The captain of a passenger ferry has been convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years in jail for his role in the fatal 2012 Lamma ferry disaster near Hong Kong in which 39 people lost their lives. Captain Lai Sai-ming was Master of the Sea Smooth commuter ferry on October 1, 2012 when it struck the passenger vessel Lamma IV, causing the Lamma IV to sink and … [Read more...]
Two Charged With Manslaughter In Hong Kong Ferry Disaster
HONG KONG, April 11 (Reuters) - Hong Kong police charged two boat captains with manslaughter on Thursday in connection with a ferry collision last year that killed 39 people in the city's worst maritime disaster in decades. The two were released on HK$20,000 ($2,600) bail each on condition they do not leave Hong Kong. The case was adjourned to May 9. A commuter ferry and … [Read more...]
Crew Involved in Hong Kong Ferry Disaster May Face Manslaughter Charges
The head of a commission tasked with investigating Hong Kong's worst maritime disaster in a generation ruled Friday that a series of public hearings can begin next week, despite objections from the city's chief prosecutor, who indicated he may bring manslaughter charges against crew members. Chief prosecutor Kevin Zervos had argued earlier that week that public hearings on … [Read more...]
Hong Kong to Tighten Maritime Safety in Wake of Disaster
Ten days after a devastating maritime accident killed 39 people in Hong Kong, the city's marine department said it has stepped up safety checks of boats and is considering more efforts to improve safety, including tighter regulations on the provision of lifesaving equipment. The Oct. 1 tragedy--which occurred when a commuter ferry collided with a boat filled with families en … [Read more...]
Hong Kong Ferry Crash Highlights Industry’s Woes
HONG KONG—Concerns over long work hours for ferry crews after last week's deadly crash highlight the difficulty in this Chinese city of attracting new talent to the industry, an unusual paradox given Hong Kong's historic role as a global shipping center. Last Monday night, a high-speed commuter ferry collided with a boat filled with workers and their families on a … [Read more...]
Hong Kong Mourns as Search is Suspended for Missing Ferry Disaster Victims, Death Toll Rises to 39
HONG KONG--A young girl hospitalized in critical condition after Hong Kong's worst maritime disaster in a generation succumbed to her injuries late Friday after a four-day fight, raising the death toll from the tragedy to 39. The girl, Tsui Hoi-ying, was 10 years old, the Hospital Authority said, and died around 9 p.m. local time Friday. She had been thrown into the water … [Read more...]
Investigators Probe Hong Kong Ferry Disaster
HONG KONG--Investigators are probing a number of possible causes to Hong Kong's worst maritime disaster in 40 years, including whether the high-speed ferry that collided with a boat packed with families on Monday had been going faster than usual or deviated from its normal course. As residents on Thursday participated in mourning rites across the city and ships sounded long … [Read more...]