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| Zeebrugge remembered 20 years on | Zeebrugge remembered 20 years on |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Survivors of the Zeebrugge ferry tragedy have joined relatives of some of the 193 victims for a commemorative service 20 years after the disaster. | Survivors of the Zeebrugge ferry tragedy have joined relatives of some of the 193 victims for a commemorative service 20 years after the disaster. |
| The anniversary was being marked at the Dover centre of the British and International Sailors' Society (BISS). | The anniversary was being marked at the Dover centre of the British and International Sailors' Society (BISS). |
| The Herald of Free Enterprise was bound for the Kent port when it capsized at Zeebrugge harbour, Belgium, in 1987. | The Herald of Free Enterprise was bound for the Kent port when it capsized at Zeebrugge harbour, Belgium, in 1987. |
| Reverend Sean Michael Carter, who led the service, said: "It still makes no sense to us. We are still shocked." | Reverend Sean Michael Carter, who led the service, said: "It still makes no sense to us. We are still shocked." |
| He said: "It was one of those events which people will always remember where they were at that time. It was a dark and dreadful night for so many people. | He said: "It was one of those events which people will always remember where they were at that time. It was a dark and dreadful night for so many people. |
| "Today our hearts still mourn their passing. Their unfulfilled dreams are now ours." | "Today our hearts still mourn their passing. Their unfulfilled dreams are now ours." |
| I was very affected by it all and will continue to be affected for the rest of my life Retired Kent County Council official Colin Weaver Disaster was no accident Zeebrugge heroes honoured | I was very affected by it all and will continue to be affected for the rest of my life Retired Kent County Council official Colin Weaver Disaster was no accident Zeebrugge heroes honoured |
| The congregation held a two-minute silence in memory of the victims. | The congregation held a two-minute silence in memory of the victims. |
| The service also honoured the crew members and passengers who helped to save lives, and the people who counselled the survivors and victims' families in the weeks and months following the disaster. | The service also honoured the crew members and passengers who helped to save lives, and the people who counselled the survivors and victims' families in the weeks and months following the disaster. |
| Retired Kent County Council official, Colin Weaver, said: "It was my job to help the crew and also counsel the families of the 38 crew who were killed. | Retired Kent County Council official, Colin Weaver, said: "It was my job to help the crew and also counsel the families of the 38 crew who were killed. |
| "Working with the relatives was particularly difficult as the crew had had violent deaths. | "Working with the relatives was particularly difficult as the crew had had violent deaths. |
| "I was very affected by it all and will continue to be affected for the rest of my life." | "I was very affected by it all and will continue to be affected for the rest of my life." |
| Unlawful killing | Unlawful killing |
| The anniversary was also seeing a memorial quarter peal by bell ringers at St Mary's Parish Church in Dover on Tuesday evening. | The anniversary was also seeing a memorial quarter peal by bell ringers at St Mary's Parish Church in Dover on Tuesday evening. |
| The ferry had just left Zeebrugge when it capsized, killing 193 peopleThe Townsend Thoresen ferry capsized because its bow doors had not been closed, allowing water to flood the car deck. | The ferry had just left Zeebrugge when it capsized, killing 193 peopleThe Townsend Thoresen ferry capsized because its bow doors had not been closed, allowing water to flood the car deck. |
| It was also established that the crew member responsible for closing the doors was asleep at the time. | It was also established that the crew member responsible for closing the doors was asleep at the time. |
| An inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing, but manslaughter cases against the company - which had by then become P&O European Ferries - and seven employees collapsed in 1990. | An inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing, but manslaughter cases against the company - which had by then become P&O European Ferries - and seven employees collapsed in 1990. |
| Lord Justice Sheen, who conducted the public inquiry, said in his report in 1987 that Townsend Thoresen had been "infected with the disease of sloppiness" from the top of the company to the bottom. | Lord Justice Sheen, who conducted the public inquiry, said in his report in 1987 that Townsend Thoresen had been "infected with the disease of sloppiness" from the top of the company to the bottom. |