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Lamma ferry crash

Thirty-nine people were killed when a boat owned by Hongkong Electric collided with a ferry off Lamma Island on October 1, 2012. The power firm was taking staff to see the National Day fireworks display in Victoria Harbour when disaster struck, plunging more than 100 people into the dark waters. It was the deadliest boat accident in Hong Kong in 40 years.

last updated:

9 September, 2024

Two passenger vessels collided off Lamma Island in 2012, throwing more than 120 people into the frigid, dark waters. Photo: Sam Tsang

Accidents and personal safety

National Day fireworks stir painful memories of Hong Kong ferry crash for families

‘My wife drowned while on her way to see the fireworks 11 years ago. How can I enjoy fireworks on the same day?’ a victim’s husband says.

1 Oct 2023 - 6:12PM

Hong Kong

My Take | Inquest into the Lamma ferry disaster offers overdue justice

6 Aug 2023 - 6:00AM

Hong Kong

Editorial | Inquest into 2012 Hong Kong ferry disaster a necessary step to bring closure

28 Jul 2023 - 6:15AMvideocam

Hong Kong courts

Inquest into Hong Kong’s Lamma IV disaster ‘must reveal full story of ferry crash’

Philip Chiu, who lost his sister in tragedy, says he expects the inquiry to explain why one of the vessels sank so quickly.

27 Jul 2023 - 9:32PM

The HK Electric ferry that sank in the waters off Lamma Island after the collision in 2012. Photo: SCMP

Accidents and personal safety

Explainer | Can the shadow cast by the 2012 Lamma IV sinking at last be lifted?

A High Court ruling after a years-long fight that an inquest should be held into the Lamma IV maritime disaster is welcomed by campaigners

28 Jul 2023 - 3:54PM

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong court orders coroner’s inquest into 2012 Lamma ferry crash

‘It’s the first time in so many years that I’m able to smile again in front of the cameras,’ Alice Leung, who lost her brother in crash says.

26 Jul 2023 - 10:15PMvideocam

Hong Kong

Editorial | Lamma ferry tragedy families in need of closure

Details of government report into 2012 Lamma collision that claimed 39 lives should be released after judge ruled against inquest being held.

30 Nov 2022 - 6:45AMvideocam

A submerged ship is seen in the waters near Yung Shue Wan, off Lamma Island. Photo: SCMP

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong court rejects coroner’s inquest bid into 2012 Lamma ferry disaster

Families of loved ones who died in disaster express disappointment over the ruling.

24 Nov 2022 - 8:18PM

Lamma Island ferry collision, a decade later

12 Oct 2022 - 9:47AM

Hong Kong at 25

October 1, 2012: Deadly ferry crash off Hong Kong’s Lamma Island kills 39

Some 124 people on the Lamma IV were thrown into waters near Yung Shue Wan when it was hit by a passenger ferry travelling from Central.

14 Jun 2022 - 5:30PM

The Lamma IV which was partially sunk in the waters off Lamma Island is lifted up from the sea. Photo: Sam Tsang

Accidents and personal safety

Editorial | Families of 2012 Hong Kong ferry disaster need closure

Privacy ultimately has to be weighed against the public interest as calls grow for a full disclosure of the report into the tragedy.

15 Dec 2021 - 8:00AM

The damaged Lamma IV is moored off Lamma Island in Hong Kong after the October 2012 collision that killed 38 people. Photo: EPA

Carrie Lam

Hong Kong leader rejects fresh calls to release full Lamma ferry crash report

Carrie Lam cites privacy concerns in declining to release the report, and says she understands families’ feelings, drawing scorn from victims’ relatives.

7 Dec 2021 - 9:47PM

Hong Kong courts

Court fines Hong Kong woman for taking off mask during ferry crash memorial

Defendant maintained removing her mask was gesture of respect for dead, but magistrate finds rationale unreasonable.

4 Aug 2021 - 11:31PM

Accidents and personal safety

Coroner’s Court will not probe Lamma ferry disaster, families told

Relatives notified by the court on Saturday that it will not open an inquest into crash, which left 39 dead in 2012.

21 Nov 2020 - 11:42PM

The ships collided off Lamma Island on October 1, 2012. Photo:

Transport and logistics

Hong Kong done with prosecutions in Lamma ferry disaster, official says

The city’s acting housing and transport chief says the Department of Justice has prosecuted all the people it intends to, but a lawmaker insists there is still more to investigate.

5 Nov 2020 - 2:14AM

Rescuers work to carry victims to hospitals after the Sea Smooth ferry rammed into the Lamma IV off the coast of Lamma Island in 2012. Photo: Xinhua

Accidents and personal safety

Families of victims in Lamma ferry disaster ‘still waiting for justice’

Government has yet to fulfil promise to release full internal report into the collision, they say.

1 Oct 2020 - 11:51PM

Hong Kong courts

Official jailed for ignoring life jacket law walks free after sentence cut

So Ping-chi has prison term for misconduct in public office reduced from 16 months to 4½.

30 Nov 2018 - 7:54PM

Four years on ... still no disclosure: Hong Kong minister says full report on Lamma ferry disaster can’t be released yet

1 Oct 2016 - 7:57PM

Rescuers approach the Lamma IV after the tragic collision on October 1, 2012. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong High Court judge calls for skippers of Lamma ferry disaster to have certificates cancelled

1 Sep 2016 - 12:17AM

New radar technology to boost Hong Kong boat safety

21 Jul 2016 - 10:52PM

Skipper cleared of manslaughter over Hong Kong ferry disaster loses fight for legal costs

4 Jul 2016 - 10:59PM

Chow Chi-wai was cleared of 39 manslaughter charges. Photo: Nora Tam

Ngau Tau Kok fire

Tone down July 1 celebrations, Hong Kong lawmakers urge after deaths of two firemen

27 Jun 2016 - 6:21PM

The chief executive (centre) and other senior officials at a July 1 event in Tsim Sha Tsui last year. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Hong Kong marine official who flouted life jacket rules jailed 16 months

21 Jun 2016 - 11:59PM

A decade of malaise contributed to the deaths of 39 people in Lamma ferry disaster, families say

20 Jun 2016 - 5:51PM

Guilty: marine inspector ‘deliberately’ told workers to ignore life jacket rules before Lamma ferry disaster

7 Jun 2016 - 10:11PM

So Ping-chi at the District Court. Photo: Dickson Lee

Marine safety

Lamma ferry crash survivors reach partial settlement, Hong Kong court hears

22 Jan 2018 - 4:23PM

The Kwok family was aboard the Lamma IV during the 2012 accident. Photo: David Wong

Verdict next month on Hong Kong official accused of failing to implement law on life jackets

3 May 2016 - 7:26PM

Hong Kong official’s failure to implement life jacket law amounted to serious misconduct, court hears

19 Apr 2016 - 10:11PM

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