Lamma ferry disaster: Hong Kong lacks marine training, says union chief

A trade union chief yesterday criticised a lack of training in the local marine industry and long working hours in some ferry companies.

The criticism by Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council chairman Lee Kwok-keung came at the end of 48 days of evidence to the commission of inquiry into the Lamma sea tragedy. Lawyers' final submissions will be heard on Monday.

Lee, the last of 110 witnesses, said a new class had not been held since 2007 for deckhands or for those wanting to advance to coxswain.

"The companies operating local vessels have repeatedly alerted the Marine Department in the last few years about the lack of provision of training courses."

Lee said this was one reason for a manpower problem in the local industry that was short of 80 seafarers while the government injected HK$28 million into training for ocean-going crew.

The union leader also called for a mandatory lookout on passenger vessels.

"It seems that there is a culture that the masters and coxswains of local vessels are not accustomed to maintain a proper lookout," he said.