Officials have said that a party boat that capsized in Bahrain last week, killing more than 57 people, was not licensed to sail as a pleasure cruiser. Interior ministry spokesman Col Tariq al-Hassan said that the vessel was registered as a fishing boat, and was only allowed to operate as a floating restaurant, not for cruise charters. Meanwhile, the captain of the boat has been questioned by local police amidst suggestions that he was not qualified to be in charge. It has been reported that the boat capsized because it turned too sharply.

The dhow was hired by South African construction company Murray and Roberts, who were hosting a party celebrating the completion of a massive skyscraper project: the World Trade Centre skyscraper, in Bahrain’s capital, Manama. Many of those on board were employees of the company or involved in the construction and property sector.

Some of the 12 Britons and three people with dual nationality who were killed have been named. They are: Jason James Brett and wife Lucinda Lamb, David Evans, Scott Belch and his wife Sandy, Stephen Grady, Jimmy Allen, Andrew DeBrunner.