The Tragedy of the MV Derbyshire

One of the most tragic losses in British maritime history, and the largest British vessel ever to be sunk, the MV Derbyshire was a gigantic but severely flawed bulk carrier that disappeared during Typhoon Orchid in the South China Sea on September 9th, 1980.

In this video, we will examine the history of the Derbyshire and the shipping line for which it was built, and how a flawed design and outdated, inaccurate work practices, combined with the worst of nature's fury, helped to bring down what many considered to be a ship too large to sink, and how its loss ultimately helped to improve the quality of shipbuilding in the future.