International media coverage of the disaster:

28 Internet stories with the keywords "Lamma Island" - News, Blogs, Web and Videos - from the last 7 days, courtesy of Google Alert.

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

I'm not forcing them to respond. I just want them to know that I would like an answer to my email.

What happened involved two members of the ferry staff, who obviously weren't doing their job.

I'm not about to hold all HKKF staff accountable, for one person's actions (or lack thereof). That would be 'tarring everyone with the same brush' and I don't do that.

I'm interested in a response, and to see if there have been changes, and more safety awareness.

Cabin staff are now in the cabins, instead of the captain/pilot area. So changes are being made. (not due to my email I'm sure.... I doubt that they have even gotten around to my email??) I'm sure they are inundated with emails.

This is why I have decided to give it a few days. Rest assured, I am more than willing (and do) to point out glaring safety errors when I see them.

Last night at the YSW ferry pier, my 2 quick snapshots while I'm working on another Lamma-zine photo gallery, including a fiery Taoist Condolences Ceremony at the actual crash site, same time, 9 days later....

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

Tannery Beach, this Sunday morning, all photos by our Pak Kok Correspondent, taken with his iPhone 5, uploaded via Facebook.

It looks like they're preparing to lift the Lamma IV out of the water, 2 hoists attached so far, at least 2 more to go, pumping out the water, then hoisting it.
More photos of the slow progress from passersby would be appreciated.

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

"Goodbye, Lamma IV" - by Marcus - iPhone 5, via Facebook.

Will it join the "Sea Smooth" in Yaumatei?

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

I went by Tannery Beach this evening, around the time the photo was taken. The Lamma IV was out and already cradled on the big crane barge. Didn't have a camera, but one could see a huge L shaped gash in the hull, at least a foot wide, running from the lower deck all the way down to the incurve of the bottom, then another 4 or 5 feet horizontally toward the stern. No wonder it sank so quickly.

More photos, including some flotsam on Tannery Beach....

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

Goc i think most of the hull damage was done by the llifting cables apart from at deck level where the leading edge of the Sea Smooth hit and rode up and into Lamma IV rear cabin at the mid ship cutting it like a butter knife, the rest of fibreglass and wood hull of Sea Smooth just crumpled back to a flat edge hardly capable of puncturing the steel hull of the Lamma IV

A few minutes ago on Apple Daily, alerted by Lamma-Por:

Lamma IV moved to Stonecutters Island Government Dockyard.

Chin. story, photos and video report:
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20121015/18040776


Photo below, no additional hull damage visible from the lifting cables. They took all day yesterday and great care not to cause any additional damage.

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

Interesting after-the-disaster story in the SCMP last Friday, just in case you've missed it, with interviews with several regulars of this forum. We spent an entire afternoon with the reporter in the Green Cottage, the only interview I've given despite the about one dozen requests I've received.

It's quite a balanced interview, despite the number of factual mistakes, like the power station being "home to the only helicopter pad on the island", while we actually have 5 official helipads.

Well-chosen pullout quote by "Website Manager Lamma-Gung":
"Lamma is for people who aren't afraid of snakes, wasps, unleashed dogs..."

As SCMP.com is pay-walled and has increased their online subscription charge from $399 to $999/year for access to any content, here's a scan.
It took a full 4 days till this story actually went online on their website and they changed the headline online dramatically from the printed version:
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1058900/lamma-power-stations-three-chimneys-cast-long-shadows

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

If 'the power plant is home to the only helicopter pad on the island,' what's that big round thing in the harbor? And where is this new village community centre to be opened this later year?

Possibly its the new roofed area behind the football pitch.

So many mistakes and odd emphases.
"Power Plant Beach"?
Pollution scenery" -- who has ever heard those phrases?

"The plant permits cars and buses but the rest of the island doesn't." Duh. Well, aside from the Cable Roads, where HKE does take its cars and buses, all the roads are too narrow for standard vehicles, it's not a matter of "permitting", it's physically impossible.

And how idiotic of the reporter to talk about a single helipad when she was sitting in Green Cottage and could probably see the YSW pad from her table.

One more documentary in the works, after TVB and National Geographic:

"Hello! By way of introduction my name is Olivia and I'm contacting you from Asia Pacific Vision (APV), a video production company based in Wan Chai.

We've been approached by a reputable broadcaster to make a documentary on the Lamma ferry incident; not as an investigative report but from the point of view of the survivors and their accounts of the incident.

So we are looking for people who may have been witnesses or has friends or family who were survivors of the crash. We're also looking for anyone who may have taken any footage on their phones....

My number is 2827 2122 or you can contact my mobile 9419 0328.
Olivia Cheung [olivia.cheung@apvweb.com]"

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

A commission has finally been set up to investigate.

http://www.coi-lamma.gov.hk/eng/index.html

I was hoping to find a 'Contact Us' link, but there isn't one. But there is an email address for the Secretariat.

Below is a contact number for the link Tigger posted. the Terms of Reference are broad and include wider issues of maritime safety. I strongly urge everyone with evidence, of the day, of the lines, of previous experiences on ferries, of near misses, of concerns about the working hours and training in health and safety issues of the staff, of the role of the private sector in an essential public service etc etc etc to submit everything, however small, to the enquiry. Furthermore as regular ferry users compile some questions of your own about what you want the enquiry to cover. If the TOR are properly implemented by the enquiry, some things may change or improve. Hope for the best, expect nothing, that way you can't be disappointed.

