The Marine Department is investigating the case of a Hong Kong-bound ferry which crashed into a fishing boat during a thunderstorm late Saturday evening, stranding around 300 people for over two hours.
The TurboJET-operated ferry collided with a 15-metre-long boat in the waters off Lantau Island at 11:15pm, approximately half an hour after the ferry set off from Macau to Hong Kong, Apple Daily reports.
The jetfoil was carrying 289 passengers and 10 crew members. One passenger, a 20-year-old woman, sustained injuries to her leg, but all aboard the ferry and fishing boat were reported to be safe.
While most passengers were reported to be calm, a few men were filmed confronting crew members, complaining that they had been stuck in the same place for over 40 minutes with no explanation.
In that time, the Hong Kong Observatory hoisted an amber rainstorm signal before raising a more serious red rainstorm warning.
A statement by TurboJET’s parent company, Shun Tak-China Trave Ship Management, said the vessel had been ordered to stay in place until it was deemed fit for travel by both Guangdong and Hong Kong authorities, as the collision had taken place in mainland waters.
The ferry was allowed to leave at 1:37am and arrived in Sheung Wan’s Shun Tak Centre at 2:20am. The hull was dented in places and bre an eight-metre-wide gash, SCMP reports.
The injured woman was taken to hospital to receive treatment.
Shun Tak has issued an apology to all passengers.
According to the company, the ferry was travelling on its normal route, and was being captained by a skipper with 15 years’ experience. He was reported to be 6.5 hours into his shift at the time of the crash.
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