2012 Lamma Island ferry collision

Maritime disaster in Hong Kong April 2020 December 2018 2012 Lamma Island ferry collision 香港南丫海難 zh_hk File:LammaIV-01.JPG Lamma IV after her recovery, showing severe damage to her port side 2012 10 01 y 20:23 HKT (UTC+08:00)At least 38 killed in Hong Kong's deadliest ferry accident in decades https://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/02/world/asia/hong-kong-ferry-crash/index.html 2 October 2012 CNN 2 October 2012 Armstrong Paul Jethro Mullen Half a mile off Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island, Hong Kong 22 14 8 N 114 6 14 E region:HK_type:event inline,title Collision Sinking of Lamma IV, Sea Smooth damaged 92兩涉案船長 共被控78項誤殺罪 http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20130412/18225531 23 June 2013 Apple Daily 12 April 2013香港南丫島撞船事故兩人被控誤殺 http://www.apdnews.com/news/24310.html 23 June 2013 Asia Pacific Daily 11 April 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130528201809/http://www.apdnews.com/news/24310.html 28 May 2013 live dmy 39List of the 39 deceased in the Lamma ferry disaster https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1125731/list-39-deceased-lamma-ferry-disaster 23 June 2013 South China Morning Post 11 January 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130908061232/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1125731/list-39-deceased-lamma-ferry-disaster 8 September 2013 live dmy Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Collision of Vessels near Lamma Island on 1 October 2012https://www.gov.hk/en/theme/coi-lamma/pdf/COI_Report.pdf Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Collision of Vessels near Lamma Island on 1 October 2012 The Honourable Mr Justice Michael Lunn, JA Mr Benjamin Tang, GBS, JP April 2013 2022-08-21 https://www.coi-lamma.gov.hk/eng/index.html On 1 October 2012, at approximately 20:23 HKT, the passenger ferries Sea Smooth and Lamma IV collided off Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island, Hong Kong. This occurred on the National Day of the People's Republic of China, and one of the ships was headed for the commemorative firework display, scheduled to take place half an hour later. With 39 killed and 92 injured, the incident was the deadliest maritime disaster in Hong Kong since 1971. On 14 February 2015, Sea Smooth′s captain Lai Sai-ming was convicted of 39 counts of manslaughter over the deaths, while Lamma IV′s captain Chow Chi-wai was acquitted of the same charges by the High Court. Both men were found guilty of endangering the safety of others at sea.Sea Smooth skipper convicted of manslaughter as Lamma ferry captain cleared of same charges https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1710671/lamma-fery-verdicts-skipper-acquitted-first-count-manslaughter 14 February 2015 South China Morning Post 14 February 2015Hong Kong 2012 ferry disaster: Captain convicted https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-31468706 14 February 2015 BBC News 14 February 2015 On 16 February, Lai and Chow were sentenced to eight years' and nine months' imprisonment respectively. http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?hightlight&20150216&56&1077647 Lamma ferry captain jailed for eight years 16 February 2015 RTHK 16 February 2015 Background thumb|right|Sea Smooth after the collision, showing damage on the left bow The accident involved a Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry-operated passenger ferry, Sea Smooth (海泰號), and a Hongkong Electric Company-owned vessel, Lamma IV (南丫四號), with 121 passengers and 3 crew members on board. The passenger ferry was travelling from Central to Yung Shue Wan, while the Hongkong Electric Company vessel was travelling from Lamma Island to Central. Passengers on Lamma IV were on a one-day tour organised by the company, and were headed to Central for the fireworks display commemorating the National Day of the PRC following a tour of the Lamma Power Station.Death toll of HK ship collision rises to 38; six crew detained http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-10/02/c_131885711.