Sunderland Echo

Anniversar­y of tragedy marked

MARITIME WELFARE CHARITY COMMEMORAT­ES 25 YEARS SINCE TRENT DISASTER AT SEA

- By David Allison david.allison@jpress.co.uk Twitter: @davidallis­on88

A maritime welfare charity has commemorat­ed the 25th anniversar­y of the British Trent disaster in which three North East men died.

Nine seafarers, including third engineer John Gray, from Wear View Estate in Sunderland, third mate Robert Bold, of Farringdon, and chief officer Adrian Hirst, from Jarrow, lost their lives when the tanker collided with another ship in foggy conditions 10 miles off Ostend on June 3, 1993.

Upon impact, the British Trent’s cargo of unleaded petrol spilled into the sea, catching fire when sparks from the collision caused it to ignite.

Due to the ferocity of the fire, the crew abandoned attempts to launch the ship’s lifeboats and several of those on board – including two of the seafarers’ wives – jumped into the burning sea.

The group also laid a wreath underneath the ship’s bell at All-Hallows-by-theTower in London.

Sailors’ Society trustee Jon Holloway read out the names of the lost before laying the wreath.

Among them was that of his friend, the ship’s 23-year old electricia­n Matthew Clements, from Bournemout­h.

Jon said: “The shipping industry is a tightly-knit community, with lifelong friendship­s formed. Matthew’s loss was a huge blow to many and he is never far from our thoughts, particular­ly this week.

“When things go wrong, as it did with the British Trent, the assistance of organisati­ons like Sailors’ Society is invaluable for the family and friends of the lost and it is a privilege to work so closely with the charity and support their work.”

Between 1976 and 2002, seafarers employed by British merchant shipping alone saw 835 traumatic work-related deaths – almost one- third higher than the general workforce of Great Britain.

The British Trent tragedy was the worst accident off Belgium’s coast since the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster in 1987.

Sailors’ Society’s CEO Stuart Rivers said: “In both tragedies, our port chaplains were among the first to respond and what they saw and heard at that time and in the days after will stay with them forever.

“Laying a wreath gives us the chance to remember the lost.”

Prayers for those affected by the British Trent disaster will be said at All Hallows’ Sunday service.

 ??  ?? Sailors Society Trustee Jon Holloway and the charity’s CEO Stuart Rivers lay a wreath.
Sailors Society Trustee Jon Holloway and the charity’s CEO Stuart Rivers lay a wreath.

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