This was sent to 1833 today regarding HKKF ignoring their new policy and what I thought was boats far too close to each other on the 0720 service from YSW to central.
I would love to hear from you if you saw how close we got to the tug boat puling the Turbo Jet Ferry in to Shun Tak, especially if you think that we were not too close as I may have seen or perceived it incorrectly.
Further to case 1-427619469
I was was very pleased to see HKKF new policy regarding carriage of cargo dated 16 May 2013. Please see link below.
http://www.lamma.com.hk/nick/imag0002_175.jpg
As you will see the policy is vey specific, I draw to your attention note 3 of the new policy. This policy was issued the public on the 16th May.
However other ferry users have posted evidence on the Lamma public forum which can be seen at
http://www.lamma.com.hk/forum-OK/viewto ... c&start=40
that after this date exits are still being blocked and cargo is being carried that exceed the designated cargo areas. Evidence was posted of this on the above forum on two separate occasions 20 May 2013 and 23 May.
Why after our concerns have been raised and responded to does the company still ignore its own policies?
I have further concern regarding the number of child life preservation devises on the Lamma ferry. The ferry licence states that there are 22 child LPD on board, however there are regularly more than 22 children on the ferry, for services that are used by school children my observations would suggest between 30 and 40 children on the boat. I would ask clarification when "children" should use a child LPD or an adult. Industry regulations suggest this is by the child's height. The law requires a reasonable number of child LPDs to be carried on board. I do not think that 22 child LPDs are a reasonable number given that such large numbers of primary school children use the ferry on a daily basis. Furthermore I think there are no infant LDPs (ie babies in arms), these are very specific devises and not the same as child LPDs.
See this link.
http://www.lamma.com.hk/nick/infant_life_jacket_173.gif
Why are there no LPDs for infants on public ferries?
Furthermore I was on board the Sea Spirit 07:20 service from YSW to Central the Sea Spirit came very close i.e. within a few meters of a tug pulling a turbo jet ferry. This near miss occurred in conditions with good visibility just by the Shun Tak centre aprox 07.26 on 27 May 2013. I have the GPS coordinates which are 22.291 N 114.152 E. I would request that the Marine Department look at the radar records to confirm this.
Regards.