FV TRIDENT: SURVEY CONTRACTOR CHOSEN

10 May 2006 12:15 PM

Shipping Minister Stephen Ladyman has today announced that following a competitive bidding contest, Aberdeen-based firm Subsea 7 has been chosen as the main contractor for a detailed, underwater seabed survey of the fishing vessel 'Trident'.

The Trident, a UK registered trawler (PD 111), disappeared in October 1974 while in transit from the west coast of Scotland to her home port of Peterhead in the north east. She had on board a crew of seven, all of whom were lost.

Following upon discovery of the wreck by amateur divers in 2001, the Formal Investigation into the loss of the Trident was re-opened by the then Secretary of State for Transport, Stephen Byers.

The Advocate General for Scotland has responsibility for obtaining all relevant or potentially relevant evidence in relation to the causes of the loss and for presenting these to the Reopened Formal Investigation. The Advocate General has directed that a detailed underwater seabed survey of the wreck should take place to collect this evidence, which will include video images and measurements which could help to establish the probable cause.

The survey, which will take place in June 2006, will be funded by the Department for Transport. The Reopened Formal Investigation will be heard by the Sheriff Principal of Grampian Highland and Islands in Aberdeen

Dr Ladyman said:

"I hope that this will be of some comfort to the Trident families. Although of course there can be no absolute guarantee of success, both my Department and Subsea 7 will be doing all we can to meet the objectives of the survey.

"I am optimistic that the survey will help to reach some firm conclusions concerning the loss of the Trident, and I wish the teams well in their task."

Notes for Editors

1. On 3rd October 1974 the UK registered fishing vessel FV TRIDENT (PD 111) disappeared while in transit from the west coast of Scotland to her home port of Peterhead in north east Scotland. She had on board a crew of seven, all of whom were lost.

2. The Original Formal Investigation took place in Aberdeen in June/July 1975, and concluded that it was "probable that Trident took aboard a sea or succession of seas and foundered" but went on say "the precise causes of the casualty being unascertainable." The Court also considered it probable that deficient stability in her design contributed to her foundering.

3. The wreck was found and positively identified on the 12th June 2001 by amateur divers. The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) carried out a simple visual survey of the wreck using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in August 2001. On the basis of the findings of the MAIB's survey the Formal Investigation into the loss of the Trident was reopened by the then Secretary of State for Transport, Stephen Byers on the 23rd March 2002.

4. A sonar survey of the wreck of the FV TRIDENT was carried out in December 2003. A mini ROV survey of the vessel was carried out between the 3rd & 5th August 2004.

5. The value of the contract awarded is in the region of £900,000.

6. The FV Trident website can be found at www.fv-trident.org.uk

7. Subsea 7 is an international subsea engineering and construction contractor with a workforce in excess of 3,700 people worldwide. The company's website address is www.subsea7.com

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Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk