16 seconds until disaster: former skipper details vital moments before Lamma ferry tragedy
Up to about 16 seconds before two ferries collided on National Day in 2012, the deadly disaster could have been averted had either vessel turned away from the other, a manslaughter trial heard yesterday.
Up to about 16 seconds before two ferries collided on National Day in 2012, the deadly disaster could have been averted had either vessel turned away from the other, a manslaughter trial heard yesterday.
The final time at which Hongkong Electric's Lamma IV and Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry's Sea Smooth "could have done something to avoid a collision" was 20:20.01, experienced ship captain Cheung Hon-yee testified as an expert witness for the prosecution in the High Court.
The Sea Smooth rammed into the port side of the Lamma IV at about 20:20.17 off Lamma island on October 1 that year.
Referring to the Lamma IV, Cheung said: "It should have turned to its full starboard side because it was not reducing speed." By doing so, he said, the Sea Smooth would be able to pass at the stern of the other ferry.
Similarly, the Sea Smooth should have turned to its "full starboard side" and still maintained its speed without incident, he said.
Its skipper Lai Sai-ming could have done so by turning the electro-hydraulic tiller - which, according to Cheung, would make the vessel respond swifter than using the wheel.