St Killian 11 lorry inquiry
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AN INQUIRY into why lorries on board the Irish Continental Line ferry, St Killian 11, were so severely damaged during a storm is to be carried out following strong protests from 22 drivers who had refused to leave the ship until the company accepted responsibility for the damage.
The lorries were thrown against each other and some were crushed against the side wall of the vessel when it hit a storm near the Scilly Isles during a rough passage from Le Havre to Rosslare which lasted five days. Battered cabs, bent axles and dented refrigerators were reported by the drivers who claimed that, in some cases, the damage was as high as 1R£7,000. (£6,100).
Although ICL insisted that each lorry was lashed to the floor with eight chains, the drivers argued that in many instances only four chains had been used. They claimed that other ferry companies guaranteed up to IR£50,000 compensation for damages compared to a maximum of 1R£150 from ICL,