 |
||||
|
||||
|
||||
| Home > Publications and press releases > Reports of Marine Department > Reports & Statistics | ||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
| During the take-off operation in the Macau
Outer Harbour Access Channel, the jetfoil "Cacilhas" landed violently on the water on 3 August 2001 |
||||
|
||||
|
A. The incident
1. At about 1921 hours on 3 August 2001, during the take-off operation in the Macau Outer Harbour Access Channel, the jetfoil “Cacilhas” landed violently on the water at the approximate position 22° 11.34’N 113° 33.85’E. The severe impact due to the drastic landing had caused considerable damages to the hull and structures at the after end of the craft in way of the port and starboard turbine compartments. A total of 45 passengers and crewmembers sustained various degrees of injuries and 38 of them were later sent to hospitals for medical treatment. B. Findings 1. The investigation has revealed that the most probable cause for the drastic landing is that the after foil of the jetfoil was fouled, while the vessel was underway, with an unnoticeable semi-submerged object which was soft in nature, such as a piece of fishing net or canvas etc. The object itself was later thrown off during the take-off operation. The disentanglement of the object restored the after foil to full hydrodynamic effect. Such effect was so sudden that it caused a momentary overshoot of set foil depth. As a result, the after foil was lifted up to near the sea surface. Air was sucked in the waterjet propulsion system and subsequently the turbine engines tripped on over-speed. Owing to the loss of thrust, the jetfoil lost its speed within a very short period and landed on the water violently, probably with its after part first. The heavy impact force thus produced caused considerable damages to the after end of the craft and injuries to the passengers and crew on board. C. Lessons 1. The Macau Outer Harbour Access Channel is a channel with heavy traffic and is used by all high speed passenger craft serving on the Hong Kong-Macau route. In view that it is a dredged channel with shallow banks, and the fact that floating or semi-submerged refuse are detrimental to high speed craft operation which might result in losing control of such vessels, it is therefore recommended that the Macau Port Administration be invited to consider measures to prevent floating or semi-submerged refuse from entering the Channel. 2. The Jetfoil operator should be urged to provide safety signs/labels at conspicuous locations, e.g. at the back of seats, in the passenger cabins of jetfoil advising passengers to fasten seatbelts whilst remain seated. Consideration can also be given to fitting seatbelt signs with lights that can be illuminated during the voyage and flickered during take-off/landing operations to remind passengers to fasten seatbelts. 
Figure 1 : Plan showing the profile of Jetfoil 'Cacilhas' 
Figure 2 : Plan showing the track of Jetfoil 'Cacilhas' |
||||
|
|
|
|
2009  | Important notices | Privacy Policy |
Last revision date : 17 September 2008 |