F JOULES, of Above Town, Dartmouth, writes:

The recent Marine Accident Investigation Branch report concerning the capsize of the French trawler in March makes interesting but melancholy reading. What a glaring chapter of basic incompetence by Dart Harbour, which begs the ­question: why are some people still here? This piece of seeming ineptitude cost the insurers more than £2m.

The MAIB highlights a ­language problem, and yet there is a French liaison officer at Britannia Royal Naval College, a mere phone call away. There are any number

of people in the town with ­sufficient French to make ­themselves understood, even to French fishermen.

Why were these vessels not put on the mainstream buoys (guide them alongside and let them pass a line through the top ring)?

We all know that the South Embankment in the spring is a foul berth. Why were they told to be in the river not later than 4.30pm? These vessels were seeking shelter from a storm and should have been helped at whatever time they arrived.

Shame on you. You have made Dartmouth look very amateur and hardly a safe haven.

A change of management was long overdue and we have high hopes for the new harbour master.