.

BRENNAN
USES THE FLYING PHANTOM

TO HELP HIS MASSIVE
VESSEL ENTER THE TURN

AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT ANGLE.

TO MOVE THE BOW, WHICH
IS 224 METERS AWAY,

YOU'VE REALLY GOT
TO USE THE BOW TUG

TO GIVE YOU THAT
LITTLE TASTE ROUND.

AND HE DOESN'T HAVE
TO PULL VERY MUCH.

JUST PUT A LITTLE PULL.

THE BOW IS SO HIGH
OFF THE JASMINE,

ALL I COULD SEE OF THE
PHANTOM WAS HIS MAST.

AS HE MOVED TO PORT
OR TO STARBOARD

I COULD ACTUALLY FROM THE
BRIDGE OF THE SHIP SEE

WHERE HE WAS, SEE WHERE
HE WAS POSITIONED.

UNTIL THAT POINT,

THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A
FAIRLY NORMAL OPERATION.

SO WE'RE JUST
ABOUT TO HIT THIS BEND.

IT SHOULD BE SMOOTH.

THE PROBLEMS STARTED
WHEN THEY ENTERED FOG.

YOKER SWAN
TO ESTUARY CONTROL.

WE HAVE A THICK FOG UP
HERE AT RENFREW FERRY.

QUITE BY CHANCE, I
HEARD THE FERRY BOAT

FURTHER UP THE RIVER SAYING,
THERE'S THICK FOG HERE.

THE WEATHER FORECAST
THAT WAS SUPPLIED TO ME

BY THE HARBOR SAID
VISIBILITY GOOD.

THE TUGS, MYSELF, WE KNEW
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT.

IT WAS, LIKE, IT WAS, WHAT?

WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

NO ONE SAID FOG.

FOR THE CAPTAIN OF A TUG,

SPATIAL AWARENESS IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

HE NEEDS TO KNOW WHERE
THE RIVERBANKS ARE.

HE NEEDS TO KNOW WHERE
THE SHIP HE'S TOWING IS.

WITH
CONDITIONS DETERIORATING,

BRENNAN PRESSES HIS THIRD TUG,
THE MALLAIG, INTO SERVICE.

MALLAIG, RED JASMINE.

I ACTUALLY SENT THE MALLAIG
TO CHECK IT OUT FOR US.

CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND SCOUT OUT

THE VISIBILITY
CONDITIONS FOR US?

AS THE
MALLAIG MOVES UPRIVER,

IT QUICKLY CONFIRMS
THE BAD NEWS.

I'M IN THICK FOG.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

HE SAYS, THE VISIBILITY'S
RIGHT DOWN TO 15, 20 METERS.

HE SAYS, IT'S REALLY THICK FOG.

MOMENTS LATER,

THE FOG SWALLOWS
THE RED JASMINE TOO.

WE LOST SIGHT
OF THE BANKS.

WE LOST SIGHT OF THE WATER.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY VISUAL CUES.

ALL BUT BLIND,

THE RED JASMINE NOW HAS
TO RELY ON ITS RADAR.

YOU COULD ACTUALLY
SEE THE TUGS ON IT

QUITE, QUITE CLEARLY.

YOU COULD SEE THE
RIVERBANKS AS WELL, QUITE,

SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN
OUR POSITION IN THE CHANNEL.

BUT THE
MOST DANGEROUS PART

OF THE TRIP IS JUST AHEAD.

THERE WAS A
NASTY CONCRETE SLIP

THAT EXTENDED OUT
INTO THE CLYDE.

THE EDGE OF IT'S
LIKE A CAN OPENER.

NO WAY CAN YOU LET A
SHIP GO ANYWHERE NEAR IT.

IT WOULD JUST RIP
THE SIDE OF IT.

TO AVOID
THE DANGEROUS OBSTACLE,

BRENNAN NEEDS THE
TUGS MORE THAN EVER.

BUT LIKE THE BIG SHIP,

FLYING PHANTOM IS INCHING
ITS WAY THROUGH BLINDING FOG.

FLYING PHANTOM,
RED JASMINE.

GIVE US A WEE PULL TO STARBOARD.

WEE PULL
TO STARBOARD.

SURROUNDED BY FOG,

THE PHANTOM BEGINS PULLING
THE RED JASMINE CLEAR

OF THE CONCRETE SLIP.

BUT QUICKLY, A SMALL PULL
TURNS INTO MUCH MORE.

AS THE SHIP'S COMPASS
SWINGS THROUGH TURNS,

IT MAKES A TICKING SOUND.

FOR EVERY HALF
DEGREE, IT CLICKS.

CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.

AND IT STARTED CLICKING
ALMOST LIKE A MACHINE GUN.

WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE?

THE RED JASMINE
IS VEERING OFF COURSE.

IF THINGS DON'T CHANGE
QUICKLY, DISASTER COULD STRIKE,

FOR BOTH THE SHIP AND THE TUG

THAT'S LOST IN THE
FOG AHEAD OF IT.

AS IT GUIDES

A MASSIVE CARGO SHIP UP
SCOTLAND'S RIVER CLYDE,

A TUGBOAT IS BLINDED
BY THICK FOG.

WE DIDN'T HAVE
ANY VISUAL CUES.

THERE WAS NO VISUAL CUES.

NO RIVERBANKS.

COULDN'T SEE ANY LIGHTS.

PETER BRENNAN,
PILOT OF THE RED JASMINE,

IS WORRIED THE TUG IS PULLING
HIS SHIP TOWARD THE RIVERBANK.

EASE UP, PHANTOM,

YOU'RE PULLING TOO
FAR TO STARBOARD.

BUT THE CREW

ON THE TUG HAVE
THEIR OWN TROUBLES.

WHAT WAS THAT?

PILOT, WE'RE AGROUND.

I LOOKED AT THE RADAR.

IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE THE
FLYING PHANTOM WAS AGROUND

ON THE SOUTH SIDE
OF THE RIVERBANK.

STUCK ON
THE SIDE OF THE RIVER,

THE CREW ON THE TUG
NEEDS TO ACT QUICKLY.

THEY HAVE TO RELEASE THE
TOW LINE CONNECTING IT

TO THE RED JASMINE.

WHEN A TUG
GOES AGROUND,

AND YOU'VE GOT A LINE ON HIM,

YOU'VE GOT TO BE VERY CONSCIOUS

THAT YOU CAN PULL HIM
OVER INTO A CAPSIZE.

LET GO YOUR LINE.

LETTING GO.

WITH THE PHANTOM
NO LONGER GUIDING THE JASMINE,

BRENNAN TAKES DECISIVE ACTION.

FULL ASTERN, STOP
YOUR ENGINE.

I TOLD THE CAPTAIN OF THE
RED JASMINE, STOP ENGINE.

THEN I ORDERED FULL ASTERN.

BUT THE
SHIP'S MASSIVE BULK

IS STILL DRIVING
IT TOWARD DANGER.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT
A GIANT SHIP

OF 77,000 TONS DEAD WEIGHT,
MOVING THROUGH THE WATER,

THERE IS NO WAY TO
STOP IT QUICKLY.

IT'S PROBABLY GONNA TAKE A MILE

BEFORE THE SHIP COMES TO A STOP.

THE JASMINE'S
PILOT HAS ONE MORE CARD

TO PLAY TO AVOID DISASTER.

ANOTHER TUG IS STILL
ATTACHED TO ITS STERN.

WARRIOR III,
PUT WEIGHT ON.

I TOLD THE WARRIOR, THE
TUG ON THE BACK END,

I TOLD HIM TO PULL,
PUT A GOOD PULL ON.

SO HE'S ACTING AS
A BRAKING FORCE.

IT
TAKES NEARLY A MINUTE

TO BRING THE ENORMOUS
SHIP TO A SAFE HALT.

BUT PETER BRENNAN'S
PROBLEMS ARE FAR FROM OVER.

SO NOW I'VE
GOT THIS SHIP,

ONE OF THE BIGGEST
SHIPS IN THE CLYDE,

AND WE'RE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE RIVER IN THICK FOG.

FLYING PHANTOM, RED
JASMINE, COME BACK.

FLYING PHANTOM, RED
JASMINE, COME BACK.

I CALLED UP THE FLYING
PHANTOM, GOT NO ANSWER.

WHEN THE FLYING PHANTOM
DIDN'T REPLY TO ME, I THOUGHT,

WELL HE'S AGROUND, HE'S
BUSY LOOKING AFTER HIS SHIP.

THEY'VE NOT GOT
TIME TO CALL ME UP.

I COULDN'T SEE HIM.

IT WAS THICK FOG.

BRENNAN
CAN'T WAIT AROUND

TO FIND OUT WHAT'S
HAPPENED TO THE PHANTOM.

A BIG SHIP LIKE THAT,
IT STARTS TO DRIFT.

YOU END UP IN A POSITION

WHERE YOU BLOCK OFF
THE WHOLE CHANNEL.

MY JOB IS TO GET THE
SHIP TO THE BERTH,

TO FINISH THE JOURNEY, BECAUSE
WE'VE ONLY GOT SO MUCH TIDE.

THE WORST THING THAT
COULD HAPPEN WOULD BE

YOU END UP WITH A SHIP
AGROUND, BLOCKING THE RIVER.

BECAUSE THAT WOULD
SIMPLY CLOSE THE PORT.

WITH THE MALLAIG
SURROUNDED BY FOG UP AHEAD,

BRENNAN PRESSES THE TUG ATTACHED

TO THE REAR OF THE RED
JASMINE INTO SERVICE.

WARRIOR, RED JASMINE,
STERN EASY TO STARBOARD.

BRENNAN
USES THE WARRIOR

TO PULL THE SHIP'S STERN GENTLY,

SO IT'S POINTING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION

FOR EACH OF THE NEXT TURNS.

DEAD SLOW
AHEAD, PLEASE.

BEING
STEERED FROM THE REAR,

THEY CRAWL FORWARD
THROUGH THE FOG.

IT WAS DEAD SLOW AHEAD,

AND WE MADE OUR WAY THE NEXT
MILE IN THICK, THICK FOG.

IT TAKES ANOTHER
30 NERVE-RACKING MINUTES

FOR THE RED JASMINE TO REACH
GLASGOW, BUT IT'S NOT SAFE YET.

WITH THICK FOG
STILL BLINDING HIM,

BRENNAN DOESN'T WANT TO CRASH

INTO THE HEAVY CONCRETE PIER
HE'S SUPPOSED TO DOCK BESIDE.

WE GOT UP TO WHERE
THE SHIP WAS GOING TO BERTH.

I COULDN'T SEE IT.

I WAS IN TOTAL DARKNESS.

I'M IN TOTAL FOG.

COULDN'T SEE A THING.

I CALLED UP THE
BOATMEN, THE BOATMEN,

CAN YOU PARK YOUR CARS AT THE
POSITIONS YOU WANT THE BOW

AND THE STERN IN,
TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS?

USING THE
HEADLIGHTS AS A GUIDE,

THE CREW PUTS THE RED
JASMINE SAFELY IN ITS BERTH.

ALONGSIDE SHE WENT.

SO OUT GO THE ROPES.

THE ROPES GET PASSED OUT
AND THE LINEMEN CATCH IT.

ALL FAST!

THE TENSE
JOURNEY TO GLASGOW IS OVER.

TREMENDOUS
SENSE OF RELIEF.

I THOUGHT, THANK HEAVENS,
YOU KNOW THAT'S OVER.

THAT WAS A NIGHTMARE.

THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY HARD.

'CAUSE IT REALLY WAS
SOMETHING TO TAKE THE SHIP

UP THE RIVER WITH ONE TUG.

