ON a cold winter’s night 35 years ago two ships became forever linked to the biggest disaster in the modern history of Harwich Harbour.

December 19,1982, marked the day six men sadly lost their lives when a routine ferry crossing turned to tragedy just two miles from the harbour.

The 5,000-tonne Speedlink Vanguard, which was returning to Parkeston from Zeebrugge, collided with the European Gateway, which had just left Felixstowe, at 10.51pm.

The Vanguard ripped a ten-foot hole in the side of the other vessel, and water began pouring in. The ship listed before rolling on to a sandbank leaving half of its hull above the waterline.

Gazette:

Looking back - Colin Crawford, who was the consultant and general manager of Parkeston Quay 

The six men who lost their lives that night were four crew members of the European Gateway and two lorry drivers.

A total of 64 people were pulled out from the ship by a heroic rescue team with pilot vessels, tugs and helicopters.

Colin Crawford, consultant and general manager of Parkeston Quay and Ships at the time, said: “The incident was the subject of a big public inquiry and they reached their decision.”

In 1984, an official inquiry, chaired by the commissioner of wrecks, Nicholas Phillips QC, found both captains to blame.

Although the inquiry admonished Captain John Bolton of the Speedlink Vanguard, Captain Herbert McGibney of the European Gateway was found guilty of ‘serious negligence in navigation’, for crossing ahead of the other vessel when it was unsafe.

Mr Crawford added: “The deaths occurred on the other ship and the survivors were loaded on to a ferry, and they were all saved from hypothermia by being put into the ship’s sauna to warm up.

Gazette:

Limping back - The Speedlink Vanguard, which hit the European Gateway two miles from Harwich Harbour, managed to get back to port

“Six people were killed and five were in the water who were killed from hypothermia.

“In December the water is particularly cold and you could only live for about ten minutes before hypothermia kicks in. The people who were saved were the ones who stayed on the ship.

“They were mainly saved by Harwich Lifeboat and taken to the sauna and then fed.

“The rescue mission was very well done and many people were saved through the common sense of keeping them warm in the sauna.”

The disaster was a catalyst for major safety improvements on the approach to Harwich and Felixstowe harbours.

Gazette:

Sinking ship - A 10ft hole was ripped in to the side of the ship and water gushed through three watertight doors which and inquiry found should have been shut

A traffic management system using three radar scanners costing more than £1million was brought in to ensure ships would get an advanced warning if they were too close.

After the incident the Vanguard was repaired and put put into service, while the European Gateway spent 100 days on its side before being towed to Amsterdam.

The vessel, renamed the Flavia, returned to service in 1984, running in southern Italy.