A SERVICE has taken place to remember six people who died after two cargo ferries collided 40 years ago.

The 5,000-tonne British Rail-owned Speedlink Vanguard ferry was returning to Parkeston from Zeebrugge on on December 19, 1982.

Disaster struck when it collided with Townsend Thoresen’s roll on-roll off ferry, the European Gateway, which was making its way out of Felixstowe to Rotterdam, shortly before 11pm.

The Speedlink Vanguard tore a ten-foot hole in the side of the European Gateway, which listed before rolling on to a sandbank, leaving half of its hull above the waterline.

The Gateway capsized within 30 minutes with crew and lorry drivers ending up in the North Sea, two miles off the coast.

Four crew members and two lorry drivers died in the icy waters from hypothermia, including Tony Mason, 40, a crew member from Colchester.

The remaining 64 people on the European Gateway were plucked to safety in a heroic rescue operation involving Harwich RNLI and Harwich Harbour pilot vessels, tugs and helicopters.

During the following public inquiry, investigators said the loss of life would have been greater if the collision had taken place just a short distance further out, in deeper water.

The people of Harwich could see the drama unfolding offshore and began organising themselves to help.

In recognition of their outstanding contribution to the rescue, the crews of two pilot boats were awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal.

Harwich Haven Authority chief executive Neil Glendinning laid a wreath on Monday to remember those that lost their lives.

A spokesman for the authority said: “We were joined by the lifeboats from Harwich RNLI and Walton RNLI along with two of our pilot launches.

“Harwich pilot launches and the RNLI were integral to the rescue on that night and without their assistance many more souls might have perished.

“The flotilla of vessels travelled out to the location that the European Gateway capsized, which was just off the coast of Felixstowe.

“Travelling with Neil Glendinning was the deputy mayor of Harwich, Maria Fowler.

“We were also joined by a Harwich Haven Authority pilot launch coxswain, Graham Lee whose Father Kenneth Lee was a coxswain in charge of a pilot launch on the night of the disaster.

“He received bravery medals for his heroic actions to rescue passengers and crew from the vessels and the water.”