NI remembers victims of ferry disaster

Survivors and relatives of the Princess Victoria ferry sinking joined today to mark the 50th anniversary of the tragedy at services in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The ferry, which sank in stormy weather off the Co Down coast, went down at 7.45am on Saturday 31st January 1953 – claiming the lives of 133 people. Only 44 passengers and crew survived and it is considered to be the worst peacetime sea disaster in local waters.

More than 200 people gathered at the disaster memorial in Larne on Friday morning, where a marble plaque was unveiled and wreaths were laid after a religious service.

Many then began a journey by boat to where the ferry sank, off the Copeland Islands, for a wreath-laying ceremony.

At Stranraer, a commemorative plaque was also unveiled at a service attended by survivors and relatives of those who died. A bronze plaque was also unveiled at Donaghadee, whose lifeboat instrumental in saved many who were plunged into the icy seas.

The Princess Victoria, which was one of the first roll-on roll-off ferries, got into difficulties during stormy weather after a huge wave crashed through the car deck doors. Water flooded through, engulfing the car deck, and at 9.45am – two hours after leaving Stranraer – wireless operator David Broadfoot tapped out his first emergency signal.

In the desperate hours that followed, Broadfoot sent 60 Morse code signals for help right up until his final message at 1.58pm.

The design of car ferries changed after the disaster and when other car ferries showed similar flaws there had to be radical design changes to make them more seaworthy.

Ten years ago a team of Ulster divers located the Princess Victoria wreck on the seabed off the Copeland Islands at the mouth of Belfast Lough.

(AMcE)