Foreign Experts In Probe

SINGAPORE - INTERNATIONAL experts were in Singapore on Wednesday to investigate how 173 people got trapped on the world's biggest observation wheel as tourism officials sought assurances over its safety.

The experts have gathered to examine what caused the incident at the Singapore Flyer 'and to make sure that this will never happen again', the landmark attraction's chairman, Florian Bollen, said in a statement.

Police are also probing the incident.

The Flyer has been closed since it stopped turning for several hours on December 23 after a small electrical fire.

The stoppage was the fourth and most serious at the wheel since it opened in February, Steven Yeo, the Flyer's general manager, said earlier.

'We are taking immediate steps to ensure that even more stringent systems are in place - the most important being an even greater ability to continue to rotate the wheel at all times via additional independent back-up mechanisms,' Mr Bollen said.

'This will be on top of the standby generator which we currently have.'

The expert team includes four engineers from the builder, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, an amusement ride specialist from German-based TUV SUD, and three others, the Flyer said.

'It is now critical for Singapore Flyer to assure the authorities of their safety standards for operations to resume,' Jeannie Lim, a director with the Singapore Tourism Board, told AFP.

TUV SUD, which says it has tested amusement rides around the world, including the Flyer, told AFP there was never any danger to passengers during the breakdown.

The Flyer could not immediately give details of the three earlier stoppages, and told AFP it was 'premature' to discuss revenue lost during the current shutdown.

Asian tourists are generally very wary of malfunctioning amusement rides 'and it's important for these incidents to not turn into a long-term public relations issue for Singapore,' said Jonathan Galaviz, of Las Vegas-based travel and leisure consultancy Globalysis Ltd.

In the latest incident, most passengers were stuck inside the Flyer's enclosed cabins until power was restored but 10 escaped using rescue harnesses.

Two were taken to hospital.

Ms Lim said the longer-term impact of the incident on Singapore's overall tourism appeal should be limited.

'With the right steps taken to prevent the likelihood of such occurrences in the future, and measures taken to ensure that the necessary emergency response plans are in place, we believe that public confidence in the Singapore Flyer can be restored,' she said.

John Koldowski, of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, called the breakdown 'a red-faced thing' but agreed it should not have much impact on Singapore tourism. -- AFP