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20121006062355/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-10/02/c_131885711.htm dead 6 October 2012 2 October 2012 Xinhua 2 October 2012 Participants of the tour mostly joined as families, and as a result there were a number of children among the passengers. Accident At approximately 20:23, the bow of Sea Smooth collided with the stern of Lamma IV on her port side,Cause of accident failure to yield (Chinese) http://news.cn.yahoo.com/ypen/20121004/1344449.html 4 October 2012 https://archive.today/20130106004659/http://news.cn.yahoo.com/ypen/20121004/1344449.html 6 January 2013 dead dmy-all rupturing two of the latter ship's watertight compartments which quickly flooded.Why the Lamma IV sank so quickly South China Morning Post 3 October 2012 Wong, Olga Lee, Ada Lamma IV soon capsized with her aft sinking into the sea. The vessel reportedly went down so quickly that more than 100 passengers were thrown into the water unprotected despite an abundance of life vests on board. Sea Smooth''' left the scene after the accident and continued on to Yung Shue Wan pier. The front of Sea Smooth was damaged and its captain was also sent to the local hospital after the accident, along with several passengers, for injuries.July 2022 Casualties A total of 39 people were killed in the accident, all from Lamma IV. 30 were pronounced dead at the scene, while eight others were pronounced dead upon arrival at hospitals.Vessel collision incident near Lamma Island (3) https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201210/02/P201210020517.htm 5 October 2012 Hong Kong Government 2 October 2012 one passenger died in hospital on 5 October.Ferry disaster death toll rises to 39 http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?hightlight&20121005&56&874323. 5 October 2012 RTHK 5 October 2012 92 people on both vessels were injured, four of whom sustained severe injuries. While the Hongkong Electric company claimed 124 people were on Lamma IV, police suspected that there might have been more on board as company employees were allowed to invite their own friends.zh:兩船長疑鹵莽害38命 Careless driving by 2 captains took 38 lives zh https://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E5%85%A9%E8%88%B9%E9%95%B7%E7%96%91%E9%B9%B5%E8%8E%BD%E5%AE%B338%E5%91%BD-220814168.html 3 October 2012 Singtao Daily 3 October 2012 As a result, the number of people missing remained unknown.Hong Kong fatal boat collision leads to arrests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19797588 2 October 2012 BBC News 2 October 20127 crew arrested in deadly Hong Kong boat collision http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/7-crew-arrested-in-deadly-Hong-Kong-boat-collision-3911400.php 3 October 2012 San Francisco Chronicle 2 October 2012 Rescue efforts An air-and-sea rescue effort was initiated. The Fire Services Department deployed 10 launches, including a diving support vessel and mobilised 350 officers, including fire and ambulance personnel and more than 60 ambulances (including ambulances from St John Ambulance and Auxiliary Medical Service).(translated from Chinese) 1000 rescuers from across departments http://news.mingpao.com/20121003/gan3_image1.htm 3 October 2012 Ming Pao 3 October 2012(initial report) Vessel collision incident near Lamma Island https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201210/02/P201210020107.htm 3 October 2012 Hong Kong Government 2 October 2012 The injured were taken to five hospitals around Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government had requested help from the nearby Guangdong province to aid in search-and-rescue, but external resources were not deployed at all as domestic resources were seen as adequate by the rescue forces.October 2012 Investigation Initial speculations on the cause of the accident included speeding and overloading. However, witnesses on Lamma IV claimed that the ship was cruising at a steady speed. Overloading was also ruled out as the vessel had a capacity of 200 passengers. Andy Tsang, the Commissioner of Police, stated that seven crew members of the vessels were arrested the day after the accident, for "endangering people's lives at sea".Seven ferry crew arrested South China Morning Post 3 October 2012 Lo, Clifford Cheung, Simpson Wong, Olga Lee, Ada Wei, LoArrests over deadly Hong Kong ferry collision https://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/10/20121020201019674.html 2 October 2012 Al Jazeera 2 October 2012 A commission of inquiry was formed to investigate the cause of the accident. The Commission of Inquiry into the Collision of Vessels near Lamma Island on 1 October 2012, with Justice Michael Lunn as Chairman and Benjamin Tang as Commissioner, was appointed by the Chief Executive in Council to inquire into the facts and circumstances leading to and surrounding the collision. The Commission of Inquiry submitted its report to the Chief Executive on 19 April 2013.The Commission of Inquiry into the Collision of Vessels near Lamma Island on 1 October 2012 https://www.coi-lamma.gov.hk/eng/index.html 30 April 2013 The full report is available on the website of the Commission.Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Collision of Vessels near Lamma Island on 1 October 2012 https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr12-13/english/panels/edev/papers/edev0527-rpt20130430-e.pdf Commission of Inquiry into the Collision of Vessels near Lamma Island on 1 October 2012 April 2013 The Hong Kong Police crime statistics for 2013 included the 39 killed as part of the city's overall murder rate for the year in the annual Crime in Hong Kong reports.Murders grip the attention in Hong Kong https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1630194/murders-grip-attention-hong-kong-one-worlds-safest-cities?page=all South China Morning Post 2 November 2014 1 February 2016 Reactions Hongkong Electric thumb|Chief Executive Leung and other government officials observe three minutes of silence outside the Central Government Complex in Tamar, while the flags of Hong Kong and China are flown at half-mast thumb|Mourners signed the condolence book at the Central ferry pier for ferries to Lamma Island. On 2 October, the flags of Cheung Kong Group companies were all flown at half-mast at the Cheung Kong Center, headquarters of Hongkong Electric's parent company.Chen Te-Ping Dozens Die as Two Hong Kong Boats Crash https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444592404578030472606858726?mod=googlenews_wsj 2 October 2012 The Wall Street Journal 2 October 2012 Hongkong Electric confirmed that seven of those who died were staff of the Company. HK Electric announced that families of each of the deceased would receive a HK$200,000 emergency relief.Press Release [2 October 2012 9:00pm] http://www.hkelectric.com/web/MediaCentre/PressRelease/Year2012/2-02102012_en.htm 2 October 2012 Hongkong Electric 3 October 2012 Li Ka Shing, who controls HK Electric, immediately returned to the city the next morning. It was announced that the Li Ka Shing Foundation would set aside a total of HK$30 million for victims and their families that would be in addition to the emergency relief already offered by HKE to the families of the deceased.Chan, Candy (3 October 2012). "Funds for victims as Li rushes back" https://archive.today/20130107185537/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=126951&sid=37801900&con_type=1&d_str=20121003&isSearch=1&sear_year=2012 7 January 2013 Hong Kong Government Three days of mourning were declared by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, starting on 4 October, during which the flag of Hong Kong was flown at half-mast on all government buildings. On 4 October, Leung, along with other government officials, observed three minutes of silence outside the Central Government Offices at 12:00. Schools and other public offices also observed a moment of silence.Hong Kong mourns victims of Lamma Island boat collision https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-19824735 4 October 2012 BBC News 4 October 2012 Condolence points were set up in each of the 18 districts during the mourning period.Condolence points set up to mourn victims https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201210/02/P201210020573.htm 3 October 2012 Hong Kong Government 3 October 2012 The government cancelled the 2013 National Day Fireworks as a result of the incident. Others On 2 October, British Prime Minister David Cameron sent Chief Executive Leung his condolences.https://www.number10.gov.uk/news/pm-sends-condolences-to-chief-executive-of-hong-kong/ PM sends condolences to Chief Executive of Hong Kong Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union, also expressed her sadness and sent her condolences through a spokesman.https://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E6%AD%90%E7%9B%9F%E5%93%80%E6%82%BC%E9%81%87%E9%9B%A3%E8%80%85-042800080.html Condolences from the EU Controversies The decision by the captain of Sea Smooth to leave the scene sparked a heated debate, namely whether saving oneself, or risking oneself for the others has a high priority.Should you save yourself or others in a collision: a legal and moral debate (Chinese) http://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E6%92%9E%E8%88%B9%E6%95%91%E4%BA%BA%E6%88%96%E5%85%88%E8%87%AA%E6%95%91-%E6%B3%95%E5%BE%8B%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B7%E5%85%B7%E7%88%AD%E8%AD%B0-224632742.html 5 October 2012 3 October 2012 5 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121005212717/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E6%92%9E%E8%88%B9%E6%95%91%E4%BA%BA%E6%88%96%E5%85%88%E8%87%AA%E6%95%91-%E6%B3%95%E5%BE%8B%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B7%E5%85%B7%E7%88%AD%E8%AD%B0-224632742.html dead At first, reports stated that the captain continued on to the pier out of passenger request and out of fear that Sea Smooth'' herself might sink, but later reports also claimed that some passengers urged the captain to stop.渡輪客呼停船 船長不理 收集救生衣 擬拋海救人(Chinese) http://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E6%B8%A1%E8%BC%AA%E5%AE%A2%E5%91%BC%E5%81%9C%E8%88%B9-%E8%88%B9%E9%95%B7%E4%B8%8D%E7%90%86-%E6%94%B6%E9%9B%86%E6%95%91%E7%94%9F%E8%A1%A3-%E6%93%AC%E6%8B%8B%E6%B5%B7%E6%95%91%E4%BA%BA-212119092.html 5 October 2012 3 October 2012 5 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121005015936/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E6%B8%A1%E8%BC%AA%E5%AE%A2%E5%91%BC%E5%81%9C%E8%88%B9-%E8%88%B9%E9%95%B7%E4%B8%8D%E7%90%86-%E6%94%B6%E9%9B%86%E6%95%91%E7%94%9F%E8%A1%A3-%E6%93%AC%E6%8B%8B%E6%B5%B7%E6%95%91%E4%BA%BA-212119092.html dead In the few days following the accident, the captain had remained emotionally unstable even after being discharged from the hospital.Captain of Sea Smooth discharged, emotionally unstable (Chinese) https://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E6%B5%B7%E6%B3%B0%E8%88%B9%E9%95%B7%E5%87%BA%E9%99%A2-%E9%8C%84%E5%8F%A3%E4%BE%9B%E6%83%85%E7%B7%92%E6%9C%AA%E7%A9%A9-223000610.html 5 October 2012 3 October 2012 After he was informed of the accident, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying immediately set out to the scene to oversee the rescue efforts.https://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20121002/00176_010.html Leung overseeing rescue on scene 5 October 2012 2 October 2012 Oriental Daily Some mediaOctober 2012 suggested it was a "political show", and said that his presence might have actually slowed down the rescue. Leung was also criticised by pro-democracy supporters for his decision to ask for help from Mainland China through the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government, despite the abundance of manpower and resources already in Hong Kong. ManyOctober 2012 saw this as increased influence and reliance on the Central government, a change from the previous Tsang administration.Looking at Hong Kong-Chinese relationship from disaster http://www.vjmedia.com.hk/articles/2012/10/02/20887 5 October 2012 2 October 2012 Also, despite Leung's clarification that no ship from Mainland China had been deployed in the rescue, on 3 October Mainland China's China News Service reported that "95 people had been rescued by the professional Chinese rescue fleet".Ferry crash response revives distrust between Hong Kong and mainland China http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/china/121003/ferry-crash-response-revives-distrust-between-hong-k 5 October 2012 Carlson, Benjamin Global Post 3 October 2012 The news agency later deleted the number rescued, but the report had not been fully withdrawn and the claim remained that Chinese ships had helped in the rescue.95 rescued in a dubious claim by Chinese News Service http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20121003/18031122 5 October 2012 3 October 2012 Apple Daily References External links Commission of Inquiry into the Collision of Vessels near Lamma Island on 1 October 2012 English PDF report (original), Traditional Chinese PDF translated report Marine Department "Report of a Public Inquiry, Convened Pursuant to s 17, Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance Cap 548." "Paper No. 1/2012 LOCAL VESSELS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting of Joint Sub-committee on Class I and Class IV Vessels Traffic control and safety measures for fireworks displays and other major events ." Category:Maritime incidents in 2012 Category:2012 in Hong Kong Category:Ships sunk in collisions Category:Ferries Category:Shipwrecks of Hong Kong Category:Maritime incidents in Hong Kong