The experts have been working closely with the Singapore Flyer team and its contractors ever since the incident occurred on December 23.

The panel will look into the cause of the wheel stoppage, as well as recommend measures to restore and improve the wheel’s operations.

The wheel’s built-to-purpose contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has flown in four senior engineers from its Kobe head office. TÜV SÜD, which certifies and validates the wheel’s operations, has also brought in its China-based amusement ride specialist.

The Singapore Flyer management has also engaged the services of three professionals:

-    Richard Barnes from Systems & Safety Consultancy (Which specialises in the inspection and assessment of leisure and amusement rides including other giant observation wheels the London Eye and Melbourne Star) 

-    Rick McCulloch , Group Projects Director, Great Wheel Corporation

-   Ben Chaston Director, Turner and Townsend
 
“Structurally and mechanically, it is a sound and well-built device. People are perfectly safe whilst they are in the capsules. They cannot fall out. However, there is a limit to the length of time that we can allow people to stay in the capsules before they become uncomfortable,” said Mr. Barnes.
 
“The wheel is an incredibly complex piece of equipment and we are now going to look at the design to see if there is more that we can do to make it even safer,” he added.

Meanwhile, Singapore Flyer’s General Manager, Steven Yeo clarified that rope- lowering was employed alongside efforts to restore the wheel movement. It was done  to:  

(1)    Expedite the evacuation of passengers on the lower capsules. Passengers were lowered only after they gave their consent, and
(2)    Provide supplies – such as sandwiches, water and milk – to passengers, especially those with special needs, like babies.

“Technical teams were immediately deployed to identify and rectify the problem. However, it was not possible to immediately know how long the repair process would take. It was decided after three hours to start evacuating only those people who wished to be lowered by ropes out of the lower capsules. The top priority was always to repair the wheel and return the capsules to ground level,” stressed Mr. Yeo.

“All passengers were brought safely to the ground,” he added.

Mr Florian Bollen, Chairman, Singapore Flyer, said: “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. This will be on top of the standby generator which we currently have. We will only apply for Singapore Flyer to be open again to the public once we, the experts and the authorities are entirely satisfied with the results.”