Spate of recent crashes is on the agenda for safety talks with the mainland
Hong Kong marine officials will raise safety issues with mainland counterparts after a spate of sea collisions involving mainland masters this year - including three yesterday.
Fog that blanketed Victoria Harbour has been partly blamed for the collisions yesterday morning, but the Marine Department is investigating whether any vessels were in the wrong shipping lane or travelling at an unsafe speed.
One of the accidents between a mainland catamaran and a Hong Kong barge, which injured 15 people, happened near the scene of a similar crash last month.
Ship masters have been warned to exercise extreme caution when travelling in Hong Kong waters. More fog has been forecast for today and humid, rainy weather is expected over the next few days.
A Marine Department spokesman said its representatives would raise safety issues with their mainland counterparts at a forthcoming meeting. The department will also try to get the safety message across to mainland crews through local shipping agencies as well as forums and seminars.
