carrier sank have started legal proceedings for compensation over their deaths.

Two widows of dead crewmen and a survivor of the disaster have issued a writ against the owners and operators of the Leader L , which sank 400 miles northeast of Bermuda ten days ago.

The three, all Romanian, are claiming against Leoninus Shipping Ltd. and Caro d'oro Shipping Ltd. for damages in respect of the deaths and personal injury stemming from the incident.

It is not known how much is being claimed but the issuing of the writ comes just days after a compensation deal was settled with the survivors of the tragedy.

Twelve survivors from the vessel remain in Bermuda pending travel arrangements to send them home.

One crewman, a Romanian who was treated in hospital for leg injuries and is thought to be named in the legal action, has been repatriated.

The remaining survivors, two Indian and ten Filipino, are expected to be flown home this week. They are currently staying at the White Sands Hotel in Paget.

The writ, filed on Friday, lists the plaintiffs as Mihaela Olteanu (suing as widow and lawful relict of Chivu Olteanu deceased), Michela-Elena Vartic (suing as widow and lawful relict of Laurentiu Vartic deceased) and Mihia Dragoi.

The law firm representing the trio is Mello, Jones and Martin.

Kelvin Hastings-Smith, the lawyer acting for owners Leoninus Shipping, said officials from the company and flag state Panama are still on the Island as the investigation continues.

The bodies of the six dead crewmen recovered from the sinking are now at an Island funeral home, pending their removal to their families.

The remainder of the dead are believed to have gone down with the 776-foot vessel which sank in under a minute after taking on water in its holds.

Conflicting theories on the cause of the disaster have suggested weak hull sections, possibly known from previous voyages, human error or even the weather may have played a part.

Yesterday, the London-based Lloyds List newspaper reported that the Polish Registry of Shipping, where the vessel was classed, stated the ship was "in good condition''.

The registry has requested video footage shot by Canadian Coast Guard aircraft, which may show final pictures of the ship before it sank -- and provide vital clues to its loss.

Findings of the inquiry are likely to be made public within two to three months.

COURTS CTS