Tugboat tragedy families to sue over 'failure to improve safety'

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 21:51

THE families of two crewmen who died when a tugboat capsized on a river have launched a damages action against the boat's operators and the body responsible for safety on the water.

The Flying Phantom capsized and sank in freezing fog while towing a cargo vessel to Glasgow on the River Clyde on 19 December, 2007.

The bodies of Stephen Humphreys, 33, from Greenock, Eric Blackley, 57, from Gourock, and Bob Cameron, 65, from Houston, were recovered.

A fourth man, Brian Aitchison, 37, from Coldingham in the Borders, was rescued from the freezing water.

Yesterday, Linda Cameron, whose husband was the engineer on the tug, and Eileen Blackley, whose husband was a crewman, said they were "bitterly angry and totally dismayed" that "nothing has been done" to implement the findings of an inquiry into the tragedy.

The report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch criticised Danish operator Svitzer for not ensuring that the crew had received training in navigating in poor visibility.

It also criticised Clydeport, which is responsible for safety, for not fitting a 30,000 fog detection system, after a similar accident, also involving the Flying Phantom, in 2000.

Mrs Cameron said: "We are bitterly angry that nothing has been done by Clydeport to prevent other families suffering the agonies we have been through since our husbands died. It seems unbelievable that it is now 18 months since the accident and we are still no further forward.

"We are taking legal action now, not for the money but to draw attention to the fact that nothing has happened to prevent the same terrible type of accident happening again."