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Families to be asked who they blame for boat tragedy - Trident


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#1 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 05 October 2009 - 10:28 AM

This story from the Aberdeen Press & Journal @ http://www.pressandj...le.aspx/1425343

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Families to be asked who they blame for boat tragedy
Sheriff wants relatives’ submission explained before inquiry begins

By Jamie Buchan

Published: 05/10/2009

The families of a lost north-east fishing crew, who marked the 35th anniversary of their deaths at the weekend, have been called back to court.

Some of the relatives of the seven men who drowned when the Peterhead trawler Trident sank in 1974 will appear in front of a sheriff later today to explain who and what they believe was responsible for the boat’s loss.

It is part of a new £3million inquiry into the tragedy which was reopened by the Department for Transport in 2002 after amateur divers discovered the Trident lying on the seabed off Wick.

The accident happened 35 years ago on Saturday.

Relatives have always refused to believe the findings of an original inquiry which ruled the boat sank after being hit by a massive wave.

Today’s hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court is expected to finalise details before the full inquiry begins later this month.

Relatives of six of the Trident crewmen were given the chance to submit criticisms of any “person, persons or party” associated with the accident.

The Press and Journal understands that these criticisms are now being challenged and court officials want this matter resolved before the full inquiry begins.

Jeannie Ritchie, 69, of Arbuthnot Terrace, Peterhead, lost both her husband and father in the accident. She believes that the Trident sank because it was unstable.

She said last night: “We did not expect to be brought back to court over this.

“We knew there was going to be a meeting with the lawyers, but we didn’t think we’d have to go along as well.”

Mrs Ritchie said she could not talk about the specific criticisms outlined in the relatives’ submission.

“I think the sheriff wants to look at these criticisms in more detail,” she said.

Mrs Ritchie said she marked the anniversary in private, at home with her mother.

Yesterday, she appealed to friends of the lost crewmen, as well as supporters of the families’ campaign, to gather on the steps of the city’s sheriff court at 2pm today, before the hearing.

“It would be great to have a good show of numbers,” she said. “We have always had a lot of support from the people of Peterhead and from the fishing industry.

“We want as many of them as possible to come out and show the sheriff how important this inquiry is to us.”

So far, the inquiry has involved three underwater surveys of the wreck and tests on a scale model of the boat which were carried out in the Netherlands last year.


#2 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 06 October 2009 - 08:30 AM

Aberdeen Press & Journal report from today @ http://www.pressandj...427355?UserKey=

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Advocate warned ahead of Peterhead trawler inquiry
He is urged not to delay evidence

By Ross Davidson

Published: 06/10/2009

THE sheriff who will hear an inquiry into how and why a north-east fishing trawler sank has accused representatives of some of the families who lost loved ones of trying to “ambush” the investigation by not providing enough information.

Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young made the remark at a preliminary hearing into the loss of the Peterhead trawler Trident at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, but the accusation was denied by their advocate, Richard Anderson.

Some of the families appeared in front of the sheriff principal yesterday to explain who and what they believe was responsible for the loss of the boat, which claimed the lives of all seven men on board when she sank in 1974.

It is part of a new £3million inquiry into the tragedy which was reopened by the Department for Transport in 2002 after amateur divers discovered the Trident lying on the seabed off Wick in Caithness.

Relatives have always refused to believe the findings of an original inquiry.

It ruled that the boat sank after being hit by a massive wave.

The families of six of the Trident crewmen were given the chance to submit criticisms of any “person, persons or party” associated with the accident.

Representatives of the vessel’s designer, Andrew Cumming, and its majority owner, David Tait, who both faced criticism from the families, said the allegations made against their clients lacked enough detail and that they had not been given fair notice of the accusations to respond in their defence.

The sheriff principal agreed, and warned Mr Anderson against trying to “surprise” the other parties with new evidence during the inquiry.

He said: “It seems to me you are trying to ambush people.

“We want to find out what happened and why, and as a result of that what lessons can be learned.

“If you wish to add into that substantial criticisms of other parties then you are entitled to do that, but you have to let them know what those criticisms are and give them fair notice in respect of that.”

Mr Anderson said the advocates for the people facing criticism should already have enough information based on the dossier which had been produced and the findings of the first inquiry into the accident in 1975.

He said: “My learned friends are in a position to respond to the criticisms with the productions before them and from what has gone before at the first investigation.

“I do not intend to surprise or ambush anyone with new information.”

The sheriff principal gave Mr Anderson until this Friday to submit a new dossier outlining who and what the families he represents believe was at fault.

Speaking after the preliminary hearing, Jeannie Ritchie, 69, of Arbuthnot Terrace, Peterhead, said: “Our advocate has a tremendous amount of work to do now.

“They keep asking for more and more information. When is it going to end?

“They want more specific detail about who and what we are criticising, but we did not go through any of this at the last inquiry in 1975.”

Mrs Ritchie – who lost both her husband and father in the accident and maintains that the Trident sank because of instability – added the families were willing to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg if they feel the inquiry has not revealed the true cause of the sinking.

Another preliminary hearing to discuss the criticisms put forward by the families will take place at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Tuesday, October 13. The inquiry is scheduled to begin on October 19.


#3 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 06 October 2009 - 10:05 AM

From the BBC News site @ http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8290353.stm

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Trawler inquiry details ordered

Families bereaved by a trawler sinking in 1974 have expressed disappointment at having to provide more information before an inquiry can go ahead.

Seven men died when the Peterhead trawler Trident sank off Caithness.

A public inquiry is due to begin in Aberdeen in two weeks but the families have been ordered to provide further details on their concerns.

Many relatives have always believed the Trident was unstable, rather than it solely being swamped by a wave.

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday, Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young ordered the legal team for the families to come up with more information by Friday.

That includes indicating whether or not they intend to criticise anyone and what the nature of that criticism is.

Another hearing will take place next Monday and the inquiry itself is expected to begin the following Monday.

The wreck of the Trident was discovered by amateur divers five years ago.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8290353.stm

Published: 2009/10/06 08:45:35 GMT

© BBC MMIX


#4 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 14 October 2009 - 07:27 PM

From the Aberdeen Press and Journal @ http://www.pressandj...438525?UserKey=

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Safety check could have saved our men, say sunken trawler relatives
Dossier from the loved ones criticises the vessel’s skipper and designer

By Lori Reid

Published: 14/10/2009

The families of some of the men who were killed when a north-east fishing vessel sank believe their lives would have been spared if a crucial safety check was carried out.

The statement came from a written dossier, created by some of the families who lost their loved ones when the Peterhead trawler Trident, sank in 1974.

All seven men were killed when the vessel sank, and the families of six of the crewmen were given the chance to submit criticisms of any “person, persons or party” associated with the accident.

