Catalogue description Transport Ministries: Inquiry into the Loss of the MV Derbyshire

In September 1980, the MV Derbyshire (which had been launched under the name, Liverpool Bridge) disappeared without trace when she encountered Typhoon Orchid in the Pacific, about 350 miles south east of Japan. She was an oil/bulk/ore carrier, over 294 metres long and 44 metres wide. All those on board perished. Although there were calls for a formal inquiry into the loss, especially from the families of those who perished in the tragedy, the UK Government took the view that because of the total absence of material evidence, a formal inquiry could not be expected to establish clearly the cause of the loss. However, following incidents in other Bridge class ships, a Formal Inquiry was appointed in December 1986 under Mr G R A Darling with Dr B Baxter, Mr J Bunnis and Captain J Murray sitting as assessors. Its Report was published in January 1989, but its findings were inconclusive.

In 1994 the International Transport Workers' Federation funded an underwater search to locate the wreck. The survey was successful, and it was found at a depth of 4200 metres. The Department of Transport appointed Lord Donaldson of Lymington to carry out an assessment as to what further steps could be taken to obtain evidence as to the cause of the loss, the cost of taking such steps and what benefit to ship safety could be secured if the cause of the loss were established. His Assessment concluded that an underwater survey would cost approximately £2 million and that it was appropriate to undertake in the interests of international ship safety. The Secretary of State for Transport accepted his recommendations and the Department commissioned the survey.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution conducted the survey in two phases in 1997 and 1998, and the survey technical assessors presented their report jointly to the Secretary of State and the European Commissioner for Transport in January 1998; the formal inquiry was then re-opened by the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, on 17th December 1998. Mr Justice Colman of the Commercial and Admiralty Court was appointed to chair the inquiry. Evidence was heard on oceanographic, metereological, navigational, engineering and naval architecture aspects of the case. Support to the Inquiry was provided by the International Shipping Policy Division of DoT.