BUT BRENNAN'S
RELIEF WILL BE SHORT-LIVED.

HE'LL SOON LEARN THAT
FOUR MEN ARE FIGHTING

FOR THEIR LIVES IN THE
ICE-COLD RIVER BEHIND HIM.

IT'S THE MIDDLE
OF DECEMBER,

AND A THICK FOG HAS ROLLED
OVER SCOTLAND'S RIVER CLYDE.

FLYING
PHANTOM, COME IN.

A LOCAL TUG
ISN'T ANSWERING ITS RADIO.

RIVER WORKER, NEIL MACINNES,

HAS HEARD THAT THE FLYING
PHANTOM HAS RUN AGROUND.

STEVIE'S ON THE BANK,
LET'S GO SEE IF HE NEEDS A HAND.

HE AND KEITH
RUSSELL TAKE TO THE WATER

TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP.

I WENT UP AND WAS
SPEAKING TO KEITH

AND HE WAS SAYING THAT HIS MATE,

HIS BEST FRIEND STEVIE
ON THE FLYING PHANTOM,

HAD RUN UP THE BANK
OUTSIDE THE DOCK,

BRINGING UP ONE OF THE SHIPS.

BUT
ONCE ON THE RIVER,

MACINNES REALIZES JUST HOW
TREACHEROUS THE CONDITIONS ARE.

WE WERE DOING ONE KNOT

BECAUSE THE VISIBILITY
WAS HORRENDOUS.

I DON'T THINK I COULD SEE
KEITH IN THE WHEELHOUSE

WHEN I WAS STANDING AT
THE FRONT OF THE BOAT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN FOG LIKE IT.

APPROACHING THE SCENE,

MACINNES SPOTS
SOMETHING SHOCKING.

IT'S BRIAN AITCHISON, THE
FLYING PHANTOM'S MATE.

HE'S CLINGING TO A NAVIGATION
POLE, SOAKED TO THE SKIN.

WE GRABBED HIM AND
GOT HIM ONTO THE BOAT.

UP, UP, UP, GET HIM ON THERE!

ATTA BOY, ON THERE, OKAY.

HE WAS FREEZING SO
I GAVE HIM MY JACKET

JUST TO WARM HIM UP A BIT.

I MEAN, HE WAS FROZEN.

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE MANAGED
TO HANG ONTO THAT POLE.

THEY'RE GONE!

HE KEPT SAYING,
"THEY'RE GONE."

WHO'S GONE?

THE BOYS,
AND THE TUG.

AND THAT WAS WHEN IT
ALL SORT OF SUNK IN.

THAT'S WHEN WE REALIZED
THERE WAS A BIGGER PROBLEM.

NOT FAR AWAY,

THEY FIND ALL THAT'S LEFT
OF THE FLYING PHANTOM.

I NOTICED THERE WAS
MAYBE A COUPLE OF FOOT

OF A GAP BETWEEN THE
FOG AND THE WATER,

AND I LAY DOWN ON THE SIDE
OF THE BOAT AND I LOOKED,

AND I COULD SEE
BUBBLES COMING UP.

AND I SAID TO KEITH
IT MUST BE THERE.

SO WE MARKED IT.

THE TUG HAS SUNK

IN THE ICY WATERS OF THE CLYDE.

BUT THERE'S NO SIGN OF
THE REST OF ITS CREW.

UPRIVER IN GLASGOW, THE RED
JASMINE HAS FINISHED MOORING.

THE NEXT THING YOU DO,

LET'S CALL UP THE SVITZER
MALLAIG, ONE OF THE TUGS,

THE TUG THAT WAS PUSHING
US IN; THE THIRD TUG.

THE ESCORT TUG.

MALLAIG, THIS IS RED JASMINE.

HOW'S THE PHANTOM?

WE THINK HE'S LOST.

I THOUGHT INITIALLY,
I THINK HE'S LOST MEANT,

WELL, IT'S THICK FOG.

HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE HE IS.

HE DOESN'T KNOW HIS POSITION?

NO, NO, PILOT, WE
THINK HE'S CAPSIZED AND SUNK.

THAT WAS AN ABSOLUTE
AND UTTER SHOCK TO ME

BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I, I
HAD ONLY BEEN TALKING TO HIM,

AND HE WAS AGROUND!

AND NOW, I'M GETTING A REPORT

FROM THE TUG THAT HE'S
CAPSIZED AND LOST.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY

I WAS OVERTAKEN WITH THE SHOCK.

THE CLYDE COASTGUARD

QUICKLY ORGANIZES A SEARCH

FOR THE MISSING CREW, INCLUDING
TUG ENGINEER, BOB CAMERON.

EIGHT O'CLOCK
AT NIGHT, MY PHONE RANG.

I DIDN'T GET TO THE
PHONE BEFORE IT CLICKED

ONTO THE ANSWERING MACHINE.

AND THEN I GOT THE MESSAGE.

AND YOU CAME UP TO
MY BEDROOM AT THE TIME

AND SAID, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT.

IT'S YOUR DAD.

BUT AT THAT POINT WE DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

FOR THE LAST 18 HOURS
THERE'S BEEN A DESPERATE SEARCH

FOR THE MISSING CREW.

MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH,

ALONG THE SHORE, AND
ON A DOZEN VESSELS,

CRISS-CROSSING THE RIVER.

BUT IT
SOON BECOMES CLEAR

THERE WILL BE NO
OTHER SURVIVORS.

YOU COULDN'T
HAVE FATHOMED THAT,

THAT THAT A POSSIBILITY,

OF LIKE A TUGBOAT SINKING
AND KILLING THREE PEOPLE.

WE WERE ALL IN JUST SHOCK.

OVER
THE NEXT FEW DAYS,

THE BODIES OF THE
CREW ARE RECOVERED.