At a preliminary hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday the dossier was presented to Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young, after it was compiled by the families representative Richard Anderson.

The document stated a number of criticisms against David Tait, the vessel’s majority owner and skipper, Andrew Cumming, the vessel’s designer and the White Fishing Authority, which co-owned the ship.

The dossier stated that none of the parties had carried out an inclination test, to check the static stability of the boat before she was allowed to sail.

The families believe that this was a crucial error and the dossier states that Mr Tait had been warned that the boat was unstable, yet a test was not carried out.

The White Fish Authority was also criticised as, according to the submitted document, it was in the authority’s “contractual and procedural” interests to carry out a stability check when the boat was built.

Representatives of the vessel’s designer, Andrew Cumming, the White Fish Authority and its majority owner, David Tait, said the allegations made against their clients lacked enough detail and that they had not been given fair notice of the accusations to give their defence.

They said there was no new evidence to support the claims since the first inquiry in 1975, therefore the criticisms were unfounded.

Sheriff Principal Young said: “I have a great deal of sympathy for what has been said on behalf of all the parties but the whole of the case has to be heard by me.

“I will allow further submissions to be received relating to criticisms against Mr Cummings, Mr Tait and the White Fish Authority.”

Speaking after the preliminary hearing, Jeannie Ritchie, 69, of Arbuthnot Terrace, Peterhead, said the families believe that if a stability test had been carried out then the boat may never have sank.

Mrs Ritchie, who lost both her husband and father in the accident, said: “We still say she sank because there was no stability test.

“That came out in the first inquiry but because the wreck had not been found there was no evidence to support it.

“A test was carried out on the Trident’s sister ship which showed she was unstable, yet no test was done on the Trident. They just left her until she sank.”

The inquiry will begin on Monday.

It was requested by the Department for Transport in 2002 after amateur divers discovered the Trident lying on the seabed off Wick in Caithness.


#5 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 19 October 2009 - 08:18 AM

Audio Clip on the BBC News site @ http://news.bbc.co.u...700/8313718.xml

#6 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 21 October 2009 - 04:20 PM

Courtesy of the BBC News site @ http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8318645.stm

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Trident wreck survey was 'flawed'

A £1m survey of the wreck of a fishing boat which sank in 1974 was "flawed", an inquiry has been told.

The Trident was heading home to Peterhead when it sank off Caithness. The wreck was discovered by divers.

The second day of a public inquiry in Aberdeen into the sinking heard evidence that the underwater survey was affected by equipment problems.

Relatives of some of the seven who died claim the Trident was unstable, rather than solely being swamped by a wave.

Experts were commissioned to assess the wreck after it was found by amateur divers several years ago.

The inquiry heard that the project was hit by problems.

Breakdown problems

Mark Kennor, head of the joint of panel of experts tasked with gathering evidence for the inquiry, told how all nine men on the panel signed a certificate saying they were dissatisfied with the project.

Mr Keenor, a master mariner, said: "We had to ask to squeeze an extra two days out of the contractor but those days were flawed by further breakdowns, equipment which wasn't working and a video ray which failed to function.

"As you can tell by the letter each of the experts signed, shortly before the survey finished, we were still not happy with it.

"We gave consideration as to whether another survey would be guaranteed to provide additional vessel information but of course no-one could ever guarantee that it would."

Radio contact was lost with the boat on the afternoon of 3 October, 1974.

An oil film was reported on 6 October in the original area of the last known position of the Trident.

Mr Cordiner, Alexander Ritchie, George Nicol, James Tait, Thomas Thain, Alexander Mair and Alexander Summers died.

Six of the crew were in their 30s, and Mr Nicol was in his 50s.

The inquiry continues. It is expected to last at least 10 days.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8318645.stm

Published: 2009/10/21 14:26:06 GMT

© BBC MMIX


#7 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 24 October 2009 - 09:29 AM

Courtesy of the Aberdeen Press and Journal @ http://www.pressandj...453197?UserKey=

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Film of sunk Peterhead boat shown for first time
bereaved families see final resting place of crewmen

By Stephen Christie

Published: 24/10/2009

Video footage of the trawler Trident resting on the seabed was shown in public for the first time yesterday during the new inquiry into the sinking.

The images, captured by a camera mounted on a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) as part of an underwater survey, showed the wreck lying in more than 200ft of water.

The Peterhead-registered vessel is nearly 13 miles off the coast of Caithness, where she came to rest on October 3, 1974, after going down with all hands.

Alexander Mair, 30, of Portknockie, and Peterhead men Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, and Alex Summers, 35, all died.

At yesterday’s hearing, master mariner Graeme Bowles talked the inquiry through the video from the ROV.

He is part of the joint panel of experts (JPE) appointed to review evidence after the discovery of the wreck of the trawler eight years ago.

As the camera swept past the hull of the ship, faded white lettering spelling out Trident’s name could be seen.

The wheelhouse, with the skipper’s window slightly open, was also filmed, and empty nets could be seen disappearing into the darkness of the fish hold.

At one stage the camera looked through a window with its glass missing and into the wheelhouse, which appeared scattered with rotten wood panelling that once lined the walls of the room. The outside windows of the sleeping quarters were also shown, and ropes and nets could be seen strewn across the deck.

The man-overboard light – still in its holster – was attached to the outside wall of the wheelhouse.

Mr Bowles told the inquiry this would suggest a man-overboard scenario had never been exercised.

Afterwards, Jeannie Ritchie, 69, of Arbuthnot Terrace, Peterhead, who lost her father, Mr Nicol, and her husband, Mr Ritchie, said seeing the final resting place of the men was “overwhelming”.

“It brings everything right to the front of your mind, and although we have to live with the reality of the sinking of the vessel, it’s hard to see these pictures up close,” she said.

Earlier in the hearing at Aberdeen Town House, Ailsa Wilson QC, appearing for the advocate-general, asked Mr Bowles why an underwater survey of the wreck was the preferred option over raising the vessel, to which he replied: “After the length of time she lay on the seabed there was a chance she would fall apart if lifting had taken place.”

The original 1975 investigation into the sinking concluded a wave or succession of waves sank the Trident.

The inquiry continues.


#8 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 09:57 AM

Courtesy of the Scottish Daily Record On Line @ http://www.dailyreco...86908-21774279/

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Widows of the Trident still wait for the truth 27 years after trawler sank

Oct 26 2009 By Annie Brown

EVRY day in Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Jeannie Ritchie listens intently to evidence, scribbling notes to the law team acting for the widows of the Trident fishing boat disaster.

The new £3million inquiry is the latest attempt to get to the truth of why the trawler foundered in the North Sea on October 3, 1974, taking seven men to their deaths.

Jeannie lost her father George Nicol and her husband Alex - the two men she loved most.

