New marine safety measures set for next year
Ferries to get lookouts after dark, alarmed watertight doors and easy-to-find lifejackets
Five new measures to improve marine safety after the Lamma Island tragedy will take effect next year.
Director of Marine Francis Liu Hon-por told legislators yesterday that the five measures, which did not require any amendments to existing laws, would be set out in a code of practice to be released in September.
Three would be implemented within six months of that and the others within a year.
Under the new requirements, all vessels that can carry more than 100 passengers will need a lookout on the bridge in addition to the coxswain during hours of darkness and reduced visibility. High-speed boats will need a lookout on the bridge at all times.
This and a requirement to make sure there are enough crew numbers to allow for emergencies - including collisions, running aground and abandoning ship - will take effect around September next year, a year after the code of practice is published.
