And they had no excuse - the Herald of Free Enterprise* sank in 1987 for exactly the same reason. “Only” 193 people died. I believe a number of deaths were caused by cuts from broken glass. You would think, wouldn’t you, that interlocks would prevent engagement of the main engines if the ro-ro doors were not fully closed? Or at least that there would be a really big blinkenlight in the engine control room?
But you would also think that the valves that cap oil wells would have some indication of which way is which, as they must be assembled right side up. And I was told, when on a safety course in 1990, that as of then they did not.
*Surely a candidate for the most ironic name ever given to a ship. HMS Invincible might seem to have been inviting the attentions of the kindly ones in much the same way, but in fact when it did ground in the Solent everybody was saved.