Some nights she doesn't sleep and some days the ironing mounts as she pours over paperwork, educating herself on the case.

But behind the legalese and the courtroom drama, the real story is of a group of women bound by aching loss.

Jeannie, 69, calls them "widows of the sea" and in their voyage to the truth, she is at the helm.

The last time Jeannie saw her father and husband they were being picked up at her house in Peterhead by the crew bus.

Alex had given their two young sons a cuddle, kissed Jeannie and told her: "I'll see you soon."

Jeannie said: "I remember looking out of the window, my mother and I and the boys, and they were waving out the window of the bus."

Her eyes swamp with tears when she recalls the memory, revealing: "It still hurts. When someone dies, you should have a body, be able to say goodbye, but the Trident widows never had that. We never got closure."

She smiles when she talks of her father. He first went to sea when he was just 12 and earned his skipper's ticket during the war.

Jeannie said: "He was so easy going, my father. My sister and I twisted him round our little finger. He was so placid. He sang in the Mission's fisherman's choir.

"When he came home from the sea, even before he had changed his clothes, he would sit down at the organ and sing a Sankey, a hymn of the sea.

"He was a very good husband. My mother still cries for him to this day."

Jeannie met Alex at Peterhead Academy when she was only 14 and he was 15. She married him when she was 20, they had two sons William and Alex - and she lost her husband when she was only 34.

Jeannie said: "It was his hair that took my eye. He had lovely auburn hair.

"From the day I met him, until the day he died, I never had another boyfriend."

When she last spoke to him, the Trident was landing its catch at Troon after three weeks at sea and he told her he would see her the next night around 11pm.

She and William went to the harbour to pick up Alex and her 58-year-old father.

William was seven and he was jumping up and down with excitement, as one by one, lights from the boats emerged from the darkness. But when the Faithful, a partner boat to the Trident, came in, Jeannie knew there was something wrong.

The crew, who would normally stop and chat, avoided her questions about the Trident and sped off in their cars.

She followed them, fear gripping her when they stopped at the coastguard tower.

She said: "It is carved in my mind like it was yesterday. I heard them discussing putting out an early morning search for the Trident. The minute they said that, I just knew they were gone."

The Trident had been ahead of the Faithful but had dropped off the radar around 4pm. It was a calm night and the radar had a limited five mile radius.

But when the men couldn't raise the Trident on the radio, and she wasn't ahead of them in the harbour, they realised there was a problem.

Shaking and weeping, Jeannie went back to the house, to her mother and Alex.

She said: "I came through the door and my mother was looking behind me for the men. She thought they were hiding and joking.

"I just said to her, 'They are gone. We will never see them again'."

Jeannie added: "My mother held out hope but I knew - because I had seen the look on the faces of the men of the Faithful."

To lose both men was an unspeakable cruelty. The disaster also left 12 children without fathers.

Jeannie said: "I didn't know who to grieve for first. But the biggest grief in my heart was looking at my sons.

"The widows all say the same, that the children couldn't accept it."

Two years after the Trident perished, William cried as he watched a group of fishermen walking up the road.

Jeannie said: "He told me he thought his dad might be coming home. All the children of the Trident carried on looking for their fathers for such a long time after."

It would be years before the men were declared dead, so the widows had to take on jobs. Jeannie got an administration job to keep the family afloat.

Jeannie said: "When we met, there would be tears and it always came back to the same thing. Where was the Trident? I always hoped that they would find the boat, raise it and wecould buryour dead."

In 1975, the first Trident inquiry concluded the boat sank after being swamped by a wave and that her design had contributed to the loss.

The women were unconvinced about the wave. They knew the newly built boat had taken a "funny roll" off the coast of Holland and it had been known as a "wet boat", with such poor balance that the crew always got their feet soaked.

And just after the demise of the Trident, sister ship Silver Lining was confined to harbour, only taking to sea again after extensive modification to right its stability.

It took a cruel 27 years before the wreck of the Trident was found by chance off Caithness in 2001 by a diving school.

Jeannie said: "I was so relieved. For all the widows, for a few days, it was a joyful feeling but then the reality sunk in. We would never get what we really wanted - the men weren't going to be resurrected."

The distinctive, 86ft, blue hull of the wreckage was intact and there was little to indicate the boat had been hit by a wave.

The Trident was never raised, so the families didn't get a burial. And against their will, the Government ordered that the boat be cut open and surveyed.

Jeannie said: "The bones of the men were in there and they are sacred remains, yet they cut the Trident anyway. We shudder when the winds howl. The waves will wash in and out and we worry."

In 2002, transport secretary Stephen Byers granted another inquiry which reopened last week and will run through November. Jeannie will be there every day.

She said: "When you look back at the young men of the Trident, lost in their prime, we just think what a waste of lives.

"We are their widows and we want to be satisfied in our hearts that we know the whole truth of why they died."


#9 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 12 November 2009 - 04:25 PM

Courtesy of the Aberdeen Press & Journal @ http://www.pressandj...479637?UserKey=

Quote

expert shows footage of tests on Trident model
Wave could have capsized boat – inquiry

By Lori Reid

Published: 12/11/2009

The inquiry into the sinking of the Trident heard yesterday it was “very likely” the trawler could have capsized due to a variety of wave conditions.

The statement was made by Christean Ellar Schmittmer, who carried out a series of tests on a replica of the trawler, which sunk with the loss of seven lives 35 years ago.

Mr Schmittmer was the project manager of a team at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands which was asked to create a scale model of the ship by the inquiry’s joint panel of experts.

The replica was then tested in a water tank to see how it would react to a variety of wave factors, including frequency, energy, length and height.

Mr Schmittmer, a qualified naval architect and engineer, showed video footage of one of the tests at the inquiry in Aberdeen yesterday.

It showed the model, which was about 5ft long inside a 460ft long water tank which was capable of simulating sea conditions. Talking the inquiry through the footage, Mr Schmittmer said: “You can see the waves are coming from the stern. You have to imagine that the model is going through the water. It looks quite quiet then you see this incident and the model rolls in the wave and capsizes.”

The inquiry heard the model capsized in five tests, using a variety of conditions.

Advocate general representative Ailsa Wilson QC, then read a statement, written by Mr Schmittmer in a report into the tests. It said: “The test shows it is very likely the boat would capsize in these conditions.”

When asked if he agreed with the statement, Mr Schmittmer said: “Yes. Very likely.” He said due to different wave conditions used in each test, he was unable to say definitively what type of wave would have caused the trawler to capsize.

All seven crewmen lost their lives when the Peterhead-registered Trawler went down off the coast of Caithness on October 3, 1974.

Alexander Mair, 30, of Portknockie, and Peterhead men Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, and Alex Summers, 35, all died in the sinking.

