AN ANALYTICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SINKING OP THE M.V. DERBYSHIRE

The author was appointed by the UK Department of Transport as a fellow Assessor with R. A. Williams during Lord Donaldson's Assessment (1995) of the loss of the OBO ship DERBYSHIRE and in 1996 as a UK Assessor for the planning and surveys of the wreck. He relinquished his appointment in October 1997 and was not thereafter Involved in the review and analysis of data gathered. This paper may be considered to be complementary to the reports of the UK and EC Assessors (Williams and Torchio, 1998a and 1998b) which followed that review and analysis. The paper deals with the history and loss of the ship, Including the concept developed in 1995 of 13 possible loss scenarios in a formal safety Risk Matrix of probability and seriousness. It analyses abnormal wave effects on hatch cover collapse, on ship bending, and on flooding of bow spaces and no. 1 hold. The implosion-explosion mechanics during sinking is outlined to explain the devastation of the wreck. The 1996 and 1997 underwater surveys are outlined as are the findings of fact. Each of the final 14 loss scenarios is analysed in the light of the firm and circumstantial survey evidence, plus many other factors of survey experience, analyses and experiments. The updated Risk Matrix speaks for itself and leads to the prime conclusions and major recommendations.