The MV Derbyshire, was built in 1976 by Swan Hunter, as an ore-bulk-oil combination carrier, she was registered at Liverpool.

She was lost September 9 1980 during Typhoon Orchid, south of Japan ( 25o 30' North, 130o 30' ); 42 crew and two wives were lost. At over 90,000 gross tons she was, and remains, the largest UK ship to have ever been lost at sea.

Initially, the remaining crew were charged with negligence but the International Transport Workers' Federation launched their own investigation to find the wreckage.

The wreckage of the ship was found in June 1994 during a search funded by the International Transport Workers' Federation. The survey managed to deploy a remotely operated vehicle, the Magellan (after the explorer), to take preliminary photos of the wreck which confirmed the finding. The strange orientation of the wreckage was published in a report on March 12 1998. This prompted the British Government to reopen a Formal Investigation into the sinking.

Formal Investigation, commenced on April 2 2000. They eventually concluded that the ship sunk due to structual failures and absolved the crew of any responsibility in the sinking.

The Derbyshire Family Association was awarded the Thomas Gray Silver Medal in July 2004 for campaigning for better safety regulations regarding bulk carriers.

External links

• http://www.zetnet.co.uk/oigs/derbyshire/
• http://www.mv-derbyshire.org.uk/
• http://www.brianiddonmp.org.uk/media/040712_Derbyshire.htm