Herald of Free Enterprise: bow doors left open — 193 died, corporate manslaughter

On March 6, 1987, the roll-on/roll-off ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized moments after leaving the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. The ship sailed with its bow doors open; seawater flooded the vehicle deck, and within 90 seconds the vessel was lying on its side in shallow water. Of the 459 passengers and 80 crew on board, 193 died.

Assistant boatswain Mark Stanley was asleep in his cabin instead of closing the bow doors. First officer Leslie Sabel failed to ensure the doors were closed, and Captain David Lewry departed without knowing the door status — there were no indicator lights on the bridge. Justice Barry Sheen's inquiry found Townsend Thoresen had rejected requests to install door indicators, calling it frivolous to spend money on equipment showing if employees had failed to do their job. The company's culture was described as suffering from a 'disease of sloppiness' with negligence at every level.

The company was charged with corporate manslaughter — the first such case in English law — but the case collapsed when the judge ruled that negligence could not be attributed to a single 'controlling mind.' Seven individuals were also charged with gross negligence manslaughter, but all were acquitted. The case established that corporate manslaughter is an offence known to English law, paving the way for the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.