Ship on which man was killed 'had undergone recent survey'

The cruise ship on which an elderly passenger died when it was hit by a freak wave has been passed fit to sail.

James Swinstead was killed and several other people were injured when water crashed through the windows on the British ship Marco Polo on Friday night.

After disembarking from the ship at Tilbury in Essex yesterday, the 85-year-old's widow, Helen, claimed the ship was "badly maintained".

However, the 49-year-old vessel has been given the clearance to continue after police and port inspections.

A spokesman for the ship's operator, Cruise and Maritime Voyages, said the damage had been limited to four smashed windows and carpet damage, and that the next cruise was underway.

Watch: Widow tells of 'dreadful' moment husband was killed

This amateur video shows the giant waves as seen from the cruise ship the Marco Polo on which a man was killed when a a freak wave hit the vessel.

Read: Ship on which man was killed 'had undergone recent survey'

New pictures taken on board the Marco Polo ship - on which a man was killed on Friday - show how bad conditions were on board, with the boat being battered by huge waves.

The widow of the 85-year-old pensioner killed when a freak wave hit the cruise liner said the ship was "improperly maintained".

The cruise operator insists the Marco Polo had undergone "stringent and rigorous surveys".

The widow of a pensioner killed when a freak wave hit a cruise liner said today the ship was "improperly maintained".

Helen Swinstead was one of several hundred passengers caught in a gale-force storm in the English Channel on Friday. Her 85-year-old husband, James, died when a wave crashed through a window of the liner, the Marco Polo.

ITV News' Charlotte Grant reports:

The cruise ship on which a man was killed on Friday had undergone "stringent and rigorous surveys", according to the cruise operator.

The widow of James Swinstead, who died when the boat was hit by a wave in the channel, claimed the death was due to the ship being badly maintained.

But Christian Verhounig, chief executive of Cruise and Maritime Voyages, said: "Marco Polo undergoes stringent and rigorous surveys and is inspected regularly including a recent annual dry docking survey and certification."

"Marco Polo is... serviced in full compliance of strict British and International maritime regulations and is efficiently manned by a professional and dedicated crew."

The wife of a man killed after a freak wave hit a cruise ship in the English Channel has described the moment the waves crashed through the windows.

Helen Swinstead said:

"It was quite dreadful, I was sitting next to him and this window just came in and the sea with it. We were all very very wet I think a woman was taken to hospital and my husband was going to go on the helicopter but he died before they could get him on it.

"He's never made headline news, he'll be sitting on his cloud chortling."

James Swinstead, 85, died "almost instantly" after water rushed on board the British cruise ship Marco Polo as it was battered by waves during severe storms.

Read more: Cruise ship passenger dies after freak wave

Heather Gratland, from Worcestershire, was in the 6th floor restaurant when the water entered the ship.

She said:

Other passengers said:

The wife of a man killed after a freak wave hit a cruise ship in the English Channel has paid tribute to her "lovely husband".

James Swinstead, 85, died "almost instantly" after water rushed on board the British cruise ship Marco Polo as it was battered by waves during severe storms.

Mr Swinstead, a father-of-two from Colchester, Essex, was on the cruise with his wife Helen.

Speaking in Tilbury after the ship docked, she said: "I think it killed him almost instantly. He was a lovely husband.

"It was quite dreadful. I was sitting next to him and this window came in and the sea with it.

"We were all very, very wet. I think a woman was taken to hospital and my husband was going to get on the helicopter but he died before they could get him on it.

"He's never made headline news. He'll be sitting on his cloud chortling."

Another passenger on the cruise said the storms were "horrendous".

Linda Kogan said:

The wife of a man killed after a freak wave hit a cruise ship in the English Channel has criticised the "badly maintained" vessel.

Helen Swinstead speaking after the ship docked said: "I think it killed him almost instantly."With our insurance I think I'm entitled to £2,000, which won't even cover getting him home to Colchester.

"I think the shipping company should give some sort of compensation. The ship was badly maintained. Four windows blew.

"The crew have been fantastic. I think the ship is improperly maintained. It had come from Madeira before we got on it in January and they had bad storms then.

"There's so much paint on the outside you can't see the rust, they just slop some more on when they get to port."

Read more: Cruise ship passenger died in 'adverse sea conditions'

A spokesman for the ship's operator said it would not comment on Mrs Swinstead's remarks.