A memorial service was due to take place on Wednesday to mark the 15th anniversary of the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry disaster.

Henry Bisham, a survivor of the tragedy was expected, to join seafarers in Dover for the service.

Following the service, wreaths dedicated to the victims were due to be set adrift from the town's port

More than 190 people lost their lives when the roll-on roll-off ferry capsized, on 6 March 1987.

The tragedy, which unfolded in just 90 seconds, led to new safety regulations being imposed on the ferry industry.

'Deep wound'

Dover MP Gwynn Prosser was due to read the Pilot Psalm during the service at the Seafarers' Centre in the town.

The service follows an earlier memorial event at the Herald Rosegarden in the town, when 80 residents of Zeebrugge, rescue workers, and the family of one of the disaster victims attended to pay their respects.

During the service on 3 March, Dover priest Wim Catry, who delivered the sermon, said the tragedy had "left a deep wound that will never heal".

Two former staff members of Townsend-Thoresen, which owned the "Herald", travelled from Belgium for the service.

Following the disaster in 1987, and the sinking of the Estonia ferry in 1994, with the loss of 850 lives, new rules were brought in to improve safety on ferries in 1999.

In both cases, problems with the bow doors on each ferry were blamed for causing the disasters.