Unite demands ‘Flying Phantom’ public inquiry
10th March 2009
Unite, Scotland’s largest trade union, has today demanded
ministers in Holyrood and Westminster take action and support the
call for a public inquiry into the loss of the Flying Phantom tug
and three of her crew in December 2007.
The Flying Phantom was sunk while assisting a bulk carrier in
thick fog on the Clyde. Three of the tug’s four-man crew
perished; only the mate managed to escape from the stricken
vessel's wheelhouse and was later rescued. Last September,
the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) released a report
into the sinking of the tug and identified a number of preventable
factors which contributed towards to the deaths of the crew
members.
Unite contacted the Department of Transport minister, Jim
Fitzpatrick MP, and the secretary for justice in the Scottish
parliament, Kenny MacAskill MSP, to seek support for a public
inquiry in light of the MAIB report. The union’s solicitors,
Thompson’s, have also pursued the Maritime & Coastguard Agency
and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) on the findings of the
report but to no avail. Unite has now written to the
secretary of state for Scotland Jim Murphy MP, in order to resolve
the issue of responsibility for initiating a public
inquiry.
Unite’s Scottish secretary, John Quigley, said: “On behalf of
the bereaved families of our members - Unite is becoming
increasingly frustrated in this pursuit for justice.
"The interests of our members’ families have taken second place
to a game of inter-departmental ping-pong. At the same time,
no action has been taken on the recommendations of the MAIB report
which leads us to believe that the River Clyde remains unsafe and
only serves to highlight the need for a public inquiry. Unite will
not let this matter go and it is time for someone to take
responsibility.
"Our members go to work to provide for themselves and their
families, not to suffer injury or death. This is about people
not politics.”
Unite has also recently submitted a consultation response to
Lord Cullen’s Fatal Accident Inquiry Legislation Review, calling
for a mandatory public inquiry in the event of workplace fatalities
such as the Flying Phantom tragedy.
ENDS
Notes to Editors: For further information please contact
Unite Scottish region political officer High Scullion on
07768931308. Also contact Peter Welsh on 0141248 7131 for
Unite’s recent response to the review of fatal accident inquiry
legislation consultation.
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