Ferry damaged at Central Pier 5 as mooring rope snaps

A triple-deck ferry "Xin Chao" collided with the staircase, stone curb, and railing of Pier No.5 in Central when docking on Sunday, which was suspected to be caused by a broken mooring rope.

The collision occurred around 9.33am when the ferry, operated by Sun Ferry Services Company, arrived in Central from Cheung Chau.

It is understood that the vessel had already docked and been secured with mooring ropes when the Manila rope snapped, resulting in the collision.

The ferry's bow sustained damage, and the pier's staircase, stone curb, metal canopy, and iron railings were also damaged.

No injuries were reported in the incident, and all passengers on board safely disembarked. The police have classified the case as a "vessel collision."

The Transport Department stated that it has requested the ferry operator to investigate the incident and submit a report, while ensuring that ferry services remain unaffected. 

The department is coordinating with relevant authorities to repair the damaged pier facilities and will take follow-up actions based on the investigation results.