The inquiry continues today.

Read more: http://www.pressandj...=#ixzz0Wf0dJkVQ


#10 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 23 November 2009 - 09:28 PM

Courtesy of the BBC News Site @ http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8362626.stm

Quote

Break for Trident sinking inquiry

An inquiry into the loss of a fishing boat in 1974 which claimed seven lives is set to be adjourned.

The Trident was heading home to Peterhead when it sank off Caithness.

Relatives of some of the seven men who died claim the Trident was unstable, rather than the boat solely being swamped by a wave.

The inquiry, which began on 19 October, is due to finish on Tuesday. It will continue in February to hear the remaining evidence.

The inquiry has heard it was understood the Trident started its final voyage from Troon to Peterhead in the early hours of 2 October, 1974.

Skipper David Tait was returning to Peterhead by car so Robert Cordiner assumed command.

Radio contact was lost with the boat on the afternoon of 3 October.

An oil film was reported on 6 October in the original area of the last known position of the Trident.

Mr Cordiner, Alexander Ritchie, George Nicol, James Tait, Thomas Thain, Alexander Mair and Alexander Summers died.

Six of the crew were in their 30s, and Mr Nicol was in his 50s.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8362626.stm

Published: 2009/11/17 01:34:52 GMT


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Posted 16 December 2009 - 10:53 AM

Courtesy of the Aberdeen Press and Journal @ http://www.pressandj...527891?UserKey=

Quote

Trident relatives’ chance to explain
families of men lost when trawler sank given permission to tell inquiry why boat foundered

By Stephen Christie

Published: 16/12/2009

Relatives of some of the men who died aboard the trawler Trident were given permission yesterday to resubmit a statement explaining why they think the vessel foundered.

It also emerged that a new legal team has been appointed to represent the families when the inquiry into the sinking resumes.

Colin Mackenzie will replace Richard Anderson.

It is understood Mr Mackenzie has been chosen to push forward the beliefs of some of the families that instability was the main reason the Peterhead-registered vessel went down off the coast of Wick on October 3, 1974.

A hearing took place yesterday at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to allow the group of relatives and their legal team to submit a statement setting out why they believe the tragedy happened.

Mr Mackenzie raised concerns about the statement’s content, however.

Speaking afterwards, Peterhead woman Jeannie Ritchie, 69, who lost her husband and father when the trawler sank, said she and the other families had to do “all they could” to prove that the boat’s instability was to blame.

A spokesman for the advocate general said he hoped the statement would clarify their position. “Mrs Ritchie and a number of the other families instructed a new counsel, Colin Mackenzie, who indicated he had concerns with the statement which was intended to be lodged in court,” he said last night.

“He indicated serious consideration would have to be given to radically altering or rewriting the statement before it is lodged in court.

“The families were therefore ordered by the Sheriff Principal to lodge in court by January 19 a further written submission which clearly sets out their position on a key issues such as stability, weather and sea conditions at the time of the loss.

“It is hoped the statement will provide clarification of the position of the families and enable the matter to be concluded efficiently and expeditiously within the allocated inquiry time.”

Ailsa Wilson QC, representing the advocate general, raised concerns that the resubmission could delay the inquiry, which opened in October. “It is regrettable at this stage it would appear that one of the principal parties are taking out a course of action that could result in further delay in the conclusions of this investigation,” she said. “However, it is likely that the further period will result in proper explanation as to his client’s position which should assist in the remainder of the inquiry.”

Peterhead men Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, and Alex Summers, 35, all died in the sinking, with Alexander Mair, 30, of Portknockie. The original probe into the tragedy was in 1975 and concluded a wave or succession of waves sank the Trident.

The inquiry, in Aberdeen, resumes in February.

Read more: http://www.pressandj...=#ixzz0ZqPOB8eI


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Posted 22 February 2010 - 11:59 AM

Latest from the BBC News site @ http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8527121.stm

Quote

Sunk trawler probe due to resume

The public inquiry into the sinking of a Peterhead trawler more than 30 years ago is due to resume in Aberdeen.

Seven men were lost when the Trident went down in stormy seas off Wick, Caithness, in 1974.

An inquiry held a year later found it had been struck by a massive wave but many of the relatives have always insisted the vessel was unstable.

A new investigation was ordered when the wreck was discovered by amateur divers in 2001.

All the men on board, Robert Cordiner, Alexander Ritchie, George Nicol, James Tait, Thomas Thain, Alexander Mair and Alexander Summers, were lost when the Trident sank.

The fresh public inquiry began last October but legal and procedural delays meant it eventually ran out of court time.

It was adjourned to allow the families time to submit further evidence on why they thought the vessel foundered.

The hearing is expected to last at least another four weeks.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8527121.stm

Published: 2010/02/22 02:59:41 GMT

© BBC MMX


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Posted 25 February 2010 - 03:16 PM

Courtesy of the Aberdeen Press & Journal @ http://www.pressandj...622099?UserKey=

Quote

Trident probe delays are ‘costly’
assessors said to be very concerned as proceedings adjourned again

By joanna skailes

A sheriff overseeing an investigation into the sinking of a fishing boat warned that delays were costing the public purse dear as proceedings were adjourned again yesterday.

The Peterhead-registered Trident sank off the coast of Caithness in October 1974 with the loss of all seven men on board.

The public inquiry into the loss of the trawler was supposed to resume after a three-month break on Monday, but has been hit by delays.

It was adjourned yesterday at the request of Ailsa Wilson QC, representing Advocate General Lord Davidson, and the families’ counsel, Roddy Thomson QC.

The request was made so legal teams could agree evidence relating to regulations and safety at sea before safety expert Tony Tait, of the Seafish Authority, takes to the stand.

A spokeswoman for the advocate general said they hoped the extra time would reduce the evidence needed by Mr Tait, who will be questioned on safety regulations, and cut down on court time.

Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young said he had no other option than to allow the adjournment.

He said: “I must make clear the assessors are becoming extremely concerned about the delays.

“This is costing a great deal of public money. It has been mounted at considerable public expense and we must make proper use of the court time available.”

It comes after a Dutch research centre was instructed at the end of last week to repeat tests gauging the Trident’s stability.

Marin, the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands, led tests on a replica model of the Trident in a water tank to try and determine what caused the loss of the trawler, but has been asked to repeat part of its investigation.

The new tests and a request from the advocate general’s teams for more time to consider submissions from legal counsel representing the families of those who died meant the inquiry was adjourned on Monday.

Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, Alex Summers, 35, all of Peterhead, and 30-year-old Alexander Mair, of Portknockie, died in the sinking.

Many of their relatives were not satisfied by the findings of the original inquiry, held just nine months later, which ruled that the boat sank after being hit by a wave.

In 2002, the inquiry was reopened by the Department for Transport after amateur divers discovered the wreck of the vessel off Wick.

About £3million has been spent since then on three underwater surveys and a scale model of the boat that was tested in the Netherlands.

The inquiry is expected to continue at Aberdeen Town House today.


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Posted 28 February 2010 - 01:15 PM

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Trident sinking probe sees new evidence of concerns over sister ship’s stability
Maritime institute report details effects of similar vessel’s modifications

By shona gossip

A new document has been placed before an inquiry into the sinking of a north-east fishing vessel.

The Marin (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands) report details how modifications to the Trident’s sister ship, Silver Lining, affected the likelihood of capsize.

The Peterhead-registered Trident sank off the coast of Caithness in October 1974 with the loss of all seven men on board.

An inquiry into the accident was first held in 1975 and ruled the boat had been sunk by a massive wave.

But relatives believe the men – Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, Alex Summers, 35, all of Peterhead, and 30-year-old Alexander Mair, of Portknockie – died because of the vessel’s instability.

Surveyor Tony Tait, of the Sea Fish Industry Authority, gave evidence for the second day at the hearing yesterday.

He described how static stability is a crucial factor in preventing a ship from capsizing.

Many of the relatives of the men who died on the trawler believe her static stability should have been tested.

In October they lodged a dossier containing a number of criticisms against David Tait, the vessel’s majority owner and skipper, Andrew Cumming, the vessel’s designer and the White Fish Authority, which co-owned the ship.

It had pointed out that none of the parties had carried out an inclination test to check the static stability of the boat before she was allowed to sail.

The families believe that this was a crucial error and the dossier states that David Tait had been warned that the boat was unstable, yet a test was not carried out.

The White Fish Authority was also criticised as, according to the submitted document, it was in the authority’s “contractual and procedural” interests to carry out a stability check when the boat was built.

The public inquiry reconvened at the start of the week after a three-month break.

Mr Tait, of the Sea Fish Industry Authority, addressed issues of safety yesterday when he gave evidence at Aberdeen Town House.

The inquiry, before Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young, is due to continue on Monday.


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Posted 04 March 2010 - 12:17 PM

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Trident could have been ‘near miss’
‘Pretty strong possibility’ of an alternative outcome had alterations been carried out on vessel

By Stephen Christie

The Trident sinking could have been remembered as a “near miss” had ballast been added to the trawler and the size of her deckhouse increased, it was claimed yesterday.

Roddy Thomson QC, representing some families of the seven men who died in the sinking, said there was a “pretty strong possibility” that the outcome of the incident would have been different had the alterations been made before the trawler put to sea.

He was cross-examining marine expert William Boyd at the inquiry into the sinking in October 1974.

Mr Thomson suggested to Mr Boyd – a director of TMC Marine Consultants – that more ballast combined with a wider deckhouse would have increased the chances of the vessel righting herself after being battered by waves. He said: “Am I right in saying that the boat capsized with no warning to the crew and no warning from the crew?”

Mr Boyd replied: “Yes, it was a rapid event.”

Mr Thomson said the incident would not have been as catastrophic if the crew had been given the chance to raise the alarm or request help from the Faithful II, another trawler which had stopped alongside Trident to make a repair before both vessels steamed for their home port of Peterhead.

He said: “Had there been more ballast and a wider deckhouse could it be said that there might have been a near miss, giving the crew a chance to make a mayday call or call on the Faithful or do something to get them out of difficulty?”

Mr Boyd said he “agreed in principle” with this and said it was a “possibility”.

“This is a pretty strong possibility,” said Mr Thomson.

Mr Boyd also agreed with Geoffrey Mitchell QC, representing the family of crewman Alexander Mair, who said a wider deckhouse would not have been practical on a trawler the size of Trident.

Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, Alex Summers, 35, all of Peterhead, and 30-year-old Mr Mair, of Portknockie, all died in the sinking off Caithness.

Relatives of some of the men believe the vessel’s instability was the reason she foundered and have branded the original 1975 inquiry into the sinking a “whitewash”.

It ruled that a massive wave sank the boat.

The inquiry, before Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young at Aberdeen Town House, continues today.


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Posted 05 March 2010 - 08:29 AM

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Relatives say vessel sailed for 18 months without mishap, and again blame boat’s instability for sinking

Trident survived ‘much worse’ seas than day she sank

By Stephen Christie

Relatives of some of the men who died in the Trident trawler disaster claim the vessel must have been unstable because she sailed for 18 months before the accident in “much worse” seas than those in which she foundered.

Ailsa Wilson QC, representing the advocate general at the long-running inquiry into the sinking, said the families of six of the seven men who died in the accident more than 35 years ago blamed the trawler’s instability.

She was questioning naval architect Professor Colin MacFarlane yesterday at Aberdeen Town House.

Ms Wilson said: “The feeling among the group is that Trident had survived for 18 months and sailed in much worse conditions to those during the loss, so she must have been a risk.”

Mr MacFarlane said he did not see the logic in this, adding: “If she survived much worse sea conditions and more difficult conditions then I don’t see how it could be said that she had a stability problem. That doesn’t seem logical to me.”

Jeannie Ritchie, 69, of Arbuthnot Terrace, Peterhead, lost her father and husband when the trawler went down off the coast of Wick on October 3, 1974.

Yesterday she said she was not happy with the progress of the hearing.

“We seem to be going round in circles and being baffled by science,” she said.

The trawler went down just hours before her crew were due to return to their home port of Peterhead.

Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, and Alex Summers, 35, all of Peterhead, and 30-year-old Alexander Mair, of Portknockie, all died.

Many of their relatives were not satisfied by the findings of the original inquiry – held just nine months after the sinking – which ruled the boat sank after being hit by a wave.

The inquiry was reopened in 2002 by the Department for Transport after amateur divers discovered the wreck of the vessel.

A fresh public inquiry began in October last year, hearing evidence from a joint panel of experts specialising in marine, tidal and weather research.

It continues before Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young today.


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Posted 06 March 2010 - 01:28 PM

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Lack of cash hampered Trident tests using model
Expensive research could only be carried out once

By Declan Harte

Efforts to find out what caused the Trident trawler sinking have been hampered by time and money restraints, a leading marine scientist said yesterday.

All seven crewmen lost their lives when the Peterhead-registered boat went down off the coast of Caithness on October 3, 1974.

Colin McFarlane, a professor of sub-sea engineering at Strathclyde University, told the inquiry into their deaths that the expensive nature of some of the research into the incident has limited what scientists have been able to uncover.

Marin, the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands, led tests on a replica model of the Trident in a water tank, with artificial waves, to try to determine what caused the sinking of the boat.

Professor McFarlane described the 30-minute wave experiments as “short” and said that scientists could only afford to carry out one major lengthy experiment.

