Latest news with #MarineDepartment
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Inspectors did not need to look for ship flaws, Hong Kong disaster probe told
A former Marine Department official has maintained at a court inquest into one of Hong Kong's deadliest maritime disasters that he and his colleagues were not obliged to detect structural flaws during regular ship inspections. Retired principal ship surveyor Wong Chi-kin told the Coroner's Court on Friday that department staff would only inspect specific items on a vessel 'by intuition' without looking for possible defects. Wong said ship inspectors would not have realised that the lack of a watertight door in between two underdeck rooms of the Lamma IV passenger ferry was a mistake which subsequently contributed to its rapid sinking after a collision with another vessel in 2012, as they would normally overlook matters not drawn to their attention before inspections. 'Formally, we only looked at what was required of us,' the witness said. 'It could be possible that [an inspector] found out [a structural defect] himself, but most of them would just walk past and ignore it.' Wong also defended his decision to approve what appeared to be a self-contradictory drawing of the Lamma IV that indicated an access opening was to be introduced between two supposedly watertight hull compartments at the stern. Instead, he blamed the Lamma IV's manufacturer, Cheoy Lee Shipyards, for failing to notify the department about opening the hatch without installing a watertight door, which violated official survey protocols.
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Stability issue hits barge at Silicon Island project site; no injuries reported
GEORGE TOWN: A barge operating at the sand rehandling station of the Penang Silicon Island project site experienced a stability issue this morning. Fortunately, all 11 crew members on board, comprising two Malaysians, one Chinese national and eight Indonesian nationals, were successfully rescued without injury. Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said initial assessments indicated that operational factors, including a possible discharge pipe issue, had affected the hopper load during offloading. "Our emergency response team was immediately deployed to the site to manage the situation. "This includes implementing precautionary measures to contain any potential oil spillage," he said in a statement this evening. Farizan said the Marine Department, the Department of Environment (DOE), and other relevant agencies were promptly notified of the incident. "The project developer is fully cooperating with the relevant authorities, and Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn Bhd will continue to monitor the situation closely," he said. Earlier today, it was reported that reclamation works for the Penang Silicon Island project were progressing smoothly, with some 60ha reclaimed as of last month, since work commenced in September 2023. State Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the reclaimed area accounted for around 6.5 per cent of the total 920ha designated for Silicon Island.
New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Expectations surpassed as 33 exhibitors set for inaugural Mybos '25 in Langkawi
LANGKAWI: More than 33 exhibitors from within and outside the country will take part in the inaugural Malaysia International Boat Show 2025 (Mybos '25). The number, which includes luxury yacht, marine technology and nautical tourism investment companies, surpasses the organisers' initial expectations. The four-day event is scheduled to run from May 21 to 24 at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC), and will be officially launched by the Sultan of Kedah, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah. The event's organising company chairman Datuk Mohammed Radzi Manan said the early response to the showcase had been overwhelming and far beyond expectations. "This is the first event of its kind in Malaysia and it reflects Langkawi's growing recognition as a major stopover for international sailors. The economic potential is enormous. "Mybos '25 is expected to attract thousands of local and international visitors, further cementing Langkawi's status as a premier yachting tourism hub in the region," he said in a statement today. Radzi said the exhibitors taking part in the show will include government agencies, private sector players and international institutions. The event will feature a combination of industry showcases, high-level forums and strategic networking sessions. "In addition to highlighting the beauty and potential of Malaysia's maritime sector, Mybos '25 will also host several key side events, including the Malaysia Yachting Conference on May 23 and the launch of the Malaysia Yacht Code 2025 Guideline by the Marine Department," he said. He added that among the highlights will be the showcase of Motoryacht MYA, a 110m-long luxury vessel registered under the Malaysian flag. "The yacht is currently anchored off the exhibition site to undergo audits and official checks related to its registration," he added. The debut event is jointly organised by Mybos Event Sdn Bhd and Sail Malaysia, with support from the Langkawi Development Authority, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and the Transport Ministry.
South China Morning Post
09-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Ex-ship worker failed to check safety data for sunk Hong Kong ferry, court hears
A former engineering manager at the company that built a ferry involved in one of Hong Kong's deadliest maritime disasters has admitted during a court inquest that he failed to ensure the accuracy of the vessel's safety data submitted to the government. Advertisement Cheung Chuen-yau made the comment while testifying at the Coroner's Court on Friday, the fourth day of what is expected to be a 60-day inquiry into a 2012 maritime disaster that left 39 people dead. Cheung told the court that he was responsible for ensuring the Lamma IV's 'damage stability', which refers to a vessel's ability to stay afloat after sustaining damage, was correctly measured before seeking the Marine Department's approval to modify the ship in 1998 and 2005. But the former Cheoy Lee Shipyards worker said he had done nothing but put his faith in his junior colleagues' calculations, which were generated using software that he admitted he was unsure how to use. He also said he had never seen the Lamma IV's layout plans, let alone the discrepancies in some of them about whether a bulkhead separating two of the lower deck's compartments needed to be watertight. Advertisement The Lamma IV's hull was damaged by the Sea Smooth passenger ferry in the waters off Lamma Island while carrying 124 HK Electric employees and their relatives to watch the National Day fireworks over Victoria Harbour on October 1, 2012.
New Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
40,000 ferry tickets sold ahead of Lima '25
KUALA KEDAH: More than 40,000 ferry tickets have been sold ahead of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (Lima '25), prompting ferry operators to ramp up services to meet the surging demand. Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd, which manages passenger services to the island, has scheduled an additional 100 trips between May 20 and 25, covering the event period and the day after its conclusion. Its operations manager Norhafiz Abdul Wahid said the move was necessary to ensure a smooth flow of passengers between Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis and Langkawi, which is expecting an influx of local and international visitors. "This is a healthy development. We've seen strong interest, with about 40,000 tickets sold for the five-day period," he said at a press conference at the Kuala Kedah Ferry Terminal today. He said approximately 10,000 return tickets are still available, and that ferry operations may be extended further if demand keeps rising. Currently, ferries are scheduled to run hourly, with real-time updates and seat availability provided through the Cuti-Cuti Langkawi app. "If the demand is encouraging, we will extend operating hours up to midnight for services between Kuala Perlis and Langkawi," he said. Services from Kuala Kedah will end at 10pm due to ongoing dredging works at the estuary. Norhafiz assured that all safety protocols are in place, including life jackets and navigation lights, in compliance with Marine Department regulations. "We also have standby vessels ready to take over in case of technical issues. "All maintenance was done during the low season to ensure reliability throughout this period. "Our current system ensures only one ferry docks at a time, with another ready to enter once passengers are unloaded," he said. He advised travellers to expect congestion at the Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis jetties and urged early bookings to minimise inconvenience. Lima '25, themed "Today's Progress, Future Achievements", is expected to surpass previous editions in asset sales value. Government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin briefed the Cabinet on the exhibition's strong momentum. So far, 10,000 public tickets have been sold, with exhibitors from China, France, the UK, Australia and Italy already confirmed. The previous edition, Lima '23 featured over 600 companies from 30 countries, the biggest since its inception in 1991.