CAPTAIN STEVIE HUMPHREYS,
ENGINEER BOB CAMERON,

AND DECK HAND ERIC
BLACKLEY WERE NEVER ABLE

TO ESCAPE THEIR SHIP.

WITH SUCH A SHOCKING
LOSS OF LIFE,

AND AN INDUSTRY
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS,

BRITAIN'S MARINE ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION BRANCH

SPRINGS INTO ACTION.

NICHOLAS HANCE IS THE
LEAD INVESTIGATOR.

WHEN I ARRIVED ON SCENE,

I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT I
WAS WALKING INTO IF YOU LIKE.

I WAS VERY UNFAMILIAR
WITH THE RIVER CLYDE

AND THE PASSAGE UP THE RIVER,

SO THAT WAS ALL SOMETHING

THAT WAS A LEARNING
EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

ALL I KNEW INITIALLY WAS
THERE WAS THREE CREW MISSING,

AND ONLY ONE WHO'D SURVIVED.

ONE OF THE
FIRST PEOPLE INTERVIEWED

IS BRIAN AITCHISON.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO MEET ME MR. AITCHISON.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND THIS IS WHERE WE
HAVE TO BE CAREFUL

TO GET IN THERE EARLY
TO SPEAK TO WITNESSES

AS SOON AS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE

THAT WE'RE GETTING
AN UNTAINTED ACCOUNT.

I'M JUST LOOKING FOR A
SENSE OF WHAT HAPPENED.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH IT?

AND CERTAINLY, A KEY
WITNESS IN THIS CASE

WAS THE SURVIVOR FROM
THE FLYING PHANTOM.

WE RAN AGROUND.

I DROPPED THE LINE.

LIKE HE TOLD ME.
AND THEN--

SHAKILY, AITCHISON
PAINTS A TERRIFYING PICTURE

OF THE FINAL MOMENTS
OF THE PHANTOM.

ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.

EASE UP PHANTOM,

YOU'RE PULLING TOO
FAR TO STARBOARD.

PILOT, WE'RE AGROUND.

LET GO YOUR LINE.

LETTING GO!

AITCHISON
RECALLS THAT ONLY SECONDS

AFTER RUNNING AGROUND,

THE FLYING PHANTOM BEGAN
HEELING DANGEROUSLY TO ONE SIDE.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

GET OUT,
EVERYBODY GET OUT!

I WENT OUT
THE STARBOARD SIDE.

I THOUGHT THE REST OF THE
CREW WOULD FOLLOW ME, BUT.

HE THEN HAD NO
CHOICE BUT TO ABANDON THE TUG.

DEEPLY
SHAKEN BY THE ACCIDENT,

AITCHISON CAN'T EXPLAIN
WHY THE BOAT SANK.

I'LL SEE MYSELF OUT.

THERE'S ANOTHER
KEY PLAYER HANCE IS EAGER

TO TALK TO, PETER BRENNAN.

THE MAIB WERE DOWN
ALMOST THE NEXT DAY.

I WAS STILL IN A STATE OF SHOCK.

I WAS GETTING THE
STARTING EFFECTS OF PTSD.

YOU'VE STILL GOT THAT
ELEMENT OF DOUBT,

WAS THERE SOMETHING I DID THAT,

YOU KNOW, PUT THEM IN DANGER?

ALREADY, NEWS
REPORTERS ARE SUGGESTING

IT WAS BRENNAN'S FAULT.

THEY WERE SAYING
THAT THE RED JASMINE

HAD HIT THE FLYING PHANTOM.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF EMOTION INVOLVED.

IN THE THICK FOG,
HAD THE TWO SHIPS COLLIDED?

A TUG IS SO TINY COMPARED

TO A LARGE OCEAN-GOING VESSEL,

THAT A MISTAKE CAN ALSO CAUSE
TUGS TO COLLIDE WITH SHIPS

AND TO BE PUSHED
UNDER THE WATER.

IF THE JASMINE
HAD RUN OVER THE TUG,

THE FOG AND DARKNESS
WOULD'VE HIDDEN EVERYTHING

FROM PETER BRENNAN.

I'VE NEVER SEEN
FOG LIKE THAT BEFORE.

I RADIOED HIM AGAIN, TO
SEE IF HE WAS ALL RIGHT.

BUT HE DID NOT RESPOND.

I ASSUMED HE HAD HIS HANDS
FULL GETTING OFF THE BANK.

EVEN
WITH TWO EYEWITNESSES,

INVESTIGATORS STILL DON'T KNOW
WHY THE FLYING PHANTOM SANK.

HANCE AND HIS TEAM HOPE A NEW
PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY WILL HELP.

BACK IN 2007, AIS WAS
STILL RELATIVELY NEW.

IT'S AUTOMATIC
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM.

IT'S USED FOR BEING ABLE
TO TELL THE POSITION

OF CRAFT AROUND THE COAST.

FOR US AS ACCIDENT INVESTIGATORS,

THE AIS GIVES US A
WEALTH OF INFORMATION

FOR KNOWING THE
POSITION OF THE VESSEL,

A SPECIFIC TIME, ITS
SPEED, ITS HEADING.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

CERTAINLY FOR THE FLYING
PHANTOM AND FOR RED JASMINE,

WE COULD PUT ALL THE
VESSEL POSITION INFORMATION

INTO OUR META SYSTEM AND THEN
IT COULD ESSENTIALLY PLAY BACK

WHERE ALL THE VESSELS
WERE AT SPECIFIC TIMES.

WE COULD THEN START PICKING
OUT WHERE FLYING PHANTOM WAS

IN RELATION TO RED JASMINE
WITHIN SORT OF 10 METERS OR SO.

THE AIS
INFORMATION IS CLEAR,

THE RED JASMINE DID
NOT HIT THE TUG.

THERE WAS PLENTY OF CLEARANCE

BETWEEN THE TWO SHIPS WHEN
THE DISASTER OCCURRED.

WHAT HAPPENED?

