The Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) said in a statement yesterday that it started yesterday morning to salvage the five sunken fishing boats in the Inner Harbour, adding that it expected the operation to take about five to seven days.
According to the statement, after the six fishing boats caught fire last Monday, one of them was towed away from the blazing scene, while another floated close to the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal and sunk there, whereas the other four sank in situ.
The statement said that as the boat that sank near the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal has been affecting other vessels, the bureau yesterday started the salvage work on it first. The statement said that the boat has been lifted out of the water, to be moved to another location. The statement added that in the next few days, the bureau will then work on salvaging the other four sunken vessels.
The statement noted that the salvage work would require lifting the boats out of the water and extracting the water inside the vessels. The bureau said that the process was both costly and complicated.
According to the statement, the bureau has already set up a temporary location for the salvaged fishing boats, allowing their owners to check up on the vessels. The statement said that in the process, the bureau will send out a number of vessels to extract the water from the ill-fated boats, handle the oil and direct the water traffic. The statement also pointed out that, for the time being, when boats enter the Inner Harbour, they will receive an announcement urging them to be on the lookout for the salvaging work. The statement also pointed out that the ferry service between Macau and Wanzai cannot sail on its usual route but the service has not been suspended because of the operation.
This handout photo provided by the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) yesterday shows one of its vessels salvaging one of the five fishing boats that sank during last Monday’s blaze.
