RELATIVES of three men who died in a tugboat tragedy on the River Clyde are to sue the harbour authority and the boat's operator.

RELATIVES of three men who died in a tugboat tragedy on the River Clyde are to sue the harbour authority and the boat's operator.

The Flying Phantom capsized in thick fog while towing a cargo vessel, with the loss of skipper Stephen Humphreys, 33, engineer Robert Cameron, 65, and deckhand Eric Blackley, 57.

Crewmate Brian Atchison, 37, was rescued, but the bodies of his colleagues were not recovered until days later.

An investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Board blamed the tragedy, which happened near Clydebank in December 2007, on a poor risk assessment by port operator Clydeport, the lack of defined procedures for operating in poor visibility and the lack of sufficient training by tugboat operator Svitzer for crews to work in such weather.

The families have strongly criticized the action taken by Clydeport in response to the incident, alleging they have ignored the recommendations made by MAIB.

Mr Cameron's widow Linda said yesterday: "We are taking legal action now, not for the money, but to draw attention to the fact that nothing has happened to prevent the same terrible type of accident happening again".

Svitzer will face the civil action along with Clydeport. The total damages being claimed was not disclosed.

The Phantom, one of three such vessels on the Clyde, ran into trouble while guiding the Red Jasmine down the river.

The men were from Greenock and Gourock in Inverclyde, and Houston in Renfrewshire.

Proceedings have yet to start on a proposed criminal investigation into the incident.

Clydeport was unavailable for comment.