Sapphire trawler tragedy remembered 20 years later
Four men died when the boat sank on October 1, 1997, just 12 miles from home.
On September 29 1997, The Sapphire left Peterhead harbour and headed out towards the North Sea.
Onboard the trawler were Victor Podlesny, Bruce Cameron, Adam Stephen and Robert Stephen, along with skipper Victor Robertson.
More than 400 boxes of fish from their efforts were loaded and the boat was preparing to return home.
On October 1, just 12 miles from shore, the vessel sank in heavy seas with Mr Robertson the sole survivor.
Investigators later found several water tide hatches and doors had not been closed.
The four remaining men died on board and left seven children without fathers.
Alex Salmond, who was Banff and Buchan MP at the time, reflected that the resolve of the community back in 1997 was remarkable.
Mr Salmond said: "The story of the Sapphire was the absolute determination by Peterhead families, by four north east families, that they would not accept no for an answer and campaign to achieve what was their heart's desire amid the tragedy, and that was to get the bodies of their men back to Peterhead for Christian burial and of course they succeeded."