Catalogue description Transport Ministries: Loss of MV Derbyshire ; Deep Ocean Survey Records

In September 1980, the MV Derbyshire disappeared without trace when she encountered Typhoon Orchid in the Pacific, about 350 miles south east of Japan. She was an oil/bulk/ore carrier, over 294 metres long and 44 metres wide. All those on board perished.

Although there were calls for a formal investigation into the loss, especially from the families of those who perished in the tragedy, the UK Government took the view that because of the total absence of material evidence, a formal investigation could not be expected to establish clearly the cause of the loss. However, following incidents in other Bridge Class ships, a Formal Investigation was appointed in December 1986. Its Report was published in January 1989, but its findings were inconclusive.

In 1994 the International Transport Workers' Federation funded an underwater search to locate the wreck. The survey was successful, and it was found at a depth of 4200 metres.

The Department of Transport appointed Lord Donaldson of Lymington to carry out an assessment as to what further steps could be taken to obtain evidence as to the cause of the loss, the cost of taking such steps and what benefit to ship safety could be secured if the cause of the loss were established.

His Assessment concluded that an underwater survey would cost approximately £2 million and that it was appropriate to undertake in the interests of international ship safety. The Secretary of State for Transport accepted his recommendations and the Department commissioned the survey.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution conducted the survey in two phases in 1997 and 1998, and the survey technical assessors presented their report jointly to the Secretary of State and the European Commissioner for Transport in January 1998.