Tug families tell of 'devastation'

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The widows of two of the crew members who lost their lives when the Flying Phantom capsized on the River Clyde have spoken of their devastation.

They are demanding a public inquiry into the incident after a report criticised the port's operator, Clydeport.

<hr />Mrs Cameron and Mrs Humphreys said they were still looking for answers

"Words can't describe how difficult it has been," said Linda Cameron, from Houston.

Her husband Robert was one of three men who died when the Flying Phantom capsized in thick fog in the Clyde last December.

"It's just absolute shock that it could happen, and happen so quickly. Just the devastation that's left behind," she said.

Helen Humphreys, from Greenock, also lost her husband, Stephen, when the tug sank.

Mrs Humphreys, who has an 18-month-old daughter, Nina, said: "There hasn't been a day when you don't think about what's happened.

"You have pictures in your head and thoughts that you can't discuss with anyone because you don't want to upset people."

Both women said their husbands had devoted their lives to their careers.

The lessons that have to be learned are that if recommendations are made, someone should make sure they're carried out Helen Humphreys

"Stephen was an experienced and well respected skipper," said Mrs Humphreys.

"Although he was only 33 when he died, he had been around boats since he was a very small boy. He had his own work boat - it was just his life."

Following the publication of a Marine Accident Investigation Branch report into the incident, the two women are now calling for a public inquiry into what happened that night.

They believe a "catalogue of incidents" led to their husbands' deaths and hope an inquiry will shed light on why safety recommendations made seven years before the incident were not followed.

Mrs Humphreys said: "The lessons that have to be learned are that if recommendations are made, someone should make sure they're carried out.

"If these recommendations had been followed in 2000, our husbands would be here today and no other family would be going through the devastation that we're having to go through now.

"So that's we hope now - that things are put in place. Although it's too late for us, we want other people to be prevented this."

Mrs Humphreys blamed "cost-cutting" for her husband's death. She believes that fog sensors should have been fitted and the tug should have had more modern equipment.

She said: "I don't think anyone set out with the intention for our husbands to die, I think it's more to do with money and not thinking that this might have been the result."

A spokesman for Clydeport said the operator was studying the Marine Accident Investigation report and it was inappropriate to comment while other investigations continued.