Der skulle bogstavelig talt gå tusinder af liv tabt, inden man begyndte at se på basale, grundlæggende og i nogle tilfælde skandaløse mangler i færgedesign og -drift til trods for gentagne advarsler fra fagforeninger, forbrugergrupper, ja og Europa-Parlamentet.
Literally thousands of lives were lost before the basic, fundamental, and in some cases outrageous shortcomings in ferry design and operations were addressed, despite repeated warnings from the unions, consumer groups and indeed this Parliament.