AN inquiry into the loss of the Gaul has heard from a fitter who claimed he was surprised the trawler was passed as seaworthy.

In a statement read out to the Hull-based inquiry, retired fitter Geoffrey Good said he worked on the Gaul before her last fateful voyage.

"She had been in the yard for engine modifications," he said.

"In my opinion, I did not think she was in a particularly good state.

"I was surprised she had her Lloyds certificate and her Board (of Trade) pass."

The Hull-based trawler sunk off the coast of Norway in 1974 amid rumours it may have been involved in spying on the Soviet navy. The Ministry of Defence has always denied these claims.

Sheila Doone, from Brierfield, lost her husband John on the trawler and has since joined other victims families in calling for the truth about the controversial sinking.

Mr Good, who worked for Hull-based Drypool Engineering at the time, said he stumbled across a trip wire during his final inspection of the trawler, causing an engine generator to cut out suddenly.

He also noted "excessive vibration" on the ship's engine which appeared much worse than other trawlers he had worked on.

The inquiry had earlier heard from a seaman who witnessed the extreme conditions that the Gaul went to sea in.

Seaman Michael Keillor recalled how his ship suffered extensive damage when she was hit by a huge wave in the Barents Sea in early February, 1974.

But Mr Keillor, then junior bosun on the another trawler, the Farnella, could not confirm the date of the storm given to the inquiry in a statement by his skipper.

"The wave that hit us was exceptional," said Mr Keillor, 55. "The weather was exceptional. It was very squally, violent, more than you would expect in any storm.

"You know that Force 10 is severe. This was somewhat beyond that."