Hai Phong: The passenger ferry to Cat Ba Island encountered a problem, water flooded into the compartment and nearly sank

According to the initial assessment of the authorities, due to high tide, the ferry collided with the wharf, causing a problem. Units are organizing rescue and moving the ferry to a safe place for recovery.

According to Thanh Nien newspaper, around 11:30 a.m. on May 26, at the beginning of the Dong Bai - Cai Vieng ferry terminal, the self-propelled ferry with the number HP-2735 suffered a flooding incident, leading to water overflowing into the ferry's body, causing many passengers to Guests panicked.

At that time, ferry HP-2735 was transporting passengers from Cai Vieng wharf, Cat Ba island to Dong Bai wharf for passengers to return to the mainland. The ferry was nearly at the wharf when the ferry crew discovered that the ferry was showing signs of something unusual, so they quickly let the ferry dock. People and vehicles on the ferry were quickly moved to safety before half of the ferry's body was submerged in water.

The cause of the incident, according to authorities on VnExpress, could be that the ferry hit a hard object or broke the floor, causing water to flood in. This is the first time the ferry carrying passengers to Cat Ba Island encountered a water overflow problem.

Talking to PLO on the afternoon of May 26, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phat, Chairman of the Board of Directors, General Director of Hai Phong Waterway Traffic Assurance Joint Stock Company, the unit managing the ferry route to Cat Ba, said the time of the incident. According to the incident, the ferry had just arrived at Dong Bai wharf on the mainland, had returned passengers, and was picking up passengers to return to Cai Vieng wharf, on Cat Ba island, in Phu Long commune, Cat Hai district, Hai Phong.

"When the ferry arrived at Dong Bai ferry dock and safely discharged all passengers. Then the ferry took passengers off to take them to Cat Ba island. At this time, the captain discovered that the ferry compartment had water leaking into it. When discovering the incident, The ferry owner let the passengers go back ashore to take another ferry," Dan Tri newspaper quoted a company representative as saying that there was no human damage in the incident.

Immediately after the incident, Hai Phong closed Dong Bai ferry terminal to find solutions; At the same time, ferries were moved to the old Got wharf and resumed operations.

According to records on the afternoon of May 26, right near the ticket sales point at Dong Bai wharf, the ferry wharf management board posted a notice with the content "Dong Bai ferry wharf is temporarily closed, the ferry is temporarily transferred to Got wharf." ". Outside the landing port, ferry HP-2735 is in a semi-submerged state, with two rescue ships on both sides.

Hai Phong Border Guard force has been strengthened to ensure security and order. Meanwhile, on the ferry there are a number of technical workers trying to find a solution, while at the ferry terminal operator, Hai Phong City authorities are holding a meeting to discuss a solution.

Cat Ba Island belongs to Cat Hai district, Hai Phong, connected to the mainland by ferry. The pick-up and drop-off point on the mainland includes the old Got wharf, currently closed and the new Dong Bai wharf replacing it; On the Cat Ba side is Cai Vieng wharf.

Dong Bai ferry terminal officially comes into operation from March 1, 2024, replacing Got ferry terminal 4 km away, continuing to connect the mainland with Cat Ba island (Cat Hai District, Hai Phong). Dong Bai ferry terminal infrastructure was invested and built by a business on their land, then leased to Hai Phong City to use to replace the old Got ferry terminal. This is one of 5 large ferries operating at Dong Bai wharf, able to carry 12 cars and 200 passengers.

From the new Dong Bai ferry terminal to Cai Vieng wharf is 120m farther than the old ferry terminal. However, due to the choice of means and depending on wind direction and tide, the ferry's journey will be longer than the old ferry terminal. Ferry time between the two wharves is about 35-40 minutes/trip.

This new ferry terminal is expected to reduce congestion and shorten the waiting time of tourists when coming to Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong.