Mourners who wish to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Zeebrugge disaster will still be able to access the Prince of Wales pier despite it being closed.

This was confirmed by the Port of Dover which closed the historic pier in January to make way for the Western Docks Revival project, which will include a £120m cargo terminal and marina.

The Herald of Free Enterprise memorial service will take place at St Mary’s Church in Dover on Sunday, March 6, at 2pm.

This will be followed by the annual symbolic gesture of throwing flowers off the pier to mark those who lost their lives when the vessel capsized.

The Townsend Thoresen ferry bound for Dover capsized just outside Zeebrugge harbour on March 6, 1987, after its internal and external bow doors were left open. A total of 193 passengers and crew were killed.

Each year a service is organised by the Sailors Society.

There were fears that this year, the final part of the service would need to be cancelled since the pier is undergoing de-construction.

However, the port said relatives and mourners will be able to access the pier, either by a mini bus service provided by the port, or they will be able to drive themselves, as in previous years.

Doug Kempster, Port of Dover spokesman said: “We are still discussing this with the contractors Graham and safety experts.

“We’ve held back part of the work we’re doing there to make sure people could get up there.

“Throughout the Dover Western Docks Revival works we will do everything we can to make sure this important memorial service will go ahead each year.”

He explained that works are being planned with events and memorial services in mind to cause the least amount of disruption.

No decision has been made yet but one possibility for the future could be to use a boat for casting flowers into the sea.

The service on Sunday, March 6, which will be held 29 years after the disaster, will be led by Rev Mark Warner.

For more information email admin@sailors-society.org