Survivors of the Al Dana dhow tragedy say they have given up on Bahrain's legal system after their five-year battle for compensation was delayed again.

During a hearing at the High Civil Court yesterday, the judge adjourned the trial to February 15 to summon the vessel's captain, Rajendra Kumar Ramjibhai, who is believed to be in India.

It was the second time the court had requested he be called to Bahrain through an announcement in the Official Gazette.

The Indian was earlier convicted of manslaughter and jailed for three years before being deported.

None of the survivors were present in court.

'There is nothing we can do now,' said one of the group, who did not wish to be named.

'The general impression from all the survivors is that there is no point attending these court hearings as they are a total waste of time.

'We can fight all we want, we can take out time from work to go to court but at the end of the day the judicial system is failing.

'Every time I go to court, it just brings up more memories of the incident and I don't want to experience them again, I just want to move on and forget about it.

'Ultimately this trial was not about the money, it was about justice being rightfully delivered and this clearly is not going to happen.'

Another survivor echoed similar opinions about the trial.

'There is no use for us to be in court,' he said.

'What is the point of us being there when all that's going to happen is for it to be delayed again and again and again?'

'We are not happy at all about this and are giving up hope.'

Compensation

Fifty-eight people died when the dhow capsized during a Nass, Murray and Roberts party to celebrate the completion of work at the Bahrain World Trade Centre on March 30, 2006.

The South African company hired the vessel from Island Tours, which leased it from Abdulla Al Kobaisi Company for Travel and Tourism.

Al Kobaisi was earlier convicted of manslaughter and jailed for five years.

However, he was spared prison after offering to compensate survivors and relatives of the victims.

Ramjibhai was released earlier due to good behaviour and deported to India.

Forty-six survivors, including Bahrainis, Britons, South Africans, Indians, Pakistanis, Filipino, Thai and Taiwanese, are involved in separate civil claims for compensation.-TradeArabia News Service