Skipper's radar alert before crash
Captain believed to have underestimated length of barge being pulled by tugboat in thick fog
The ferry that collided with a barge in thick fog on Friday night, leaving 39 people injured, did see a vessel on its radar but the crew are believed to have underestimated its length.
The barge was said to have been travelling slowly and was being towed by a tugboat when it was in collision with the high-speed First Ferry III north of Cheung Chau.
Little information about the barge had emerged last night. The Marine Department believed it had been loaded with soil for dumping and was being towed by a tugboat from Kellett Anchorage No 2 towards a dumping ground south of Cheung Chau.
New World First Ferry Services, whose ferry was taking dozens of people from Central to Cheung Chau when the accident occurred at about 9.30pm, said the skipper reported seeing a vessel on radar and tried to avoid it.
It is not clear if he slowed down or tried to steer around it.
"Radar can show the presence of an object but cannot indicate its width or length," said the company's spokeswoman.
Three of the injured were initially said to be in serious condition, but by yesterday their condition had improved to stable. A further 16 remained in stable condition; the remainder were discharged from hospital.