A fishing vessel keeled over on Sunday morning off Pier 28 at the Inner Harbour, the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) said in a statement later that day, pointing out that no one was injured in the incident.
According to the statement, the owner of the boat informed the police about the vessel listing to port (left) and taking on water. Therefore, the statement added, the Macau Customs Service immediately notified Macau’s Vessel Traffic Control Centre (Macao VTS). Afterwards, DSAMA vessels were sent to the scene to handle the situation, the statement noted.
The statement underlined that no one was on the boat when it keeled over, so no injuries were caused.
The bureau reminded the fishing sector that crew members must remain on board their vessels when they are at anchor so that they can respond to emergencies and minimise their losses.
The bureau said in another statement on Sunday that the DSAMA vessels found that there was oil leaking from the boat, therefore oil pollution prevention equipment, such as oil absorbent cotton, was put in the sea surrounding the boat, in order to control the situation before the oil spill spread. The statement added that due to the situation the vessel has been surrounded by chemical dispersants and suction linoleum. In order to minimise the possibility of an oil spill, containment booms have been set up around the boat, the statement noted.
According to the statement, the vessel did not affect the navigation of the channel, as it was located at the anchorage of the Inner Harbour, adding that the boat owner arranged a special vessel to lift the boat from the sea yesterday. The statement noted that DSAMA boats were sent to provide assistance, including handling the oil spill and pumping water from the fishing vessel during the lifting process.
This handout photo provided by the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) on Sunday shows a fishing vessel keeling over off Pier 28 in the Inner Harbour on Sunday morning.
