Today 17 June I was on the 7:00 service to central and saw again the ferry getting very close to the Turbo Jet tug boat just outside the Shan Tak centre at 07;22. Was anyone else on this boat who saw it? One of the passengers did yell out "look at how close we are to that" to the agreement of several other passengers standing at the exit.

I have seen this exact scenario before on the same ferry service at the same time. Our ferry did slow right down and I have been told by a nautical type passenger on the boat we did have right of way but none the less were far too close.

I have let 1823 know about the previous situation a week ago with exact times and GPS coordinates but they have not replied.

If you were on the boat and saw this let mem know what you think, either way. Sometimes those that complain like me need to be told not to and stop making a fuss.

I had an impression the whole maneuver was planned and under control. The captain decided to avoid passing in front of the tug’s bow so turned left to pass it by the stern of the other tug (the one on the back of TurboJet).
They do this maneuver quite often when on crossing courses with the big cargo ships. Then, the ferry comes usually very close to the ship’s stern. Perfectly safe plus stunning view onto the high stacks of containers.

Thanks rambler if you think this is a standard move and safe I think I was being over critical of the coxswain. I have seen this move several times so I think you have a point. It is very hard to judge these things as a lay person so good to hear from someone in the know Think I will spare 1823 based on your comments.

Also the cargo on our ferries seems miles better. Staff are taking a active role in telling people where to put cargo. I think on the shifts they work I would be hard pushed to do this day in day out. Talking with the pier manager on a weekly basis there seems to be a positive shift towards safe handling of cargo.

Please try to get some basic knowledge of navigation, what is normal and what is not, what is a close call and what is not, before raising panic. You remind me of passengers raising alarm on planes because of "smoke" (visible steam from air conditioning in humid weather) or "wings falling off" (normal operation of flaps or flexibility of wings).

That's why I have asked on this forum. I do want to get up to speed on these things therefore seeking advice from the MD and ferry industry. People who talk from a position of formal guidelines rather than opinion. I am not sure if you were on the boat in question but we came within 10 meters of the tug. Do you speak as someone with experience in navigation? I really do not know so but what I saw made me feel uncomfortable. The marine department are going to give me some guidelines on how close vessels can legally get to each other in this specific scenario. There were several people on the boat that I spoke with who have marine navigation experience, opinions ranged from it was far to close to "its pushing the boundaries of what is safe" If you know please let me know rather than speaking from a position if opinion and a accusing me of spreading panic which I am not.

So last of all I was on the 700 service today 18 June when other passengers were alarmed how close we got to the DB service. I was alarmed to especially as the DB service over takes us within the 5 Knot speed limit area. Our captain tock a hard left to avoid the DB ferry. You will be pleased that I did not say a thing to passengers as I did not want to spread panic. It was other passengers that expressed alarm about this one not me.