Low wages and long hours holding back sea safety, Hong Kong ferry operator says

Several measures have been put in place to ensure safer navigation in Hong Kong waters after the 2012 sea tragedy that claimed 39 lives, ferry operators told the Post.

But manpower shortage remains a stumbling block to improving the industry, said one operator. Few people want to join as crew members because of the poor wages and long hours and this has an impact on operations, said Ken Wong Hon-kuen, director of operator Peng Chau Kaito.

In 2013, the Marine Department announced five measures, including requiring vessels that carry more than 100 passengers to have a lookout on the bridge at night and in reduced visibility, and vessels to have a master list so that every crew member is aware of his duties in case of emergency. The changes were implemented in November.

Other measures are: setting a minimum number of crew required in specific emergency situations, requiring the vessel's name to be printed on every life jacket, and watertight doors with alarms below the main deck to be fitted to the wheelhouse.

The Marine Department said last week it is planning to implement various other improvement measures this year, including enhancing the training of coxswains, requiring coxswains to undergo regular medical examinations, and devising guidelines on rest arrangements of crew.

But Wong of Peng Chau Kaito feared that the measures will just have too few hands to implement them given the manpower shortage facing the industry.