At the inquiry, he said: “This is expensive, so it was only carried out once.

“We did one ‘Rolls Royce’ job on one sea set, but I say with certainty that it gave us an idea of other sea states.” He added that as Marin’s method uses a limited number of wave settings, it can never show how a vessel would react in every possible situation.

He added: “An analogy might be getting an average height of Aberdonians by choosing 10 people off the street. The results may not be achieved as there could be a basketball team among those chosen.”

Marin was asked to conduct the tests by the inquiry’s joint panel of experts.

Many relatives of those who died were not satisfied by the findings of the original inquiry – held just nine months after the sinking – which ruled the boat sank after being hit by a wave.

Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, and Alex Summers, 35, all of Peterhead, and 30-year-old Alexander Mair, of Portknockie, all lost their lives.

The inquiry at Aberdeen Town House will continue next week.


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Posted 11 March 2010 - 09:53 AM

From the Aberdeen Press & Journal @ http://www.pressandj...641534?UserKey=

Quote

Man believes he saw Trident before she sank
Inquiry told it was a beautiful, clear day when disaster struck

By Ryan Crighton

WITNESS: Hector Sutherland, of Thurso, was working as a fencing contractor when he watched the tragedy unfold

AN ELDERLY fencing contractor believes he saw the Trident fishing boat moments before she sank and claimed the lives of seven north-east men.

There were no survivors after the Peterhead-registered trawler went down off Caithness on October 3, 1974.

A fresh inquiry, at Aberdeen Town House, began in October last year, hearing evidence from a joint panel of experts (JPE) specialising in marine, tidal and weather research.

In November it heard the Trident steamed through a bad storm, strong winds and 15ft waves during her final journey, and that weather conditions on the day of the sinking had been rare.

During the hearing, John Blackwood, an operations manager for Aerospace Marine International, said such weather was likely to hit the Moray Firth only every five to 15 years.

Hector Sutherland, of Thurso, was working as a fencing contractor on the day of the sinking, and yesterday he told the inquiry that he saw two boats off the coast, and he firmly believed that one of them was the Trident.

The 89-year-old said his memory was that it was a beautiful clear day.

Peterhead men Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, and Alex Summers, 35, all died in the sinking, alongside Portknockie man Alexander Mair, 30.

An inquiry held just nine months after the accident ruled the Trident sank after being hit by a wave.

Some relatives of those who died believe the accident was caused by the trawler’s alleged instability. The new inquiry before Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young continues on Monday.


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Posted 17 March 2010 - 11:30 AM

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Doubts cast over numerical model used to investigate boat’s stability
Tests may overestimate the likelihood of vessel capsizing, Trident inquiry told

By Shona Gossip

Doubts have been cast over the reliability of a numerical model used to investigate the stability of the Trident fishing boat.

Seven men died when the Peterhead-registered trawler went down off Caithness on October 3, 1974.

For a second time, naval architect and ocean engineer Christian Schmittner gave evidence yesterday at the long-running inquiry in Aberdeen into the sinking. Mr Schmittner, who works for Marin (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands) used the Fredyn modelling method – an analysis of numbers – to work out the likelihood of the boat capsizing in certain conditions.

He told the inquiry the results should not be treated as real, or “absolute values” and admitted they may overestimate the possibility of the capsize of a vessel.

The results were compared with those from the basin test, where a model of the Trident was put in a tank of water with simulated waves creating different weather conditions.

Mr Schmittner said: “I would liked to have tested the vessel in different conditions, but we tested only the water conditions given to us by the joint panel of experts. However, I still think the comparisons I have made with the Fredyn are still valid.”

He told Ailsa Wilson, QC, for the advocate-general and Nick Ellis, representing the Sea Fish Industry Authority, that the model was normally used on vessels bigger than Trident, such as cruise ships and warships.

Mr Ellis asked: “What degree of confidence should we have in the results of the Fredyn modelling of the vessel of this size, if it hasn’t been used before? How can we be sure that it actually predicts the behaviour (of a boat the size of Trident)?” Mr Schmitter replied: “During the tuning period of Fredyn, Marin showed that the vessel predicts moving of the model correctly and accurately.

“It is just a simplification of reality.” He added that the basin tests were used as a reference point to prove the angle vanish stability (AVS), which is the angle a boat would be sitting at when at risk of capsizing.

Peterhead men Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, Alex Summers, 35 and Portknockie man Alexander Mair, 30, all died when the Trident sank.

The original 1975 investigation concluded the Trident was sunk by a wave or succession of waves.

The present inquiry will continue before Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young today.


#20 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 18 March 2010 - 09:33 AM

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Quote

trident probe hears claim that experts looked at probability of a capsize in a ‘narrow way’ - Sinking report should have considered ‘more factors’

By Shona Gossip

A new report into the sinking of the Trident should have examined a wider range of factors when considering the likelihood of the trawler capsizing, it was claimed yesterday.

Roddy Thomson QC, representing some of the families of the seven men who died in the sinking, said that the report by the joint panel of experts (JPE) had looked at the probability of a capsize in a “narrow way” and that it should have considered the outcome of the incident if alterations had been made to the vessel.

He was cross-examining Professor Colin MacFarlane at the inquiry into the loss of the Peterhead-registered fishing boat in October, 1974.

Mr Thomson suggested to Prof MacFarlane – a naval architect who has already appeared as an expert witness at the inquiry – that a wider range of angles should have been used to analyse the risk of capsize.

He also put forward that the panel should have considered the presence of ballast on the vessel.

But Prof MacFarlane said: “If we looked at modifying Trident, how would we know she still wouldn’t have capsized?

“It’s not clear to me what you wished us to do.”

Mr Thomson replied: “I am not in the position to say to you that you should have done something else. I am addressing what you did. Another JPE may have done it in a completely different way and come to a different conclusion.”

However, Ailsa Wilson QC, for the advocate-general, told the inquiry that the JPE had completed their report as set out in a previously agreed remit.

Earlier this month Mr Thomson suggested that the Trident may not have sunk if ballast had been added to the trawler and the size of her deckhouse increased, as this would have increased the chances of the vessel righting herself after being battered by waves.

However Geoffrey Mitchell QC, representing the family of crewman Alexander Mair, argued at the time that a wider deckhouse would not have been practical on a trawler the size of Trident.

Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, Alex Summers, 35, all of Peterhead, and 30-year-old Mr Mair, of Portknockie, all died when the trawler went down off Caithness.

An original inquiry into the disaster ruled that a massive wave sank the boat, but many of the relatives believe the vessel’s instability was the main cause of their loved ones’ deaths.

The present inquiry, before Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young at Aberdeen Town House, continues today.


