Lamma ferry tragedy trial told of collision rules

Ship captains who realise they are facing a head-on collision with another vessel should turn to starboard to avert danger, a seasoned mariner told the manslaughter trial of two captains at the centre of the Lamma ferry tragedy.

Captain Cheung Hon-yee said he was talking about maritime rules in general rather than the details of the October 1, 2012 collision, which claimed 39 lives. The prosecution had earlier told the High Court that one of the two vessels involved, Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry's Sea Smooth, veered to its port side before colliding with Hongkong Electric's Lamma IV.

Under cross-examination by James Turner QC, for Lamma IV skipper Chow Chi-wai, Cheung said the starboard rule for head-on collisions was contained in the international Collision Regulations for mariners.

A captain also had a responsibility to turn to starboard if he realised his ship was likely to hit another vessel from the side if he continued on his present course. The other vessel could maintain course and speed.

Cheung answered in the affirmative when Turner put it to him that: "If a mariner is in doubt whether it is a crossing or head-on situation, he has to assume it is a head-on situation."

The court also heard that both Chow and Sea Smooth coxswain Lai Sai-ming had navigated the waters off Lamma "hundreds, if not thousands, of times".