A PENWORTHAM woman has described her relief at the opening of a new inquiry into the sinking of the MV Derbyshire.

Margaret Noblett lost her husband James when the 169,000 ton bulk carrier MV Derbyshire sank off the coast of Japan in 1980.

The original consensus was that the Swan-Hunter tanker was overcome by Typhoon Orchid, with the loss of all 44 crew.

But the families of the crew are convinced that the vessel had a structural fault.

Scientists believe the ship was "ill-prepared" for the storm and that a fault could have been to blame, following a look at the wreck in 1994.

Margaret said: "I want the truth. My husband James was only 40 when he died. "There is a long way to go but at least at the end I will get the truth.

"We have always said that there was a reason behind the sinking and now we have new evidence.

"The Derbyshire was one of six vessels built to the same specification, and all had the same problem with brittleness. None of them are in service now. It angers me that it has taken so long to come about."

Margaret's husband James had been sailing since he was 16. She added: "He loved the sea. Another reason that we need to find out the truth is for other sailors' sake.

"I have three grandchildren and two are boys. Any of them might want to go into that kind of work too.

"The families are attending the inquiry in small numbers. My four children all want to go and are trying to get there for a few days.

"It is looking quite good."

The inquiry is expected to last until June.