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Posted 23 March 2010 - 09:45 AM

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Quote

Man steering may have had best chance to save Trident
Autopilot slower to react to changing sea conditions, expert tells inquiry

By Ross Davidson

Published: 23/03/2010

An inquiry into the sinking of the Trident heard an experienced seaman at the wheel of the fishing trawler would have had more chance of averting the sinking than if the vessel was on autopilot.

Master mariner Mark Keenor is chairman of the joint panel of experts which investigated the sinking of the Peterhead-registered trawler.

He told the long-running inquiry he would have preferred the boat to have been steered manually.

Robert Cordiner, 36; Tom Thain, 32; Alex Ritchie, 35; George Nicol, 59; James Tait, 32, and Alex Summers, 35, all of Peterhead, and 30-year-old Alexander Mair, of Portknockie, died when the Trident went down off Caithness on October 3, 1974.

Stuart Gale QC represents Trident’s designer, Andrew Cumming.

He told Mr Keenor the inquiry “could not speculate about how the Trident may or may not have been handled on the day in question”, but asked him what would have been more appropriate for the conditions.

Mr Keenor said: “My preference would be for manual steering in those sea conditions.”

In November, the inquiry heard the Trident steamed through a bad storm, strong winds and 15ft waves during her final journey.

Ailsa Wilson QC, for the advocate general, asked Mr Keenor why he thought manual steering would have been better for the Trident.

Mr Keenor replied: “When you have got an experienced helmsman on the wheel he develops a feel for the ship and the motion.

“He knows how much corrective helm he is applying to counter the yaws and other motions, and can react more quickly than the autopilot,” added the chairman of the joint panel of experts. “In the circumstances of this case my preference would be for manual steering, so if anything untoward should happen it is easier to correct.”

Mr Keenor told Ms Wilson the panel could not determine if the Trident was on autopilot or not at the time of the sinking because when it came to surveying the wreck the wheelhouse was too damaged.

The inquiry also heard from naval architect Marten Pullinger, brought to give evidence by some of the families of the men who died.

Mr Pullinger is also a member of the joint panel of experts, but refused to sign a draft of its final report because the Trident’s static stability was not cited as a potential contributing factor to the loss of the vessel in the report’s conclusion.

Mr Pullinger instead filed his own report on the panel’s findings.

He will continue his evidence when the inquiry, before Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young, resumes in Aberdeen today.

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Posted 24 May 2010 - 10:35 AM

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Trident probe to enter final leg
inquiry will reopen tomorrow after being adjourned in March due to booking problems

By Stephen Christie

Published: 24/05/2010

A long-running inquiry into one of Scotland’s worst fishing disasters will enter its final leg this week with relatives who lost loved ones in the tragedy hoping for answers.

Seven men died in October 1974 when the trawler Trident foundered off the coast of Wick, just hours before her crew were due to return to their home port of Peterhead.

Many of their families were not satisfied by the findings of the original inquiry, held just nine months later, which ruled that the boat sank after being hit by a wave.

Some believe the men – Robert Cordiner, 36; Tom Thain, 32; Alex Ritchie, 35; George Nicol, 59; James Tait, 32; Alex Summers, 35, all of Peterhead, and 30-year-old Alexander Mair, of Portknockie – died because of the Trident’s instability and branded the 1975 hearing a “whitewash”.

The inquiry was reopened in 2002 by the Department for Transport after amateur divers discovered the wreck of the vessel.

The fresh probe began in October last year and has been hearing evidence from a joint panel of experts (JPE) specialising in marine, tidal and weather research.

It will reopen tomorrow after being adjourned in March due to problems booking Aberdeen City Chambers, where the inquest is taking place, and the availability of key individuals.

The inquiry has been told important safety calculations were not carried out when the vessel sank.

Marine design consultant Maurice Napier said small shipbuilding yards such as the one that built Trident had no knowledge of essential calculations on ship design and stability at the time.

It has also been claimed the trawler was likely to have been travelling at speed when she was rocked by stormy waters.

Colin McFarlane, a professor of subsea engineering at Strathclyde University, said that if such a boat were to slow down in choppy waters, the crew would have found it hard to steer.

The inquiry previously heard that the tragedy could have been remembered as a “near miss” had ballast been added to the vessel and the size of her deckhouse increased.

The sheriff overseeing the investigation, Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young, warned that delays were costing the public purse dear as proceedings continued to be adjourned.

He said: “I must make clear the assessors are becoming extremely concerned about the delays.

“This is costing a great deal of public money. It has been mounted at considerable public expense and we must make proper use of the court time available.”

About £3million has been spent since 2002 on three underwater surveys and a scale model of the boat that was tested in the Netherlands.

The final stage of the inquiry is expected to last a month.



#23 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 09:23 AM

Courtesy of the Aberdeen Press and Journal @ http://www.pressandj...753828?UserKey=

What a debacle - if the "truth" had been made known back in 1976 it would have saved a lot of heartache for the families of those lost - at least they WOULD have known why the Trident went down. Somebodies arse needs a good kicking for this!


Quote

Five of seven Trident trawler widows withdraw from probe
‘We don’t think it necessary to continue with it, as this report IS the inquiry’

By Shona Gossip

Published: 26/05/2010

Five of the seven widows who fought for an inquiry into one of Scotland’s worst fishing disasters bowed out of the proceedings yesterday.

Seven north-east men lost their lives when the Peterhead-registered trawler, Trident, went down off the coast of Wick on October 3, 1974.

An initial inquiry ruled that a massive wave sank the boat, but many of the relatives believe the vessel’s instability was the main cause of their loved ones’ deaths.

The men who died were Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, and Alex Summers, 35, all from Peterhead, and Alexander Mair, 30, of Portknockie.

A fresh investigation began in October and adjourned in March. The inquiry heard evidence from a panel of experts specialising in marine, tidal and weather research.
instability

When the inquiry resumed yesterday, Jeannie Ritchie – speaking for the five widows who blame the loss of the vessel on her instability – brought to the attention of Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young a report from 1976 which she said formed the basis of their argument.

Mrs Ritchie, who lost her husband and father in the sinking, said: “On May 20, on what would have been my 49th wedding anniversary, we got an e-mail from our solicitor giving us a link to all the court productions.

“It took hours, but my son found this document we should have been given on October 22, 1976, from the Department of Trade, which is a continued survey of the National Maritime Institute on Trident.

“The report states that the Trident had a stability problem and went down in moderate seas.

“I cannot believe how sad and distressed the families are that the document has been hidden from us for 34 years. If this document had been given to us previously it would not have been necessary for the public to fund a £4million inquiry.

“Five of the families will now withdraw. We don’t think it necessary to continue with it, as this report IS the inquiry – it found the instability of the Trident.”

The report was published on October 22, 1976, and was lodged in court before the inquiry began last year.

