The first steps have been taken to build a permanent monument on the Island to commemorate lives of Bermudian fishermen lost at sea.

A committee has been set up and talks are to be held soon with local artists about how best to provide the lasting monument, which will list the names of those lost on the ocean from as far back as the 18th Century.

At a press conference yesterday, Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said possible locations listed so far were Fort Scaur in Somerset, North Shore and St. David's.

However, no ideas on what kind of monument will be built have yet to be formalised, but those families who have lost someone close at sea will be given an opportunity to give their opinion on the location and what kind of monument they would like.

Premier Jennifer Smith announced in January that the Government wished to build a memorial after the New Nuts fishing vessel sank 80 miles off the coast of Bermuda, taking two Island fishermen down with it.

Micah Battersbee, 29, from Devonshire, and Allen Edness, 56, from Southampton, who was the Premier's cousin, are both believed to have drowned. They were both fathers.

However, skipper of the New Nuts Bobby Lambe miraculously survived the ordeal and was found by the US Coast Guard battling in high seas some 18 hours after the boat went down.

He was later picked up by the passing American hospital ship USNS Comfort, which was on its way to the Gulf, and was taken to Spain, where he was dropped off nine days later.

All of the families involved in the tragedy in January said they welcomed a lasting monument in memory of all the sea dead.

Yesterday, Dr. Brown said the monument would be a joint venture between a number of ministries, but would be paid for out of the Transport budget.

"We are mindful of the fact that a monument of this kind should be in an environment that provides comfort and solace for the families who have lost loved ones," said Dr. Brown.

"I can report to date that, the memorial will be on public land and easily accessible, and members of the committee have already travelled the Island from the East to the West scouting out locations. The Marine and Ports Department has worked to establish and update a list of names who should be included in such a memorial, and we will date back as far as we can to ensure that individuals are included. In fact, we are able to go back as far as the 1700s."

And the Minister continued: "The committee hopes that the creative input will come from a cross section of the art community to ensure the look and feel of the memorial captures the essence of those brave individuals who lost their lives at sea."

Dr. Brown said the only criteria for people to be included in the list of the missing or dead was that they were Bermudian and that there is evidence or a record to prove they were lost at sea.

Dr. Brown appealed for any members of the community who have lost loved ones at sea, or anyone who would like to assist in the creation of the monument, to contact his Ministry on 295-3130.

The Minister extended the invitation to enthusiastic school students and any other artists or creative members of the community who would like to contribute.

And he said he hoped the committee would have some more information to give members of the public on the project next month.

However, he said no timeline for the competition of the project, or budget, had been outlined.

He added: "The timeline, as in the Ministry, is always as soon as possible. We want them to do a good job and we want them to do a thorough job. Standing here with me is a lot of brain power (among the committee) and I believe they will get this done in a reasonable period of time."

The committee comprises of Transport permanent secretary Marc Telemaque, community and cultural affairs officer Heather Whalen, Sean Pitcher, of the Bermuda Sailors' Home, fisherman Danny Farias, educator and local artist Shirley Pearman, Masterworks Art Gallery's Tom Butterfield, retired pilot Harold Millett, Government spokeswoman Nea Talbot, and Lieut. Commander Anthoni Lightbourne.