A mainland ferry operator will be subject to its fifth crash investigation in four years following another collision in Hong Kong waters yesterday.
Chu Kong Shipping's high-speed catamaran Hoi Bin collided with a kaito while en route to Zhuhai. None of the 193 passengers was hurt despite the crash tearing a two-metre by 1.5-metre gash in the catamaran.
The masters of both vessels have to submit reports to the Marine Department this morning. The accident took place at 9.55 am off the western outlying island of Shek Kwu Chau.
Vessel Traffic Services general manager Francis Liu Han-por said visibility had been reduced to 1.6 kilometres in the vicinity.
'The danger depends on vessels' speed,' he said. 'But we're not sure about those. The catamarans have a maximum speed of 30-40 knots.' Assisted by Marine Police and marine department officials, 188 passengers were transferred to another ferry to Zhuhai. Five people, shaken up by the crash, chose to return to the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui on a police launch.
A spokesman for Chu Kong Shipping Company said last night: 'It was just a minor collision, it was not so serious. It was very foggy.' In March last year, another of the company's catamarans collided with a tug, injuring four.