REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE SENTOSA CABLE CAR ACCIDENT

12.00 noon

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Members will recall that on the fateful day of 29 January 1983, a drillship named "Eniwetok" collided with the cableway carrying cable cars between Sentosa and the main island of Singapore. Seven cable car passengers lost their lives in the accident. Fourteen other passengers were rescued.

Immediately after the accident, the President appointed a Commission of Inquiry to inquire into the circumstances leading to and determine the cause of the accident. The Commission was also asked:

(a) to examine the current regulations on the use of waters and facilities along the channel between Sentosa Island and the main island of Singapore and to make recommendations for any amendments; and

(b) to make recommendations for such appropriate safety measures which can be taken in order to prevent a similar occurrence.

Sir, the Commission submitted a report of its findings and recommendations to the President on 30 December 1983.

MINISTRY'S COMMITTEE

Following the Commission's Report, the Ministry of Communications set up a committee in January 1984 to study the recommendations of the Commission and to submit an implementation plan. This Committee was headed by the Director of Marine and had, as its members, representatives from the Ministry of Communications, the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), the Attorney-General's Chambers, Keppel Shipyard and Singapore Cable Car Pte Ltd.

The Committee completed its work early this year. I would like to circulate this Report to Members of the House for their information.

[Copies of Report circulated to Members.]

Sir, I would also like now to highlight the key features of the measures that have been taken to prevent a recurrence of a similar accident.

SAFETY MEASURES

Sir, the Committee agreed to all the safety measures recommended by the Commission. In one particular instance, the Committee has decided for added safety to have additional constraints. This concerns the movement of vessels in the Height Restricted Area.

Height Restricted Area

The Commission of Inquiry recommended the establishment of a Height Restricted Area within Keppel Harbour, and that only vessels up to 48 metres in height be allowed freely into the Height Restricted Area. For vessels above 48 metres, the Commission recommended that they must obtain the prior written approval of the Port Master before they can enter or manoeuvre within the Area. In addition, the Commission recommended that movements of such vessels should only be permitted when the tide is not flowing towards the cableway and provided there are sufficient tugs for use during an emergency.

Maximum Height Restriction

Sir, the Committee agreed with the Commission on the extent of the Height Restricted Area and that vessels up to 48 metres in height be allowed freely into the Area. For added safety, the Committee further recommended the following additional restrictions for the Height Restricted Area:

(a) No vessel above 52 metres in height be permitted in the Area;

(b) Vessels above 52 metres in height should not be constructed in the Area;

(c) Only vessels of heights between 48 metres and 52 metres be permitted in the Area provided: (i) prior written approval is given by the Port Master; (ii) the height of the vessel has been verified by one of the Classification Societies; (iii) the height has been counter-checked by the PSA using a measuring instrument; and (iv) the master of the vessel has given an undertaking that the height of the vessel will not exceed 52 metres throughout the period of the vessel's stay within the Height Restricted Area.

With the promulgated height of the cableway at 56.5 metres, the Committee's recommendation will ensure that the cableway will be protected from tall vessels.

Prohibited Area

The Commission of Inquiry also recommended the imposition of a Prohibited Area within the Height Restricted Area stretching 200 metres on either side of the cableway and in which no vessel above 48 metres will be permitted to encroach into.

The Committee's more stringent recommendation regarding the Height Restricted Area, in effect means that the whole Height Restricted Area has become a Prohibited Area for vessels above 52 metres. It is no longer necessary to have the Prohibited Area as recommended by the Commission.

Other Safety Measures

The PSA has also upgraded its Marine Emergency Action Procedure to include emergencies threatening the cableway. This Action Procedure now includes rescue operations and evacuation of cable car passengers in case of emergencies threatening the cableway.

Other safety measures recommended by the Commission have been implemented by the PSA.

The PSA has also installed a system of visual checks using survey instruments at PSA Towers and Tanjong Pagar Complex. This check will confirm that vessels are below the specified height of 52 metres. PSA will upgrade this system into an independent and automatic laser detector system next year.

LEGISLATION

As recommended by the Commission, the appropriate legislation will be amended to ensure scrupulous implementation of the height restriction system and the requirement for accurate information on the principal dimensions of vessels in documents submitted to the PSA.

HEIGHT OF VESSELS AS A PRINCIPAL DIMENSION

My Ministry has also submitted a paper to the 51st session of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization. The paper brings to the attention of the international body, the desirability of including the height of a vessel as a principal dimension in the vessel's plans and documents. This will highlight the need for all, who are responsible for the safe navigation of a vessel, to be aware of its height, and bring about greater safety for international shipping.

Thank you, Sir.

Dr Augustine Tan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I be allowed to ask some points of clarification?

Firstly, the assumption of this Report is that having the cablecar system is desirable and that the costs of diverting the vessels which are too high are minimal; now how true is this? Secondly, are there any suits in the courts outstanding against the PSA or relevant Government authorities for the loss of life and limb? And thirdly, is any insurance scheme being proposed for the cablecar network?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is possible by judicious allocation of berths to ensure that vessels above 52 metres do not come into the Height Restricted Area. So there will not be any significant inconvenience at all. Secondly, claims have been made against the three parties - the owners and insurers of the Eniwetok, Keppel Shipyard and the Port of Singapore Authority. Some of these claims have been settled, others are at different stages of settlement. Insurance had been taken by the appropriate authorities and companies.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, since the members of the Committee that was appointed to study the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry had accepted that there should be appropriate amendments to the Port of Singapore Authority Act, may I inquire of the Hon. Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Defence as to when such amendments could be drafted and introduced in this House.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, the amendments are currently in the process of drafting and will be submitted to the House as soon as possible.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister if the Committee considered whether the PSA had contributed in any way to this accident by failure to maintain proper standards of safety or whether there had been any omission by any of its officers?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, that matter was considered by the Commission of Inquiry which had made its Report.