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Cable car tragedy at Sentosa

On 29 January 1983, seven passengers died when two Sentosa cable cars plunged into the sea after the cableway was struck by the derrick of an oil drilling vessel, the Eniwetok.

Background
The Eniwetok had been converted from a bulk carrier in Keppel Shipyard and was commissioned only six weeks ago. The cable car system, which cost $12 million, is run by Singapore Cable Cars and jointly owned by the Sentosa Development Corporation and the Port of Singapore Authority. The accident was the first involving death or injury since the cable car system opened in February 1974. However, in 1977 there were several cases of people being stranded when cable cars broke down.

Description
The disaster, which happened at around 6 pm, was triggered when a Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) tug began towing the drillship away from Keppel Wharf, resulting in the vessel's gantry tower being snagged on one of the two cables, pulling it out of place. Two cable cars with three or more people in them were dislodged and they were flung out as the cars hurtled 55 m into the water. Several others fell near Jardine Steps. Thirteen other passengers were stranded in their swaying cable cars for about eight hours.

An emergency operations centre was set up in PSA Tower under the control of Philip Yeo, Second Permanent Secretary (Defence). The stranded passengers were rescued in daring mid-air operations mounted by helicopters from the Singapore Armed Forces.

As the risky rescue operation proceeded, the major fear was that the still-entangled drillship tower could break the cableway. The problem was worsened by a combination of strong currents and the rising tide which would peak at 11 pm. To prevent the Eniwetok from moving, four tugs put lines aboard and worked to and fro to keep it steady in the water.

Evaluation
A Commission of Inquiry was appointed by the President of the Republic of Singapore on 5 February 1983 into the accident. The Commission conducted the Inquiry in public for 55 days from 23 May to 12 August 1983 and submitted its report on 30 December 1983. The Commission made recommendations for appropriate safety measures to be taken to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.



Author
Tan Lay Yuen



References 
Committee on Implementation. (1985). [Commission of inquiry into the Sentosa Cable Car accident: Report of Committee on Implementation of Recommendations]. Singapore: [The Committee].
(Call no.: RCLOS 623.89295957 SIN)

Cable-cars drama - step by step. (1983, January 30). The Straits Times, p. 11.

Keppel says drillship got into difficulty. (1983, February 1). The Straits Times, p. 1.

PM orders full inquiry. (1983, January 31). The Straits Times, p. 1.

Seven die as two cable cars plunge into sea. (1983, January 30). The Straits Times Times, p. 1.

Sound tape may shed more light on tragedy. (1983, February 4). The Straits Times, p. 13.


Further Readings
A second jolt and three were flung out. (1983, February 1). The Straits Times, p. 1.

Dangling cable cars still out of reach. (1983, February 2). The Straits Times, p. 44.

Death cars come up. (1983, February 3). The Straits Times, p. 40.

Eniwetok queries. (1983, January 31). The Straits Times, p. 10.

Family's outing ends in death. (1983, January 30). The Straits Times, p. 1. 

Plucked from the jaws of death. (1983, January 31). The Straits Times, p. 1.

The cable car tragedy, 10 years after. (1993, January 31). The Straits Times, p. 14. 

The 'miracle' child. (1983, February 2). The Straits Times, p. 1.

Winchman had heart of a giant. (1983, January 31). The Straits Times, p. 10.

The information in this article is valid as at 1999 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Events>>Disasters
Disasters--Singapore
Transportation accidents--Singapore
Business, finance and industry>>Industry>>Leisure and entertainment
Law and government>>Safety administration>>Rail transportation



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