MV Princess Victoria - Court of Enquiry

Court of Enquiry

The Court of Enquiry into the sinking, held in March 1953 at Crumlin Road Courthouse in Belfast, found that the Princess Victoria was lost due to a combination of factors. In a report of 30,000 pages the enquiry found that: firstly, the stern doors were not sufficiently robust. Secondly, arrangements for clearing water from the car deck were inadequate. The report concluded "If the Princess Victoria had been as staunch as those who manned her, then all would have been well and the disaster averted." The court also noted the failure of the duty destroyer HMS Tenacious from the 3rd Training Squadron based at HMS Sea Eagle in Derry to be able to put to sea as too many men had been released on shore leave. As a consequence of the enquiry the duty destroyer from the 3rd Squadron was subsequently based "on station" at the mouth of Lough Foyle on 1 hour readiness to put to sea.

A personal testimonial from Douglas Mumford

"As a serving member on board HMS Tenacious on that day, the report that we did not sail due to lack of men is not as I remember it. I was the Leading Telegraphist on board HMS Tenacious and returned on board, that morning, to find the ship in readiness to go to sea. We were to search for a fishing vessel which was in distress off the North of Scotland. Just before actually sailing, the SOS from MV Princess Victoria was received on 500Kcs and our sailing was delayed. In great frustration, we read all the signals concerning the Princess. Our own direction-finding equipment clearly showed that she was not lying just off Stranraer but was approaching the coast of N Ireland. We were never allowed to leave harbour until well after the Princess went down. We were then sent on a search for the fishing vessel. One very rough passage north, a very quick and fruitless search and return to Londonderry with considerable damage to our upper deck structures, due to the severe weather."