The Marine Accident Investigation Branch are to question the officers of the P&O Ferry, Pride of Bilbao, over the sinking of Ouzo the Sailfish 25 which left three experienced yachtsmen dead.

The ‘black boxes’ which record voyage data were recalled from all ferries on the Solent-France crossings by the Coastguard after the accident last week.

Following an examination of the data, the MAIB, now want to talk to the officers on watch on the Pride of Bilbao to fit the ‘pieces of the jigsaw’ together a P&O spokesman said.