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Marchioness boat disaster marked Marchioness boat disaster marked
(about 9 hours later)
Services are being held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Marchioness disaster, when 51 people died after the pleasureboat sank in the Thames. A coastguard placed 51 roses on the Thames to mark the 20th anniversary of the Marchioness disaster, the sinking of a pleasure boat that killed 51.
The names of the dead were also read out by survivor Odette Penwarden, 62, at a lunchtime service.
More than 130 partygoers were on the Marchioness when it collided with a dredger, the Bowbelle, and sank near Southwark Bridge on 20 August 1989.More than 130 partygoers were on the Marchioness when it collided with a dredger, the Bowbelle, and sank near Southwark Bridge on 20 August 1989.
A Marine Accident Investigation report blamed poor look-outs on both vessels.A Marine Accident Investigation report blamed poor look-outs on both vessels.
Families of victims will lay wreaths at the Marchioness memorial stone during three Southwark Cathedral services. At an evening service families of victims will lay wreaths at the Marchioness memorial stone in Southwark Cathedral, near where the disaster happened.
Survivors and families of victims will also place roses close to where the boat sank. Among those paying tribute to the dead was Molly Faldo, from Hornchurch, Essex.
The Marchioness had been hired to celebrate the 26th birthday of Cambridge graduate Antonio de Vasconcellos when the evening collision occurred. Even after 20 years it does not get any easier to bear Molly Faldo, bereaved mother
Her 29-year-old son Steven, skipper of the Marchioness, died in the accident.
Mrs Faldo said: "Stephen only married a few months before the accident and he had a yellow theme for his wedding, so we laid yellow roses at the memorial today.
"Even after 20 years it does not get any easier to bear."
The Marchioness had been hired to celebrate the 26th birthday of Cambridge graduate Antonio de Vasconcellos.
The Marchioness had been hired for a birthday party From party to tragedy in minutes
On board were high-flyers from the worlds of finance and fashion.
Francesca Dallagio, the sister of former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio, was one of those who died.
A public inquiry, held in 2000 after pressure from the Marchioness Action Group, supported the conclusion of the Marine Accident Investigation.A public inquiry, held in 2000 after pressure from the Marchioness Action Group, supported the conclusion of the Marine Accident Investigation.
Lord Justice Clarke was severely critical of Bowbelle captain Douglas Henderson, who drank six pints of lager the afternoon before the disaster.Lord Justice Clarke was severely critical of Bowbelle captain Douglas Henderson, who drank six pints of lager the afternoon before the disaster.
He was also critical of the owners of both vessels, the Department of Transport and the Port of London Authority. He also criticised the owners of both vessels, the Department of Transport and the Port of London Authority.
The public inquiry and efforts of the Marchioness Action Group led to improved safety on the Thames, including the launch of a coastguard and RNLI lifeboat service in 2002.The public inquiry and efforts of the Marchioness Action Group led to improved safety on the Thames, including the launch of a coastguard and RNLI lifeboat service in 2002.
The Bowbelle was subsequently sold to a Madeiran dredging company and renamed Bob Rei. It split in two and sank off the coast of Madeira in 1996.The Bowbelle was subsequently sold to a Madeiran dredging company and renamed Bob Rei. It split in two and sank off the coast of Madeira in 1996.
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Survivors and eye-witness talk about the disasterSurvivors and eye-witness talk about the disaster