SOMETHING ELSE
MUST HAVE CAUSED THE TUG

TO CAPSIZE AND SINK.

HANCE NEEDS TO GET A LOOK
AT THE SUNKEN PHANTOM.

LOTS OF THE ANSWERS
TO OUR QUESTIONS

WERE ON THE RIVERBED.

NOTHING COULD HAPPEN
'TIL WE EXAMINED THE TUG.

WE JUST HAD NEW YEAR

AND THEN I GOT THE PHONE
CALL FROM MY MANAGER.

HE SAYS I NEED YOU TO FLY, LIKE
ASAP TO THE FLYING PHANTOM.

TERRICK TERBLANCHE

IS AN EXPERIENCED SALVAGE DIVER

WHO TRAVELS TO SCOTLAND
TO JOIN THE INVESTIGATION.

YOU KNOW, I
WANTED TO FIND OUT

WHAT POSITION THE RUDDER WAS IN,

WHAT POSITION THE AQUA
MASTER THRUSTER WAS IN,

TO JUST UNDERSTAND
THOSE LAST MOMENTS.

UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS BEING
HOPELESSLY OPTIMISTIC.

ON THE FIRST DIVE,

TERBLANCHE IS IMMEDIATELY
SWEPT DOWNRIVER.

THE CURRENT WAS,
IT WAS SCREAMING.

THE FIRST DIVE I ACTUALLY
WAS BLOWN PAST THE TUG.

AND I WAS FLOATING DOWN THE
RIVER HOLDING ONTO MY UMBILICAL

FOR THE GUYS TO PULL ME BACK IN

BECAUSE THE CURRENT WAS
SCREAMING AT FOUR KNOTS.

TERBLANCHE
QUICKLY LEARNS

IT'S THE RIVER'S POWERFUL TIDES

THAT WILL DETERMINE WHEN HE
CAN DIVE, AND FOR HOW LONG.

SO ON THE
CHANGE OF TIDES

YOU HAVE A SLACK OF CURRENT.

SO IT'S ABOUT AN HOUR
BEFORE THE CHANGE OF TIDES

WHERE IT DROPS DOWN
TO ABOUT ONE KNOT,

ONE AND HALF KNOTS.

AND THAT'S WHEN WE
CAN START DIVING.

TIDES
AREN'T THE ONLY ISSUE

THE TEAM STRUGGLES WITH.

HEY, PICTURE'S UP.

GREAT.

HEAVY
SEDIMENT MAKES IT DIFFICULT

FOR TERBLANCHE, AND THE
INVESTIGATORS WATCHING,

TO SEE ANYTHING AT ALL.

HE'S GOT ZERO VIZ.

IT'S JUST
A MUDDY RIVER,

SO IT'S JUST BROWN,
COMPLETELY BROWN.

TERBLANCHE
HAS TO EXPLORE

THE DOOMED SHIP VIRTUALLY BLIND.

AS SOON AS YOU
JUMP IN THE WATER,

YOU WOULD START FEELING
AROUND WITH YOUR HANDS

TRYING TO ORIENTATE YOURSELF.

YES, I REMEMBER SEEING
THIS ON THE BLUEPRINT,

IT FEELS LIKE AN AIR VENT

OR IT FEELS LIKE A DOOR
HANDLE ON THE SECOND DECK.

IT TOOK ME QUITE A LONG
TIME TO ORIENTATE MYSELF,

TO SEE WHERE I WAS.

WAS I ON THE BOW, WAS I
AMIDSHIPS, WAS I ON THE STERN?

IT WAS QUITE CHALLENGING.

INVESTIGATORS
ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED

IN WHAT TERBLANCHE
CAN SEE AND FEEL

ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PHANTOM.

IT'S POSSIBLE THE TUG'S
HULL WAS PUNCTURED

WHEN IT APPROACHED THE SHORE.

TUGS WORK
IN TIGHT CORNERS

AND THEY DO
OCCASIONALLY GO AGROUND.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS A PROBLEM.

BUT IF YOU'VE GOT
ROCKS OR OBSTRUCTIONS,

REALLY SOLID OBJECTS
ON THE SEABED,

THEN GOING AGROUND IS A MUCH
MORE SERIOUS PROPOSITION.

IT'S GONNA DO MUCH MORE DAMAGE.

THE CLYDE
HOLDS OTHER DANGERS.

GROUND WAYS, VAST RAMPS
USED TO SLIP SHIPS

INTO THE RIVER, DOT THE BANKS.

THE GROUND WAYS ARE A

SUBSTANTIAL CORRUGATED
CONCRETE BASE

WITH THIS POST ON THE END OF IT,

WHICH YOU CAN IMAGINE

WOULD'VE JUST BASICALLY
PEELED HER OPEN

ON THE BOTTOM LIKE A CAN OPENER.

DIVING ON THE WRECK

OF THE PHANTOM IS
PAINSTAKING WORK.

AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF
CAREFUL EXAMINATION,

TERBLANCHE MAKES A
TROUBLING DISCOVERY

WHICH MAY HELP EXPLAIN WHY
THE PHANTOM SANK SO QUICKLY.

BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH THE SHIP'S HULL.

I'VE COME
TO A DOOR, IT'S OPEN.

IT CAN'T BE.

ARE YOU SURE IT'S A DOOR?

ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED.

I KEPT ON
FEELING AROUND.

AND THEN I SAID,
"YES, IT'S A DOOR."

HE SAID, "CLOSE IT."

I COULDN'T CLOSE IT.

AND THEN I WAS FEELING AROUND

AND THEN I COULD FEEL
THAT IT WAS LASHED BACK.

GET
HIM UP RIGHT AWAY.

ALL STOP DIVER.

COME ON UP.

THEY SAID,
"OKAY, WE NEED TO STOP.

"ALL STOP.

"WE NEED TO GET THE DIVER UP.

"WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION."

