Destination Disaster: The Sinking of the Mikhail Lermontov

This documentary omits mountains of relevant evidence that indicates a cover-up of the facts by both governments involved. If all the available evidence is gathered and considered, you'd have to say that the NZ accident report was an "orchestrated litany of lies". Why do you think Steve Ponsford looks so shifty when questioned? No wonder they didn't want an independent judicial formal inquiry headed by a judge, a la mount erebus. The Lange govt learnt one lesson from erebus, if you're going to have a cover-up, don't allow a judicial inquiry to follow. And they were right. They got away with it!

By the way Tony Harvey, Jamison did say sorry, its in his written statement to the NZ inquiry. It was the Soviet Embassy in Wellington who didn't want him to say anything more, something they publicly stated in the media. They also publicly directed the NZ govt on how the inquiry conclusions should read, and got their wish. Pity the producers of this documentary didn't do more research, in this case the truth would not have got in the way of a good story, it would have made it all the more interesting!!

I was a ten year old child when i went on the final cruise of the Mikhaill lermontov and i just watched the destination disaster documentary for the first time, even though it was produced in 2000. Thank you for making the documentary and for providing details of this event in a honest, non biased fashion. I have often thought about making my own documentary or writing my own book about the sinking from my own first hand perspective, after all Feb 16th this year marked twenty five years since the sinking

Awesome video.
It has to be one of the biggest stuff ups in NZ maritime history. As it was said on here if he pulled it off he would have been "The Man who"... but with hind sight ...
I can only thank him in another way as i have had the chance do more than 30 dives on her and each one i have managed to see something new each time. I had done a dozen dives on her bow before the dive i first noticedd her name letters. The size of this wreck has to be seen to be comprehended, such as my height being over 6 fooot and being able to stand in the entrance to the bow thrusters. Thanks for that Don, but come on everyone knows you made a huge f*ck*p here just come forward and say so.
Sure Im just another person who works on boats but when Im as tired as he portrayed himself to be theres no bloody way id take anything under my control anywhere near something like that. The distances travelled between the time of the first turn towards cape jackson and the final through the channel this was more than a spur of the moment decision. Come on we arent talking about a 30 knot fast fizz that would eat up the distance in no time at all.
But thats just my views on it! But like I said , thanks for the awesome dive site!

Wonderful comprehensive and moving documentary... Well done.
I cruised on this ship (age 16) with my Father in Summer 1982 out & back to Tilbury (UK) via 7 Spanish, Potugese & African ports, and loved the ship & the hospitality of the Russian crew. So the whole story is fascinating and very moving to me.
If Captain Jamieson could find it in his heart to say sorry, even if just in a written statement that would be wonderful for all who were concerned. But perhaps he feels it but fears legal consequences of making it known?