The biggest single compensation payout made to relatives of victims of the Marchioness disaster went to the family of the captain of the pleasure boat, it has emerged.

Stephen Faldo's family received £190,000 in compensation from Commerical Union, now Norwich Union, the insurer of the Marchioness.

Families of some of the 51 passengers who died in the collison between the pleasure boat and the dredger the Bowbelle were awarded only £3,000.

Those who challenged the payment in court received an average of £22,500.

The award for the captain, who was found partly to blame for the collision, was based on him leaving a widow and a son.

Most of the passengers were young and had no dependents.

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