Mrs Ritchie, 69, of Arbuthnot Terrace, Peterhead, told the sheriff principal she could not understand how the document had never been seen by any of the families before and she urged him to consider it, with the evidence heard until yesterday, when making his final judgements.

She added: “We sincerely believe that if this report was known to the families in 1976 there would have been no need for this investigation. This document has never been acknowledged or discussed in this open court.”

Last night, Kay McCorquodale, solicitor for the inquiry, said: “The document has been publicly available since it was published in 1976, and was available for anyone to see at the time.

“It was one of the documents that the joint panel of experts considered when compiling their final report, and one of those experts would have been acting for the families. It was one of the first productions lodged before the inquiry began, but whether it was mentioned in court depends on the individual counsel.”

The inquiry, at Aberdeen Town House, continues today.



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Posted 27 May 2010 - 09:23 AM

Courtesy of the Aberdeen Press & Journal @ http://www.pressandj...755289?UserKey=

Quote

Buchan trawler ‘was unseaworthy’
Marine design consultant tells inquiry such a description should apply to any capsized vessel

By Shona Gossip

Published: 27/05/2010

A trawler which sank, claiming the lives of all seven crewmen on board, “was unseaworthy”, a naval architect claimed yesterday.

Marine design consultant Maurice Napier said it was his opinion that the description should apply to any vessel which capsized – like the Peterhead-registered trawler Trident on October 3, 1974.

Mr Napier was giving evidence at the long-running public inquiry into the Trident sinking.

Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, and Alex Summers, 35, all from Peterhead, and Alexander Mair, 30, of Portknockie all died when the boat went down off the coast of Caithness.

Some of the families believe the vessel’s instability was the main cause of their loved ones’ deaths, and have dismissed findings from an earlier inquiry which ruled that the boat was sunk by a large wave.

Yesterday Roddy Thomson QC, who represents Mr Tait’s widow, Wilma, asked Mr Napier: “Looking at the Trident as a whole, as a real vessel as she existed at the time that she sank, was she in your view seaworthy?”

Mr Napier said: “Overall I wouldn’t regard her as being seaworthy, as her stability was deficient. To me, any vessel which capsizes by definition had inadequate stability, whether she complied with the IMCO (Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation) or not.”

He was then asked by Mr Thomson: “Knowing what you know about the weather conditions the Trident encountered, what conclusions in relation to her seaworthiness can you make?”

He said: “I don’t regard them as being extreme, so unfortunately I regard her as being unseaworthy.”

Mr Napier’s claims were made the day after five of the fishermen’s widows bowed out of the inquiry, after discovering a 34-year-old report which backed up their belief that the vessel had stability problems.

The document, published on October 22, 1976, by the Department of Trade, was a survey of the Trident conducted by the National Maritime Institute.

It was lodged in court before the inquiry began last year.

Jeannie Ritchie, 69, of Arbuthnot Terrace, Peterhead, who lost her husband and father in the disaster, claimed the families had not been made aware of it until last week, and said she was surprised it had never been referred to during the proceedings.

However, yesterday it emerged the report has been referred to throughout the inquiry – in the name of another study which incorporates the 1976 research. The Capsizing Small Trawlers report was published the year after the original inquiry concluded, and used much of the same tests and information as the report put forward by the widows on Tuesday.

The document has been referred to by all counsel during the proceedings, because it has a better “status”, a spokeswoman for the inquiry said.

The hearing, before Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young, continues today.



#25 carolmac

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Posted 07 June 2010 - 01:50 PM

Courtesy of Press & Journal 07/06/2010


Fight over ‘lost’ Trident report
widow hopes for backing from salmond over recently discovered document
By Stephen Christie

Published: 07/06/2010

A north-east woman widowed when the Peterhead-registered Trident sank killing all on board will take her fight over the discovery of a “lost” report to Edinburgh today.

Jeannie Ritchie will hand over documents to representatives of First Minister Alex Salmond in the hope of winning his backing. It comes after Mrs Ritchie travelled last week to Great Minister House, the Department for Transport’s London headquarters, with a letter signed by herself and some of the other women widowed by the disaster.

They are demanding to know why they were never told about a 1976 report, which they say only came to light during an inquiry into the disaster, which is being held in Aberdeen.

Mrs Ritchie claims the report, which ruled that the trawler sank because she was unstable, had been “hidden” from families.

The Trident disappeared off the coast of Caithness in October, 1974, claiming the lives of seven crewmen.

Mrs Ritchie lost her husband and father in the tragedy, remembered as one of the worst to hit the Scottish fishing industry.

Mrs Ritchie, of Arbuthnot Terrace, Peterhead, said last night: “I want to make it very clear that we never knew about this report until very recently and if we had there would never have been the need for this costly public inquiry. I believe Mr Salmond will back me on this.”

The formal inquiry at Aberdeen Town House is being led by Scotland’s advocate general.

A spokesman for the advocate general has denied the report had been hidden from the families.

He said the paper was given to all legal representatives involved in the inquiry in September 2004.

It was one of many documents used by a joint panel of experts to compile a report on the sinking, prior to the inquest.

“The families’ team has had clear access to this information over the past six years,” he said. “The claim that the document was only made available to families recently is therefore false.”



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Posted 09 June 2010 - 10:27 AM

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Ship builder denies IMCO standards were required criteria at time vessel was built

Trident designer tells inquiry into sinking of ‘guidelines’ - Trawler ‘was built to recommendation’

By Catriona Webster

Published: 09/06/2010

An inquiry into one of Scotland’s worst fishing tragedies has heard evidence from the designer of the trawler that sank killing all on board.

Seven men drowned when the Peterhead-registered trawler, Trident, went down off Caithness on October 3, 1974. Some of the families of the men who died believe the vessel’s instability was the reason she foundered, and have branded the original 1975 inquiry a “whitewash”.

Last week marine design consultant Maurice Napier told the inquiry that the Trident might have been saved if it had complied with the IMCO (Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation) criteria in 1973.

But giving evidence yesterday, ship builder Andrew Cumming said the criteria were only guidelines at the time the Trident was built.

His representative, Stuart Gale QC, asked: “At that stage was it your understanding based on your professional experience that every part of the IMCO standards had to be met?”

Mr Cumming replied: “No I did not and do not believe that was, or is, the case.”

He added that the criteria were only recommendations at the time.

“That is all they were and members of the IMCO and signatories to it are still not agreed on what these should be,” he said.

The men who died in the disaster were Robert Cordiner, 36, Tom Thain, 32, Alex Ritchie, 35, George Nicol, 59, James Tait, 32, and Alex Summers, 35, all from Peterhead, and Alexander Mair, 30, of Portknockie.

A fresh investigation into the sinking began last October and adjourned in March, before reopening two weeks ago.

The inquiry continues today.





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