Tanker crew applications could hold back mission
Diaoyu activists who plan to leave for the islands on Sunday may experience delays because of the time required to process extra-crew applications.
Marine officer Lau Chi-shing criticised the activists, led by David Chan Yuk-cheung, for not supplying them with information about the tanker they have hired.
The Marine Department has contacted Mr Chan's agent, but received no response. It was not even told of the tanker's name.
According to Mr Lau, only ship masters and ship crew could set sail on a cargo tanker.
Those who are outside these two categories would need to apply to be an 'extra crew member'. There is a separate category for passengers, but it is rarely applied to cargo tankers.
The applications would have to be handled by an agent and individual applicants were required to be at the Mercantile Marine Office in person to sign required documents. It could take up to two days to process the applications if there were 50-plus passengers.
Mr Chan, of the Worldwide Chinese Alliance in Protection of the Diaoyu Islands, planned to sail to the islands on Sunday to dismantle the Japanese-built lighthouse.
The tanker was originally scheduled to arrive this morning, but will be delayed for seven hours because of Typhoon Willy.
Liberal legislators Tsang Kin-shing and Lee Cheuk-yan will make an attempt to sail to the islands from Taiwan when they visit Taipei tomorrow.
Mr Tsang said the trip, which took about four hours, was meant to be a precursor to the trip from Hong Kong on October 5.
'Even if we land on the islands, we will not dismantle the lighthouse, this task will be reserved for the 100 or so people who have signed up for our trip,' he said.
Mr Tsang's group of about 10 will join the New Party group led by Taipei County Councillor Ching Jie-shou in making the voyage.
They will try to explore the problems encountered during the trip in order to be better prepared for the one next month.
