Only one of the boats registered in Macau
The Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) said in a statement yesterday morning that as the flames on five fishing boats near the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal had reignited overnight, they finally sank due to the serious damage caused by Monday’s huge blaze involving six vessels.
According to the statement, one of the six burning boats was towed from the blazing scene to the closest wharf on Monday night. The statement added that DSAMA officials will soon inspect the boat which was towed away from the fire to investigate the cause of the blaze. The statement said that DSAMA vessels had been shooting water at the other five fishing boats until yesterday morning, but the fire in the hulls of the boats rekindled. The statement said that it believed that as the fuel tanks on the boats were full, early yesterday morning the fire was still raging and in the end destroyed and sank the five boats.
The statement said that DSAMA vessels were cleaning up the oil spillage yesterday, and the bureau urged different types of vessels to assist with the clean-up operation.
The statement pointed out that as one of the boats sank in the ferry service route between Wanzai and Macau, the bureau suspended the service until 3 p.m. yesterday.
Repairs to cost at least 1.5 million patacas per boat
Macau Association of Ocean Fishing Development and Shipowners Vice-Chairman Leung Kam Kit told reporters yesterday near the scene of the fire that he did not understand why the government did not allow the fishing boats’ owners to break the chains tethering the boats together after the fire had erupted, adding that the DSAMA official did not have sufficient equipment to put out the fire. Leung estimated that the repairs would cost each owner at least 1.5 million patacas, adding that as most of the insurance companies do not cover fishing boats or the coverage is too low, most of the owners did not have insurance that could cover the entire cost of repairs. Leung urged the government to provide subsidies and loans to help the owners recover from the catastrophe.
Meanwhile, one of the fishing boat owners’ son, surnamed Sin, told reporters that when the fire broke out, no crew members were aboard but having dinner on land. Sin said that he questioned the government’s method of putting out the fire, early yesterday morning when the fire reignited, the government vessels did not try to rescue the boats but only hosed them from a distance, which consequently led to another explosion.
Govt providing assistance
Meanwhile, according to a separate DSAMA statement yesterday afternoon, DSAMA officials, Macau Customs Service officers, Fire Services Bureau (CB) officers and Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) officials met with the victims of the blaze at the headquarters of the Macau Fishermen’s Mutual Help Association yesterday to extend their condolences after the “unfortunate fire”.
The bureau promised to allow the owners of the fishing boats to board the vessels once the fire is completely extinguished. The statement noted that of the six affected fishing boats only one is registered in Macau, while the remainder are registered in Hong Kong. The bureau said that it will help the local fishing boat’s owner apply for a loan, while it will assist the owners of the boats registered in Hong Kong to seek assistance from the Hong Kong authorities. The statement said that the IAS officials also told the owners that they could contact the bureau’s 24-hour hotline on 2826 1126 for further assistance.
The statement noted that as the fishing boats are made of wood and contain combustible and inflammable items, the blaze resulted in towering flames and thick black smoke. The statement said that yesterday there was still the possibility of explosions, so none of the rescue vessels got close to the boats. The statement underlined that the customs officers and DSAMA officials had tried their best to extinguish the blaze, hoping for the boat owners and their family members’ understanding.
Meanwhile, the Fire Services Bureau (CB) said in a statement that five boat owners, aged between 36 and 63, felt unwell yesterday due to emotional issues in response to the disaster affecting their livelihoods.
This handout photo taken and provided by the Water and Marine Bureau (DSAMA) yesterday shows its vessels and Macau Customs Service vessels shooting water at some of the six fishing boats gutted by Monday’s huge blaze in the Inner Harbour.
