PRESCOTT GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO GAUL SURVEY

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has agreed to provide funding for an underwater survey of the trawler Gaul by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in the summer of 2002.

The trawler sank off the North Cape in February 1974 with the loss of all 36 crew.

The survey will have four objectives, three relating to the Re-opened Formal Investigation into the loss of the vessel, the other to the development of underwater techniques in accident investigation.

The four objectives are to supplement the photographic evidence explaining the loss of the Gaul; to search for any remains of the crew of the Gaul and to establish their identity using DNA profiling; to search for evidence in connection with allegations that the Gaul could have been engaged in espionage activities; to develop a means for entering and examining the interior of a sunken vessel.

Mr Prescott said, "I have already made it clear that I could not support a manned dive on safety grounds. I stand by that decision.

"I have authorised the survey in order to remove any lingering doubts about the fate of the Gaul. I hope this will bring some comfort to the families who have suffered such uncertainty for so long.

"We will all do our best to meet the objectives of the survey in full, but at the same time we must recognise that circumstances outside the control of the Department or the contractor may prevent them being achieved. If we fail in those objectives, and there can be no guarantee of success, there should be no expectation of a further return to the wreck.

"We will now tender for the survey and I hope to be able to announce the successful contractor later this year."

The specification for the underwater survey has been agreed between the parties to the Formal Investigation and by the Department.

BACKGROUND
The Hull-registered motor trawler Gaul was lost off the North Cape on 8 February 1974. There was no distress message and all 36-crew members perished. The only wreckage recovered was a small buoy and the exact location of the wreck was not discovered.

A Formal Investigation was held during September and October 1974 into the loss of the vessel, which concluded that the vessel capsized and foundered in heavy seas. However, the investigation found no direct evidence of how the tragedy occurred.

In August 1997, an expedition funded by UK and Norwegian television companies discovered the wreck of Gaul. The documentary film of the expedition was shown on Channel 4 on 6 November 1997. Following this discovery, and on the recommendation of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch that a more detailed examination of the
wreck would be necessary to determine the cause of the sinking of the vessel, the Deputy Prime Minister announced in January 1998 that the Government would undertake a new survey of the wreck. The survey was
completed in August 1998. On the 15th August 1998, the Deputy Prime Minister, on the advice of the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents that new and important evidence had been found, announced his intention to reopen the Formal Investigation into the sinking of the Gaul.