The MS Herald of Free Enterprise was a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry that capsized moments after leaving the Belgian port of Zeebrugge on March 6, 1987. The disaster claimed the lives of 193 people, making it one of the deadliest maritime accidents involving a British ship since World War II. The incident was primarily attributed to the vessel's bow doors being left open, causing water to flood the car deck and destabilize the ship. The subsequent investigation revealed deficiencies in crew training, safety procedures, and the ship's design. Recommendations for safety improvements were made, leading to changes in regulations and practices across the maritime industry. The disaster highlighted the importance of proper safety protocols and oversight in the operation of ships to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.