In the 20 years since it sank in a typhoon south of Japan in 1980, the loss of the bulk carrier m.v. Derbyshire has been the subject of numerous reports, surveys, papers, assessments and formal legal investigations. This culminated with the publication of the report on the Re-opened Formal Investigation (RFI) in November 2000. As well as explaining the cause of the loss, the RFI examined and made recommendations for improved safety mainly in the areas of Hatch Cover Strength and Permissible Freeboard, and Navigation. The RFI raised some serious questions concerning the adequacy of current hatch cover strength regulations. Although it was possible to come to definitive recommendations on many issues based solely on the evidence from the specific loss of the Derbyshire, further work was necessary to examine conclusively the adequacy of the most recent standards. The paper gives an overview of the main safety issues outstanding at the end of the RFI, particularly those relating to hatch cover loading and strength.
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