THEY DISCOVERED THAT ONE

OF THE MAIN DECK
WATER-TIGHT DOORS WAS OPEN

AND IT WAS LATCHED OPEN.

NOW, THAT IS RATHER UNUSUAL.

THE MAIN DECK OF A TUG IS
VERY CLOSE TO WATER LEVEL

SO IT'S VERY EASY FOR
WAVES AND SEA WATER

TO GET ONTO THE MAIN DECK.

AND IF THAT WATER CAN
GET INSIDE THE SHIP,

ESPECIALLY INSIDE
THE ENGINE ROOM,

THAT WILL REDUCE THE STABILITY

AND MAKE A CAPSIZE VERY LIKELY.

WHAT WAS THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

IF THE VESSEL HEELS
OVER WITH THAT DOOR OPEN,

WHEN THE WATER
GETS TO THAT LEVEL,

WATER THEN JUST FLOWS
INTO THE ENGINE ROOM

AND THEN YOU GET DOWN FLOODING

AND ESSENTIALLY THE TUG
WILL GO DOWN QUICKER.

I CAME OUT
OF THE WATER,

WE HAD THE DISCUSSION
ON THE SURFACE

AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT
CHANGES THE WHOLE GAME PLAN

BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE SAYING
THAT, HOW COULD SHE SINK?

DID SHE SINK BECAUSE
THE DOOR WAS OPEN?

WHAT HAPPENED?

INVESTIGATORS
DON'T WANT TO TAMPER

WITH IMPORTANT EVIDENCE.

THE DECISION IS MADE
TO BRING THE WRECK UP

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

SO THAT'S
WHEN THEY TOLD US,

WE NEED TO GET IT UP NOW.

AND WE NEED TO GET IT UP FAST.

Narrator: 32
DAYS AFTER IT SANK,

THE FLYING PHANTOM FINALLY
EMERGES FROM THE CLYDE.

WHAT THE INVESTIGATION
TEAM SEES IS STUNNING.

THEY THOUGHT
THAT SHE WAS GONNA BE

COMPLETELY DAMAGED.
BUT BASICALLY SHE WASN'T,

SO THERE WASN'T HOLES IN HER
THAT SHE WOULD TAKE ON WATER.

NOW THAT
THEY CAN FINALLY EXAMINE

THE ENTIRE VESSEL,

INVESTIGATORS CAN CONFIRM THE
FLYING PHANTOM WASN'T STRUCK

BY THE RED JASMINE.

AND IT WASN'T PUNCTURED
BY ROCKS OR METAL.

WHILE THE OPEN DOOR MAY HAVE
PLAYED A ROLE IN THE CAPSIZING,

THEY STILL DON'T KNOW
WHY THE TUG HEELED OVER

FAR ENOUGH TO LET
WATER FLOOD THE BOAT.

SOMETHING ELSE HAD
TRIGGERED THE DISASTER.

BUT WHAT WAS IT?

IT'S BEEN
MORE THAN A MONTH

SINCE THE FLYING PHANTOM
SANK KILLING THREE MEN.

NOW THAT IT'S BEEN RAISED,

INVESTIGATORS CAN
FINALLY GET A LOOK

INSIDE THE RUINED VESSEL.

WE'D ARRANGED FOR
TEMPORARY LIGHTING

TO BE BROUGHT ALONG.

WE ARRANGED FOR VENT FANS.

ALL THAT HAD
HAPPENED TO MAKE SURE

THAT THE NECESSARY
PEOPLE COULD GET ON BOARD

AND COULD CONTINUE
WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

WE COULD ALSO CLEAN OFF
SOME OF THE DISPLAYS

AND TRY AND SEE,
TAKE PICTURES FIRST,

BUT THEN SEE WHAT SOME
INSTRUMENTS WERE TELLING US.

WHAT THE POSITION OF SOME
OF THE DIALS MAY HAVE SAID.

IT'S
AN EERIE SNAPSHOT

OF THE TUG'S FINAL MOMENTS.

USING RADIO RECORDINGS FROM
THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT--

EASE UP, PHANTOM.

YOU'RE PULLING TOO
FAR TO STARBOARD.

LEAD INVESTIGATOR
NICHOLAS HANCE BEGINS

TO RECONSTRUCT THE TRAGIC
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS.

PILOT, WE'RE AGROUND.

LET GO YOUR LINE.

LETTING GO.

THE ONLY
SURVIVOR OF THE WRECK SAYS

HE RELEASED THE TOW LINE.

BUT INVESTIGATORS WONDER,
IN ALL THE CONFUSION,

COULD HIS MEMORY BE FAULTY?

TUGS HAVE TO
BE VERY CAREFUL

THAT THEY DON'T GET
INTO A SITUATION

WHERE THE TOWING LOAD

IS ESSENTIALLY PASSING
OVER THE SIDE

OF THE VESSEL AND IS TRYING
TO PULL THE VESSEL OVER.

IT'S
CALLED GIRTING.

IF THE TOW LINE MOVES
FROM BEHIND THE TUG

TO ACROSS THE VESSEL, DISASTER
CAN STRIKE IN SECONDS.

TUG GIRTING IS A
PARTICULAR PHENOMENON FOR TUGS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL

THAT THE TUG DOESN'T
GET PULLED BY THE SHIP.

YOU WANT TO TRY TO AVOID
THAT SITUATION AT ALL COSTS

BECAUSE CLEARLY, YOU DON'T
WANT TO CAPSIZE THE TUG.

WAS THIS
THE FATE OF THE PHANTOM?

INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE THE
TOW LINE RELEASE BUTTON

IN THE WHEELHOUSE.

IT'S STILL IN THE SAME
POSITION IT WOULD'VE BEEN

AFTER BEING PRESSED.

