Hong Kong Island News

Destructive winds, waves batter Hong Kong, south China. Typhoon Hato, a maximum category 10 storm, slammed into Hong Kong on Wednesday lashing the Asian financial hub with wind and rain that uprooted trees and forced most businesses to close, while in some places big waves flooded seaside streets. There were reports of 34 people injured in Hong Kong while in the city of Macau, across the Pearl River estuary, three people were killed, authorities there said. In Hong Kong, more than 450 flights were cancelled, financial markets suspended and schools closed as Hato bore down, the first category 10 storm to hit the city since 2012. "I've never seen one like this," Garrett Quigley, a longtime resident of Lantau island to the west of the city, said of the storm.

A canoe race will take place on 21 November 2015 (Saturday) from Clear Water Bay, Sai Kung to Stanley Main Beach, Hong Kong Island. About 130 outrigger canoes are expected to participate in the race. The race will start off Clear Water Bay at 0900 hours and all participants are expected to arrive in Stanley Main Beach at 1200 hours on the same day, via South Ninepin Island and Cape D’Aguilar. Masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution, giving practical consideration to the contestants. Compliance with the provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 is mandatory. Source: Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.160 of 2015

The captain of Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry’s Seasmooth passenger ferry, Lai Sai-ming, was on Saturday found guilty of 39 counts of manslaughter over the 2012 Lamma island ferry disaster. He was also found guilty of endangering the lives of others at sea by a Hong Kong court. Chow Chi-wai, the captain of the other boat involved in the collision, was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of the lesser charge of endangering the safety of others at sea. The two captains had blamed each other for the Oct. 1, 2012, collision, which left this highly organized and overwhelmingly safe southern Chinese city traumatized. The verdicts came down after a 60-day trial and four days of deliberations. The crash was Hong Kong's worst maritime accident since 1971.

A paddling boat race will take place around Hong Kong Island on 16 November 2014 (Sunday). About 20 canoes and 6 rowing boats are expected to participate in the race. The boats will set off at 0815 hours at the south of Middle Island in a clockwise direction around Hong Kong Island, and finish the race in the vicinity of Middle Island by 1700 hours. Masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels navigating in the vicinity of the race route should proceed with caution, giving practical consideration to the contestants. Compliance with the provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 is mandatory. Source: Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.141 of 2014 dated 5 November 2014 [email protected]

With effect from the first departure on Saturday 30 August 2014, Hong Kong's “Wan Chai – Tsim Sha Tsui” ferry service will operate from the new Wan Chai Ferry Pier. The existing Wan Chai (East) ferry Pier will be closed simultaneously, informs the Star Ferry Company. The Star Ferry's ferry crossings at Victoria Harbour are acclaimed as an important part of the commuter system between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, and essential journeys for visitors. The National Geographic Traveler named the ferry crossing as one of 50 places of a lifetime. The ferry ride is also well known as one of the world’s best value-for-money sightseeing trips. The Star Ferry traces its origins to 1880 when Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala, a Parsee cook, embarked on a new vocation.

On many older boats from the UK to Canada, and from Thailand to Hong Kong, the deep purr of a well-tuned Gardner diesel wakens fond memories for many mariners. When the British firm discontinued volume production of their standard engines in the early 1990s mariners had to choose another manufacturer to meet their expectations for quality. In Hong Kong this was made easier by the strong presence of Cummins marine diesels since the early 1980s. Otto C. Y. To, Deputy General Manager of Shun Fung Engineering Ltd…

Mine warfare ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) is anchored in the waters just off of Hong Kong island as the crew makes a scheduled port visit. Patriot Sailors and embarked Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Five (EODMU-5), are visiting Hong Kong after several relationship enhancing visits and interoperability-focused exercises throughout Southeast Asia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam R. By Chief Electricians Mate (SW) Noel B. CHINHAE, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- The crew of USS Patriot (MCM 7) arrived in Chinhae, Republic of Korea, March 21 in preparation for the upcoming bilateral exercises Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (RSOI) and Foal Eagle (FE) 07.