BBC - Eight Killed in Shipping Disaster

KENSINGTON SHIPPING PLATFORM - Disaster struck today as the Bamburgh Company liner, Lady Agnes, was seriously damaged by debris entering the cordon surrounding the trade lane. This tragic incident has taken the lives of eight of her crew, including the ship’s captain, Harold Sills, a veteran of both the company and the Armed Forces.

This tragedy raises questions about how something like this can happen. The Lady Agnes was transiting the lane from Belvedere Refinery to Kensington Shipping Platform when it was struck. Luckily for the rest of the crew and passengers, the vessel was in the speed reduction phase before exiting the lane. Eye witnesses paint a vague picture of what happened, a large object entering the cordon between the first and second set of trade lane rings before glancing off of the bow of the Lady Agnes, finally striking the bridge where it became lodged.

The object itself is understood to have come from the nearby Hounslow Debris Field, a controversial subject in this part of New London. Created during the Battle of Dover, when the Gallic Battleship Beuvray exploded due to a primary reactor meltdown, it remains a matter of contention for the government. Both Gateway and ALG have demanded more funding to clear this navigational hazard, however the government is adamant that it is not a current priority. Current funding has been limited to keeping the adjacent trade lanes clear, something which now proves to be insufficient. The Department for Transport has declined to comment on the incident, pending an official investigation.

The once magnificent vessel sits smouldering alongside Kensington Shipping Platform. Being the first of three Palace-Class Royal Liners, dubbed the Three Sisters, she was state of the art, providing award winning luxurious transport for passengers. The question now is what the company will do with a single sister. Lady Elizabeth stands alone, one sister now in ruins, the other still in government service, years after hostilities have ended.

We have approached Bamburgh Company management for comment, but at this time have not responded.