IN THE WHEELHOUSE,

THEY NORMALLY HAVE A BUTTON
WHICH OPERATES AN ACTUATOR

THAT LIFTS THE
BREAK ON THE WINCH

AND ALLOWS THE DRUM TO ROTATE

UNTIL ALL THE TOW
LINE HAS RUN OFF.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

WHAT WE HAD ESTABLISHED
AT THAT STAGE WAS

THE BUTTON HAD BEEN PRESSED,

WHETHER IT WORKED OR
NOT, WE DIDN'T KNOW.

THAT DIDN'T ENGAGE AT ALL?

WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE
WINCH WE COULD SEE

THAT THE BRAKE BAND
WAS OFF CENTER.

SO THAT TENDED TO INDICATE TO US

THAT THE EMERGENCY
RELEASE HAD BEEN PRESSED

AND IT HAD WORKED.

BUT AS
THEY EXAMINE THE WINCH,

HANCE SPOTS A CRUCIAL
PIECE OF EVIDENCE,

THE TOW ROPE WHICH
CONNECTED THE TWO SHIPS.

ALL RIGHT, I NEED A
PHOTO OF THIS, RIGHT HERE.

INITIALLY, REPORTS WERE MADE
THAT THE TOW ROPE HAD BEEN CUT.

THE TOW ROPE HADN'T BEEN CUT.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAD HAPPENED IS
THAT THE TOW ROPE HAD PARTED.

IT HAD SNAPPED.

TOW ROPES ARE
SPECIALLY DESIGNED.

VERY HIGH TECH, USUALLY DESIGNED

TO BE LIGHTWEIGHT SO THEY'RE
EASY FOR THE CREW TO HANDLE,

BUT VERY STRONG.

THE BREAKING STRAIN OF A TOW
ROPE WAS ALMOST 200 TONS.

HOW HAD SO MUCH
WEIGHT BEEN PUT ON A LINE

THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
RELEASED FROM THE TUG?

THE WINCH ITSELF,
THE TOWING WINCH,

BECAME MORE OF THE
FOCUS OF INTEREST.

WHAT WE DID IS WE DID
A WHOLE PIECE OF WORK

ON EXAMINING THE TOW WINCH.

SO WE GOT A WHOLE
RANGE OF EXPERTS IN

AND THEY DRAINED ALL THE OIL
OUT OF THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM,

REFILLED IT WITH NEW OIL,
RE-ENERGIZED THE SYSTEM

AND THEN WERE ABLE TO DO TESTS

ON THE WINCH TO
ESTABLISH HOW IT WORKED.

INVESTIGATORS
PUT WEIGHT ON THE LINE

TO SIMULATE THE TENSION
GENERATED WHEN TOWING A SHIP.

YOU'VE GOT 3 1/2
TONS ON IT?

ALL RIGHT, LET'S RUN THE TEST.

ALL RIGHT, RELEASE IT.

BUT WHEN THEY
TRIGGER THE EMERGENCY RELEASE--

WHAT'S GOING ON?

IT'S
SLOW TO ACTIVATE.

ALL RIGHT, WE'VE
GOT TO DO IT AGAIN.

ALTHOUGH THIS EMERGENCY
RELEASE HAD BEEN PRESSED,

ONE OF THE REASONS IT
HADN'T BEEN EFFECTIVE WAS

IT OPERATED TOO SLOWLY.

ALL RIGHT, RELEASE IT.

ALTHOUGH IT DID RELEASE, IT
TOOK SIX TO EIGHT SECONDS

FOR THAT BRAKE BAND TO COME OFF.

LET GO YOUR LINE.

LETTING GO.

WHILE THE TUG
CREW THOUGHT THEY WERE FREE

OF THE MASSIVE RED JASMINE,

FOR A CRITICAL FEW SECONDS
THEY WERE STILL ATTACHED.

THE LINE THAT WAS GUIDING
THE RED JASMINE UPRIVER

DRAGGED THE FLYING
PHANTOM UNDERWATER.

RED JASMINE, ESSENTIALLY,

OVERTOOK FLYING PHANTOM AND
THAT'S WHAT PULLED HER OVER.

THEN THE TUG THAT WAS A
BOW TUG IS NOW STARTING

TO BE TOWED BY A VERY
LARGE BULK CARRIER.

AS IT
SLIPPED INTO THE RIVER,

THE GROWING WEIGHT OF THE

SINKING TUG STRAINED
THE TOW LINE

FAR BEYOND ITS LIMIT.

SUDDENLY, IT WAS
A 500-TON SUNKEN TUG

ON THE END OF THE ROPE
AND THEN THE ROPE BROKE.

FLYING PHANTOM, RED
JASMINE, COME BACK.

FLYING PHANTOM, RED
JASMINE, COME BACK.

HIGH UP ON THE
JASMINE, AND BLINDED BY FOG,

PETER BRENNAN
WOULDN'T HAVE SENSED

THE TRAGEDY UNFOLDING BELOW.

THE FACT THAT HE,

- HIS SHIP, HIS 77,000
- DEAD- WEIGHT TONS,

WAS DRAGGING THE
FLYING PHANTOM AROUND

UNTIL THE ROPE FINALLY PARTED,

THAT WOULD HAVE HAD NO
EFFECT ON SUCH A BIG SHIP.

THEY WOULD NOT HAVE
FELT THAT EVEN.

A CREW THAT DID
EVERYTHING RIGHT WAS BETRAYED

BY A FAULT IN A CRITICAL SYSTEM.

INVESTIGATORS ARE
DESPERATE TO KNOW,

WAS THIS AN ISOLATED MALFUNCTION

OR ARE OTHER CREWS IN DANGER?

PILOT, WE'RE AGROUND.

LET GO YOUR LINE.

LETTING GO!

INVESTIGATORS
HAVE DISCOVERED

THAT A DELAY ON A QUICK
RELEASE SYSTEM DOOMED A TUG

ON SCOTLAND'S RIVER CLYDE.

HERE WE HAD A TUG
WHICH HAD GOT ITSELF

INTO DIFFICULTIES AND HAD
PRESSED THE EMERGENCY RELEASE,

WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT
IT'S INTENDED TO DO,

AND IT HADN'T WORKED.

