The Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) said in a statement yesterday that it is following up on the incident in which a fishing vessel keeled over off Pier 28 in the Inner Harbour on Sunday morning, adding that the lifting operation was expected to be completed last night.
The statement pointed out that two crane boats arranged by the vessel’s owner arrived at the anchorage off Pier 28 yesterday morning, they secured ropes to the fishing vessel and commenced the lifting work at noon under the supervision of the bureau.
However, the statement noted, as the boat was seriously taking on water and only the cockpit was above the water, and in order to reduce the weight of the vessel and increase its buoyancy, the boat needed to be lifted slowly while pumping the water out of it. The statement added that the lifting operation was expected to be completed last night.
The bureau required the crane boats to filter the water pumped from the fishing vessel before discharging it into the sea, the statement said, adding that DSAMA boats and staff were on the spot to supervise the lifting and handle any emergencies during the process.
According to the statement, the vessel will be berthed at Pier 10 for the owner to check for any damage and clear debris from the boat after lifting, adding that the bureau will continue to carry out various follow-ups, including cleaning up the incident’s oil spill and scanning the seabed, to ensure that there are no obstructions that could affect the fairway.
Moreover, the statement pointed out that during the lifting work, DSAMA boat crew members saw a Hong Kong-registered fishing boat sinking rapidly in the mainland’s coastal waters near Wanzai. Therefore, the statement added, the bureau immediately set up oil absorbers and warning signs at the site and informed its counterparts in Zhuhai. The owner of the Hong Kong-registered boat which sank in Wanzai will arrange for his vessel to be lifted out of the water, the bureau said.
The bureau has reminded fishing organisations, especially owners of wooden fishing vessels, to regularly inspect and pay close attention to their vessels’ structure and safety, as well as to take appropriate measures to prevent accidents.
This handout photo provided by the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) yesterday shows two crane boats yesterday lifting the fishing vessel which keeled over in the Inner Harbour on Sunday.
