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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

But that is not why these accidents continue to happen in Hong Kong.

Ferries in HK have collisions with other vessels almost 2x per week, per Marine Department reports. There are many more collisions inside Typhoon shelters with docks.

BC (Canada, eh) has the worlds second largest ferry fleet based on total passenger capacity - 27,000+ passengers and crew. BC Ferries even carry TRAINS.

Washington State is third largest by capacity, and worlds largest by total vehicle trips annually. Over 11 Million vehicles per year travel on WA ferries.

I could find only 5 or 6 vessel to vessel collisions each for BC or WA from 1970 - current. I am sure there have been more, but they are very very uncommon. These ferries are HUGE compared to HK and the results would be 100's-1000+ dead if they were to collide at speed in that cold water.

The great majority of accidents in BC and WA happen at the dock and are most often a result of loss of power or control of the vessel due to mechanical reasons. Even these accidents happen only a few times per year. The accident in NY that injured several passengers around the time of the Lamma Tragedy was of this type

I found only 1 accident in WA between 2 ferries. One "suffered a deep, 10-foot-long scrape" Yes a scrape. The accident happened in a narrow channel in heavy fog. The bump was barely felt by the crew and passenger and no injuries occurred. This was because they were watching, carefully, and reducing speed well before the collision.

In HK the accidents happen full speed or the boat is put in full reverse very shortly before the collision. The fast ferries from Macau will reduce speed from 37Kts to 28+ kts when fog is very thick - that is such a minor reduction in speed as to be nearly pointless. The Lamma-Central/ Aberdeen ferries routinely travel at full speed in the fog and only reduce speed by very minor bits (I have a pocket GPS and have checked many times). That this is common for all the ferries in HK is confirmed by MARDEP accident reports.

In WA and BC the captains and crews records are often immediately made public by the press. Crews are routinely disciplined internally, fired, or held criminally negligent for accidents. Even accidents involving hitting the dock where no injuries are involved.

Here in HK the MARDEP publishes a notice which the "Vessel operator is encouraged to distribute to all captains and coxains." The report says the accident was caused by the above 3 reasons, and maybe 1 or 2 more contributory factors, and tells them not to do that any more. After an accident like the Lamma tragedy they even distribute this notice to all registered vessels. Oh..... wow...

After that nothing usually happens. I believe this is the ultimate reason the accidents happen at such a high rate here. There is just no standard of personal responsibility.

Why make your boat be late and have passengers or your boss complain when there are no real consequences for your reckless operation of the vessel?

I am afraid that charging the two captains from the Lamma tragedy is only a face saving move for the Gov't, so the public won't think they are doing nothing.

Unless and until they begin to hold the operators personally responsible for ALL ACCIDENTS on a consistent basis, then they are doing nothing. And for that reason I feel the Marine Department of Hong Kong should also be charged along side with the captains.