MV Derbyshire Trust Fund

Launch of new charity which campaigns for safer ships

A charity which supports seafarers and campaigns for safer ships will be launched in Liverpool on Tuesday 11 February.
It has been set up by families who lost loved ones in the MV Derbyshire disaster 34 years ago.

The main priority of the new MV Derbyshire Trust Fund is to help prevent loss of life at sea.

The oil/bulk/ore carrier MV Derbyshire was the biggest British merchant ship ever lost. She was sunk in September 1980 in the South China Seas during typhoon Orchid, en route from Canada to Japan.

All 44 people perished including 17 from Liverpool. The Derbyshire Families Association fought for 20 years to uncover the truth about why the ship sank, and has played a crucial role in influencing changes to safety at sea – especially for bulk carriers. 

At the launch founding members of the charity will give a presentation about the charity’s formation and aims. Speakers will be Chairman Paul Lambert, Secretary Capt. Dave Ramwell, and Treasurer Rev. Peter McGrath. Their presentation will be followed by a question and answer session.

Merseyside Maritime Museum has a close relationship with the MV Derbyshire families and opened a permanent display dedicated to the disaster in 2012. “MV Derbyshire - Search for the Truth” is a permanent reminder of the sinking and its human tragedy which is still felt today.

The Derbyshire Families Association was set up by relatives shortly after the sinking. Their persistence was instrumental in searching for the wreck and re-opening the investigation into the tragedy which cleared the crew of any blame.

As well as the new display, the Merseyside Maritime Museum has a detailed section about the MV Derbyshire on its website: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime.

For further information about the MV Derbyshire Trust Fund please contact Paul Lambert on 0151 384 3638 / 07762 696913, email paullambertdfa@yahoo.com.

Merseyside Maritime Museum

Merseyside Maritime Museum is situated at the Albert Dock. It contains a variety of objects associated with the social and commercial history of the port of Liverpool. Highlights include ship models, maritime paintings, colourful posters from the golden age of liners and even some full sized vessels. There is also the major current exhibition Titanic and Liverpool: the untold story. This tells the story of Liverpool's links to the ill-fated liner.

About National Museums Liverpool

National Museums Liverpool comprises eight venues. Our collections are among the most important and varied in Europe and contain everything from Impressionist paintings and rare beetles to a lifejacket from the Titanic. We attract more than three million visitors every year. Our venues are World Museum, Museum of Liverpool, the Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Border Force National Museum, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery.