A high-speed ferry which created a huge wave killing a fisherman had been considered safe when it was introduced, an inquest was told.

John Sibley, 47, of Spruce Avenue, Greenstead, Colchester, drowned off the coast of Felixstowe on July 17 last year after the Purdy, the small fishing boat he was working on, was hit by a wave from the HSS Stena Discovery.

The 33ft Purdy was skippered by 70-year-old tax inspector Denis Hayman.

The Stena ferry, which can carry 1,500 people and is the largest 'fast craft' in the world, was approaching Harwich from the Hook of Holland, the inquest at Ipswich heard on Tuesday. Stena Line Holland managing director Pim De Lange said when they started operating on Irish Sea routes in 1995, Stena's other two HSS ferries both experienced problems with large waves created by the boats' wakes washing up on beaches.

But when Stena started using the HSS Discovery on the Harwich to the Hook route in 1997, the company was certain the superferry and its route into the port of Harwich were safe, Mr De Lange said.

"I can put my hand on my heart that when we started service in June 1997 we were absolutely sure it was safe," he said.

However, a series of beach wave incidents forced the company to continually change the ferries' approach into Harwich until September 1998.

Mr De Lange continued: "The problems we had before were all focused more or less on the beaches.

"We had no problems from September 1998 until the tragic events of July 1999.

"When that incident happened it was a shock for all of us. We didn't expect it at all.

"We never thought about a sandbank out at sea. We have learnt that now but it was too late."

Looking across at Mr Sibley's wife Margaret in the public gallery, Mr De Lange added: "It was a very tragic incident for all parties involved.

"I wish to express my deep condolences to Mrs Sibley and her family."

Captain Frank Haalmeijer, master of the 400ft high-speed Stena Discovery told the inquest the ship slowed down from 40 knots to 12 knots during the approach to Harwich on July 17.

"That critical phase could have produced significant wash," he said.

The Purdy's skipper Denis Hayman, who survived the incident, told the inquest that the wave was 12 to 15 foot high and "seemed like it was travelling about 100mph".

The inquest was due to end on yesterday (Wednesday).

At the inquest - John Sibley's wife, Marilyn, right, his sister Carol Bateman, centre and daughter Joanna, left.

Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE

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