Tug widows accuse port managers

The Flying Phantom was raised almost a month after sinking

The widows of three men who died when a tug capsized in the Clyde have accused port managers of failing to improve safety a year after the accident.

Linda Cameron, Helen Humphreys and Eileen Blackley said Clydeport Ltd had not implemented safety recommendations.

The Flying Phantom capsized in thick fog on 19 December 2007 while towing the carrier Red Jasmine after a winch failed to release fast enough.

Clydeport declined to comment on the women's accusation.

The tug, owned by the Danish firm Svitzer, was based at Greenock.

It sank opposite Clydebank College in West Dunbartonshire and was raised in a salvage operation in January.

The bodies of three crew - skipper Stephen Humphreys, 33, from Greenock, Eric Blackley, 57, from Gourock, and Robert Cameron, 65, from Houston - were recovered in the days after it sank.

Another crewman, Brian Aitchison, 37, from Coldingham, was rescued from the water after he managed to escape from the tug's wheelhouse.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch report into the sinking criticised Clydeport, saying its risk assessment was "poor".

It called on port operator Clydeport to review its safety procedures.

As we approach the anniversary of that devastating night, we are dismayed that Clydeport is still failing to safeguard the men still working on the river, which makes our loss all the harder to bear Linda Cameron

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Mrs Cameron said: "I am really angry that Clydeport have failed to implement two key safety recommendations: the siting of a fog detection system on the Clyde, and lay-by where these huge tankers can wait if they are suddenly faced with fog or other dangerous conditions.

"If the fog detection system had been put in place, Bob, Stephen and Eric might well have been alive today."

Mrs Cameron said the women were "angry and dismayed" that the port operator still had not fitted such a system, or responded to other recommendations.

"We all thought it appalling that Clydeport had decided after an earlier accident that £30,000 was too much to spend on fog warning systems, but we gave them the benefit of the doubt that they didn't know the decision could cost lives," she said.

"Now we find it unbelievable that they have not introduced these measures in the wake of our husbands' deaths.

"As we approach the anniversary of that devastating night, we are dismayed that Clydeport is still failing to safeguard the men still working on the river, which makes our loss all the harder to bear."

Civil action

Their lawyers, Frank Maguire of Thompsons Solicitors, said a demand was to be made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Health and Safety Executive to force changes to be made.

These bodies would be urged to issue improvement and prohibition notices, which would force Clydeport to implement recommendations.

If the families do not have success in getting changes through these notices, they will explore whether they can bring a civil action against Clydeport.

The widows' solicitors also said prosecutors were still considering whether any criminal charges could be brought against those involved in the incident.

The women previously called for a full public inquiry but a decision is yet to be reached on this.