I'm really not sure where the Lamma couple quoted in a South China Morning Post article on 2 October 2013 were looking when they said they'd checked for children's life jackets on the ferry but couldn't find them anywhere. As these two pictures taken this week show there are very obvious notices as to where the life jackets for children are stored plus a diagram on how to fit them - on both "Sea Superior" and "Sea Superb" at least.

I know HKKF get a lot of bad press - and quite rightly so in a lot of instances (this could be one of them as they are no crew member names displayed! Again.) - but to say you've "gone hunting for children's life vests a couple of times .... but there was no information as to where the jackets actually were, and that seems like a very bad policy to me" is clearly not warranted. I find it hard to believe that anyone could miss these signs - especially if you are actively looking for them! - and let's face it there aren't actually that many places to "hunt" on the ferry are there? So, open your eyes "Lamma Couple" and see what is there - within plain view and clear as day!

They couldn't ask the crew, other passengers, or the pier staff?

Anyway, if you live on an island, learn to swim. It may come in handy.

I think sentence one would have sufficed there Alan.

No, I'm serious.

The Lamma IV collision and sinking happened much too fast for anyone to find or put on a life jacket, in the dark with the cabin upended. If you aren't injured and the boat is going down your best bet is to get out and swim. Rescue should arrive in local waters in minutes if you can keep your head above water.

More common accidents, like falling overboard, are also survivable if you can swim.

give this one up alan you seem heartless and dumb

How heartless of me to suggest swimming to safety.

You should just hold your breath while you try to find the life jacket underwater in an upside down cabin in the dark.
That's the sensible thing to do.

What he means Alan is that you are suggesting it after the fact. But yes, ofcourse knowing how to swim might save you from drowning. Having said that, a fair number of victims in this tragedy were trapped under debris.

No, I'm suggesting what actions people might take to give themselves, and their kids, a better chance if there should be accident in the future.


So? Does knowing how to swim make that more likely?

On Lamma IV they had no chance, whether they had a life jacket or were Olympic swimmers.
But the next accident might be more survivable.

I get tired of people taking offence if I try to discuss safety rationally.
Why am I such a jerk for suggesting people learn to swim when they travel daily on a ferry?
Life jackets are completely useless unless you have the time to find, unpack and strap them on. You don't have any time at all in a collision.