Smoke in engine room prompts evacuation of Hong Kong ferry

A total of 60 people were successfully evacuated from a passenger ferry after it encountered engine trouble and went adrift in Hong Kong waters on Tuesday, December 3.

First Ferry X, a catamaran operated by New World First Ferry Services, had sailed out of Central and was en route to Lantau Island with 55 passengers and a crew of five when one of the crewmembers noticed smoke emanating from the engine room at approximately 11:40 local time.

The captain then shut off the engines and sent out a distress call as the rest of the crew used the vessel’s CO2 fire extinguishers on the engines until they finally ceased emitting smoke.

Two firefighting boats and a marine police launch arrived at the scene within minutes to render assistance.

All of First Ferry X‘s occupants were safely evacuated and brought to Mui Wo on Lantau Island’s east coast by 13:10. No injuries have been reported.

A spokeswoman of New World First Ferry said that the vessel had passed its annual inspection earlier this year but assured reporters that the company has already begun conducting its own investigation into the incident.