THAT THEN TOOK US DOWN
THE ROUTE OF LOOKING

AT THE STANDARDS FOR
TUG TOWING WINCHES

AND RELEASE MECHANISMS.

AND IT BECAME APPARENT
THAT THERE WAS NO STANDARD

FOR A TIME IN WHICH EMERGENCY
RELEASES HAD TO RELEASE.

THE
POTENTIALLY DEADLY DELAYS

HAD GONE UNNOTICED
BY THE INDUSTRY

BECAUSE OF THE WAY
WINCHES ARE TESTED.

WE TEST THE QUICK
RELEASES ON OUR TOWING WINCHES

AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH.

SOME COMPANIES, THEY
TEST THEM EVERY DAY.

THE PROBLEM IS IT'S
VERY DIFFICULT

TO TEST THEM UNDER LOAD.

SO PEOPLE TEND TO TEST THEM

WHEN THERE IS NO
LOAD ON THE WINCH.

AND THEY APPEAR TO
OPERATE VERY SWIFTLY.

I THINK FOR ALMOST
EVERYONE IN THE INDUSTRY

IT CAME AS A COMPLETE SHOCK

THAT AN EMERGENCY QUICK RELEASE

COULD TAKE AS LONG AS SIX OR
EIGHT SECONDS TO ACTIVATE.

BUT
THE HIDDEN PROBLEM

WITH THE BOAT'S WINCH
WASN'T THE ONLY FACTOR.

THE ENGINE ROOM DOOR
HAD BEEN TIED OPEN,

LEAVING THE CREW EVEN LESS TIME

TO RESPOND TO THE
UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY.

WITH THE ENGINE
ROOM DOOR SHUT,

WATER WOULDN'T HAVE GOT
INTO THE ENGINE ROOM

UNTIL IT REACHED THE
ENGINE ROOM MAIN VENT.

WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AT
JUST ABOUT 40 DEGREES.

IF THAT DOOR HAD BEEN SHUT,

THE FLYING PHANTOM WOULD'VE
HAD A GREATER CHANCE

OF SURVIVING THAT GIRTING.

MAKING MATTERS
WORSE, THE BLINDING FOG,

WHICH LEFT EVERYONE INVOLVED
WITH NO ROOM FOR ERROR.

THE PROBLEM ON THIS
NIGHT WAS VISIBILITY,

WAS EFFECTIVELY JUST A FEW FEET.

THE VESSELS ALL LOST
SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER.

IT REALLY BLINDED THEM.

INVESTIGATORS REVIEW

THE TUG COMPANY'S SAFETY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

THEY FIND THERE ARE
NO CLEAR GUIDELINES

REGARDING TOWAGE
IN CRIPPLING FOG.

YES, THEY HAD LOTS OF
INSTRUMENTS AND OTHER THINGS,

BUT THERE WERE NO
LIMITS DETERMINED

OR OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
OR ADEQUATE TRAINING

FOR THE TUGS OPERATING
IN THE SITUATION

SHE FOUND HERSELF IN.

SO, THE CREW WERE ESSENTIALLY
TRYING TO DO A JOB

FOR WHICH THEY WEREN'T TRAINED

OR NECESSARILY EQUIPPED
PROPERLY TO DO.

IT'S BEEN
YEARS SINCE THE RIVER CLYDE

TOOK THE LIVES OF THREE SAILORS
ON BOARD THE FLYING PHANTOM.

THE TUG INDUSTRY HERE
HAS LEARNED VITAL LESSONS

FROM THE DISASTER.

IF THICK FOG IS ENCOUNTERED,
NEW RULES RECOMMEND

THAT TOWING STOPS COMPLETELY
UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE.

EMERGENCY RELEASE SYSTEMS ARE
NOW TESTED BEFORE EACH VOYAGE

AND MUST DISENGAGE AS
SOON AS THEY'RE PUSHED.

THEY NOW HAVE, ALL
OF THEM WORLDWIDE,

HAVE RULES THAT SAY
THAT IN ALL CASES,

WHETHER THE WINCH IS
UNDER TENSION OR NOT,

WHETHER THERE'S HIGH LOAD OR
LOW LOAD, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IN ALL CASES, THE
EMERGENCY QUICK RELEASE

MUST ACTIVATE AS QUICKLY
AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE.

AND IN ANY EVENT,

IT MUST ACTIVATE IN
LESS THAN THREE SECONDS.

SO THAT IS NOW THE LAW.

WITH LUCK, A CASE
LIKE FLYING PHANTOM

CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

THE TUG INDUSTRY
HAS MADE CHANGES SINCE 2007,

BUT PETER BRENNAN IS
NO LONGER PART OF IT.

I JUST COULDN'T
CONCENTRATE ON MY JOB,

ON MY PILOTAGE AFTER THAT.

IN THE END, I JUST
HAD TO CALL IT.

IT'S NOT FOR ME ANYMORE.

IT'S TAKEN YEARS AND YEARS
FOR ME TO GET OVER THIS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF I EVER WILL.

BRENNAN
ISN'T THE ONLY ONE

WHO LIVES WITH THE TRAGIC
MEMORIES OF THE ACCIDENT.

CLYDE BANK COUNCIL
PUT UP A PLAQUE

AT THE SPOT WHERE THE
FLYING PHANTOM WENT DOWN.

IT WAS A NICE THOUGHT
THAT THEY DID MARK IT,

AND ON THE 19TH OF
DECEMBER EVERY YEAR,

WE ALWAYS GO OVER
AND LAY FLOWERS DOWN.

IT WAS JUST
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

AND REALLY, ALL
WE'VE EVER WANTED

IS JUST TO MAKE SURE

IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN SO THAT
NOBODY ELSE HAS TO GO THROUGH

WHAT WE WENT THROUGH.