The Star Ferry’s been ferrying passengers across Victoria Habour for more than 100 years. Sometimes, though, things don’t go smoothly.
More than 130 passengers yesterday got a bumpy ride when one of the iconic ferries rammed twice into the shore after losing engine power, reported AM730.
According to HK01, the ferry was approaching the Kowloon-side pier in Tsim Sha Tsui when the power loss occurred at about 5pm.
It first hit and cracked a pillar on the pier, before drifting toward Harbour City. It then crashed into the shoreline about 200 meters away from the pier, damaging the wooden frames.
No one was injured in the incident, according to reports.
The Standard wrote that the captain of the vessel, which has seven crew members, acted quickly to warn people on the shore, including customers at a alfresco dining area nearby who ran from their seats.
One passenger who spoke to the newspaper recalled hearing a loud “bang” when the ferry crashed into the pier, with some passengers losing their balancing and falling as the vessel drifted away.
“Nobody was hurt. But many people freaked out,” he said.
According to Headline Daily, the ferry was towed away by tug boats. The Star Ferry company said it would investigate the case of the malfunction.
If Speed 2 taught us anything — beside from the fact that most sequels suck — it’s that things could have been much worse.
