AN UNDERWATER survey to remove any lingering doubts about the fate of the trawler Gaul will be held in the summer, it was been announced.

Ever since the Hull-registered vessel went down in 1974 in the Barents Sea with the loss of 36 crewmen, including six from the North-East, rumours have persisted that the ship was involved in espionage and that Russians may have been responsible for its sinking.

The Government last night announced Aberdeen-based firm Halliburton Subsea had been chosen as the main contractor for the survey in summer 2002.

The survey will seek to remove any doubts surrounding the sinking of the Gaul by supplementing existing photographic evidence - and it will search for any forensic samples to establish identity using DNA profiling.

The probe will also seek to establish the truth of allegations that the Gaul could have been engaged in intelligence gathering.

Aubrey Bowles of Wallsend, Newcastle, whose brother 22-year-old Ronald was on board the Gaul, said: "We still would have preferred a manned dive - which the Government has not agreed to.

"We just hope that this time we'll come up with answers that will end the anguish and uncertainty of not knowing what happened."

Shipping minister David Jamieson said: "My department is funding this survey in support of the re-opened formal investigation into the loss of the Gaul which is being conducted by Mr Justice Steel.

"In May, the deputy Prime Minister again made it clear he could not support a manned dive on safety grounds. I am in complete agreement with him.

"I hope it will be of some comfort to the Gaul families that both we and Halliburton will be doing all we can to meet the objectives of the survey which were agreed by the families. Although, of course, there can be no guarantee of success."

Mr Jamision said the first aim of the survey would be to collect video images that explained the loss of the vessel, before work began on the other objectives which would require the evidence to be disturbed.

Representatives of the families will be aboard the survey vessel when it sets sail next summer.

The Gaul families will have an opportunity to learn more about the survey and put questions to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch at a meeting in Hull in the New Year.