Letter: Ferry disaster: ways to avert further tragedies

Sir: Another 'ro-ro' ship has turned turtle. I was reliably informed after the Zeebrugge disaster that these ships are known at one large office of ship designers as 'ro ro ro' ships - roll on, roll off and roll over.

Incidentally, since Zeebrugge, I have travelled a return trip of some six hours each way most years on one of these ferries. Because I take my bicycle with me, I have needed to walk between the cargo of vehicles; never have they all been tied down. On one occasion, when none were secured, the captain told us passengers that we had weathered a force nine gale during our crossing.

Yours faithfully,

MARTIN MOTTRAM

Salisbury

29 September