MV Derbyshire

The MV DERBYSHIRE, British flagged, owned and crewed, disappeared virtually without trace when the vessel became involved with Typhoon Orchid, south of Japan on about 9 September 1980. All on board, 42 crew and two wives, were lost. The DERBYSHIRE was a modern (built 1976), fully equipped and well-managed ore-bulk-oil (OBO) combination carrier. At over 90,000 gross tons she was, and remains, the largest UK ship to have ever been lost at sea.

Since the MV DERBYSHIRE was lost at sea a number of Investigations and Reports have been completed to determine the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the vessel.

After the assessors' report into the MV DERBYSHIRE surveys were completed and published on 12 March 1998; the Deputy Prime Minister ordered that the Formal Investigation be re-opened

The terms of reference:

THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 1995Whereas on or about the 9th day of September 1980 the ore/bulk/oil motor vessel DERBYSHIRE, registered at Liverpool Official Number 364425, sank in the Pacific Ocean off Okinawa with the loss of 44 lives and whereas a shipping casualty has occurred;

And whereas a Formal Investigation was held into the said casualty, pursuant to an order of the Secretary of State made on 11th June 1987;And whereas the Wreck Commissioner made a report to the Secretary of State, by Report of Court No. 8075;And whereas the Secretary of State is satisfied that new and important evidence which could not be produced at the investigation has been discovered; 

Now the Secretary of the State for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in pursuance of the powers conferred by section 269 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 hereby orders that the whole of the case shall be reheard by Her Majesty's High Court of Justice.

17th December 1998 Dated

John Prescott