Sea Smooth crashed halfway into Lamma IV: forensic scientist
Smears of deep blue paint were left near the centreline of the sunken vessel, says government forensic scientist in report
The Sea Smooth public ferry plunged as deep as halfway into private motor launch Lamma IV, crushing rows of chairs on the vessel's main deck cabin in the collision, a commission of inquiry into the October 1 tragedy heard yesterday.
The process of the collision and damage to both vessels were detailed yesterday as the commission went through a government laboratory report.
Government forensic scientist Dr Cheng Yuk-ki, who had examined both vessels, reported that the Sea Smooth's port bow came into contact with the Lamma IV's port quarter at an angle of 30 degrees.
"The foredeck of Sea Smooth had breached the side panel of the main deck cabin of Lamma IV, and went in and reached the centreline of the main deck cabin, crushing the seats and air-conditioning system … and causing the collapse of a large piece of ceiling frame," Cheng said.
Smears of deep blue paint were found at the ceiling frame near the Lamma IV's centreline, indicating that the Sea Smooth had gone almost 3.5 metres into the vessel when they collided. The distance was half the breadth of the Lamma IV.
At almost the same time, the Sea Smooth's port bow pierced the Lamma IV's port quarter, ripping a slanted 4.4-metre-long gash in its engine room hull and leaving a piece of its own fibreboard planking behind.
The Sea Smooth's broken keel - the hardest part of a ship - also pierced a large jagged hole in the tank room of the Lamma IV before the impact between the two vessel's cabins stopped the Sea Smooth from moving further forward into the Lamma IV, thus disengaging the two ferries.