Rubber tyre floating in sea suspected of causing Macau-Hong Kong high-speed ferry crash that injured 124 passengers

A one metre-diameter rubber tyre was retrieved near the site of a Macau-Hong Kong high-speed ferry crash this morning, prompting investigators to look into whether it caused an accident which left 124 passengers in hospital.

The tyre is believed to be a vessel fender, used to prevent damage during berthing, which fell into the sea. It was sighted floating by a Government Flying Service helicopter off Siu A Chau in the Soko Islands during a search shortly after 10am today.

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A marine police launch was then deployed to pick up the tyre before it was handed over to the Marine Department to investigate if it was linked to the crash, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

“Although it is made of rubber, it could have caused a heavy impact force as the ferry slammed into it,” the source said.

He said that so far, the tyre was the only floating object sighted near the site of the accident.

The Turbojet ferry, named Horta, was carrying 163 passengers and 11 crew on the way from Macau to Hong Kong when the accident happened at about 7pm last night.