LABOUR and trade unions restated the need for maritime safety on the 32nd anniversary of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster yesterday.

The ship capsized shortly after leaving the Belgian port of Zeebrugge due to its bow door being left open on March 6 1987, resulting in the deaths of 193 workers and passengers.

The sinking was the biggest peacetime disaster in British history.

The press immediately blamed an assistant boatswain for the disaster but an official inquiry placed more blame on his supervisors and a generally poor workplace culture on the ship.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “In paying tribute to the memory of the 193 seafarers and passengers who died 32 years ago, we also remember the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster as a terrible example of compromised maritime safety standards.”

Labour shadow shipping minister Karl Turner said: “Our thoughts are with their family members.

“We must never allow maritime safety standards to be compromised.”

A service was also held at St Mary the Virgin Church, Dover.