SHIPWORKERS involved in building the new SeaFrance ferry were among those who took part in a minute's silence to pay tribute to the 15 people killed in an accident on the Queen Mary 2 liner.

The SeaFrance ship, to be called SeaFrance Berloiz, is a sister ship to the SeaFrance Rodin, and is being built at the same place where the accident happened on Saturday, the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire.

As well as the 15 dead, another 30 people were injured when the 10-metre walkway from the quayside to the ship collapsed. It had been constructed the day before it broke.

Two groups of families were being shown around the liner when the tragedy happened. The victims landed on the concrete floor of the dry dock after a fall of almost 15 metres.

Residents and shipworkers in the French port of Saint Nazaire paid tribute to those who died. Foghorns sounded, church bells tolled and thousands gathered for a minute's silence.

French President Jacques Chirac has visited the site to offer his condolences to families of the victims.