Terms of Reference
The Commission of Inquiry into the Collision of Vessels near Lamma Island was appointed by the Chief Executive in Council under section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Ordinance (Cap. 86) and its terms of reference are as follows :

Inquire into the facts and circumstances leading to and surrounding the collision of the two vessels that took place near Lamma Island, Hong Kong on 1 October 2012 :
(a) ascertain the causes of the incident and make appropriate findings thereof ;

(b) consider and evaluate the general conditions of maritime safety concerning passenger vessels in Hong Kong and the adequacy or otherwise of the present system of control; and

(c) make recommendations on measures, if any, required for the prevention of the recurrence of similar incidents in future.
Following is a statement issued on behalf of the Honourable Mr Justice Michael Victor Lunn, Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, on the appointments to the Commission of Inquiry into the collision of vessels near Lamma Island:

opening statement and contact number

"In accepting our appointments as Chairman and Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry, Mr Benjamin Tang Kwok-bun and I acknowledge the widespread concern and grief of the community over the tragic incident and wish to express our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased.

"We intend to conduct a thorough and open Inquiry and to report to the Chief Executive within the time period requested of us.

"All initial enquiries by interested parties may be directed to the Secretary of the Commission of Inquiry, Mr Laurie Lo Chi-hong, at 2313 9309."

Cabin staff are now in the cabins, instead of the captain/pilot area. So changes are being made. (not due to my email I'm sure.... I doubt that they have even gotten around to my email??)


This is simply not true, every day I have seen all of the ferry staff pile in to the captain/pilot area as per usual

_________________
Sabe 1

The ship is not being lifted by cables in the picture. These are very wide STRAPS commonly used to lift ships this size in the ship yard, proably just how the new Sea Speed was launched when brand new.

Not contemplating WHAT caused the damage, but just that the lifting done in these pictures did not.

This letter has just gone out to all private boat operators in HK.

A couple of VERY interesting (disturbing) Items;

While referencing the COLREGS I mentioned above, the letter only states to "strictly follow" - something the ferries are still not doing -
As I referenced above they are required by COLREGS to use "all available means" to avoid collision

Radars and AIS systems are NOT commonly in use aboard the majority of the commercial traffic operating around Hong Kong, even the night before last in the reduced visibility of the rain.

#2 In the event of emergency the letter gives the options of
Exhibit signals specified in COLREGS
Contact VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) VHF CH 12 14 or 67
OR
Use your cell phone to dial 999

Ok - if the cell phone is the only thing you have, that is what you of course use. BUT a cell phone IS NOT the recommended device to use. It is actually strongly discouraged by authorities around the world to rely on cell phones for emergencies.

#1 reason is a cell phone will only call one person - that person may be far away and they will not know your location - A VHF distress call will notify all vessels within range of your radio (line of site reliable to 16 miles on the water, barring hills blocking line of site)

AND the choices say use channels 12, 14, or 67 to call MARDEP! COLREGS specify you to call MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY on CHANNEL 16, all vessels with a VHF are REQUIRED to monitor channel 16 while underway (many pleasure vessels ignore this, at everyones peril)

Calling VTS on the channels given mean that only larger vessels subject to VTS (vessel traffic Service-a marine version of Air Traffic Control) will likely hear you. Most ppl not subject to VTS rules don't listen to this channel. It is the LAST channel anyone should use to create an initial mayday call.

Lets hope the Marine Department gets better at this stuff!

as a side note some of the distress signals mentioned in the COLREGS;

flames on the vessel(always thought that was kind of a funny signal to specify)
Red Flares
Upside down national Flag (How could you tell the the HKSAR flag was upside down from a long distance BTW)
a continuous sounding with any fog-signalling apparatus;
a square flag having above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball
slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms outstretched
a gun or explosion every 1 minute

I didnt notice that this was posted yet, I may have missed it. but it is pretty much what I said the first few days after the accident. I doubt any further investigation will change this

http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/notices/pdf/mdn12133.pdf

Well, on closer inspection this report of a fast ferry colliding with a motor launch, the fast ferry sustaining minor damage and the motor launch sinking

is dated 19 Sept 2012[b] so the marine department released a report faulting both operators for going to fast, failing to maintain an adequate lookout, and failing to take appropriate action to avoid a collision. and 11 days later we had another accident that was the same type of thing

only with significant loss of life the second time.

I will bet the bank that this investigation has the SAME exact conclusions.

Because, barring some extenuating circumstance, that is ALMOST ALWAYS the conclusion drawn when two vessels collide.

The scary thing is that had the skippers and crew read this report and taken heed, the second (fatal) accident would not have happened.

So to Tigger and anyone else that has something to report - REPORT IT NOW, REPORT IT WHEN IT HAPPENS - DEMAND A RESPONSE

It will take A LOT of force, A LOT of people, A LOT of demands for change, before anything changes here. Accidents will continue to happen until there is a cultural change amongst the operators. This will only happen if it is FORCED on them. They had the information, they (should have) knew the risks, yet they continued to operate in the same (obviously) reckless manner.

Transparency and accountability - that is the only way things will change

See my other post here
http://www.lamma.com.hk/forum-OK/viewtopic.php?t=12164

On how to contact the Marine Department and their promise to respond to your issues.