In the early hours of 25 January this year, the British coaster the Lovat sank in mountainous seas just 20 miles off Land's End. Eleven men died - even though there were ships standing by to rescue them and Royal Navy helicopters were sent out to help.

In this special report, Bill Kerr Elliot traces the misfortunes and mistakes that dogged the Lovat from the moment she loaded her cargo in Swansea to the time she sank in a force 10 gale and examines what can be done in the future to prevent lives being lost in this way.