Union boss Derrick Burgess last night demanded an investigation into the events surrounding the sinking of the Chinese freighter the Xing Da .

Mr. Burgess, the president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, made the call after Police launched an investigation into the fishermen's blockade of the tug and their alleged attempts to cut a tow rope.

"Fishermen were forced to publicly demonstrate after it became blatantly clear that the only marine user group to have any input into the sinking of the Xing Da would be divers.

"Indeed, the concerns of the Marine Resource Board were never sought nor heard in regard to the site of the sinking of the ship,'' said Mr. Burgess.

The Xing Da was towed out of Marginal Wharf to its sinking site by the Government tug Powerful on Thursday, May 15.

About a dozen fishermen formed a "picket line'' around the tug in a bid to prevent it moving.

It is alleged that some fishermen also tried to cut the tow rope between the ship and tug.

They were demonstrating against the sinking of the ship in the designated site, at Eastern Blue Cut off Dockyard, saying it would be environmentally inappropriate.

Some fishing boats in the "picket line'' were damaged as the tug got underway and the fishermen's action was condemned by Environment Minister Irving Pearman who issued a statement in the House of Assembly.

Police later launched an investigation into the blockade and alleged tow rope cutting -- getting search warrants for video footage from VSB, the Bermuda Broadcasting Corporation and Panatel VDS Ltd.

Last night Mr. Burgess accused Government officials in charge of the towing operation of endangering the fishermen's lives.

He said if there was an investigation it should be by the Marine and Ports Department into the actions of the tug and its crew and not the fishermen.

Mr. Burgess claimed the Powerful revved up her engines and moved ahead at excessive speed without sounding its horn.

"It is ironic that Police are investigating fishermen who demonstrated at Marginal Wharf about the site chosen for the sinking of the Xing Da .

"If there is to be an investigation it should be of the officials in charge of the towing operation.

"The tug fired up its engines and caused severe prop wash, endangering the lives of innocent fishermen who were simply expressing discontent with a system which, in this instance, failed,'' charged Mr. Burgess.

"The actions of those officials could have resulted in serious injury or death.

"Instead it resulted in damage to several fishing vessels when the turbulence of the tug jostled the boats like mere match boxes,'' he added.

SHIP SHI