Hong Kong typhoon shelter blaze highlights need to fire up expansion plans
City needs a strategy for expansion of Hong Kong’s typhoon shelter capacity, and to make sure each shelter is well-equipped to deal with fire safety.
The spectacular night of fires at Aberdeen Harbour early last Sunday morning has been reported in the media around the world.
Vessels ablaze incidents occur regrettably regularly in Hong Kong. Another vessel burned early on June 18 off the Eastern Channel in Tseung Kwan O. Ten vessels were lost in 2015, one in 2016, and another six were damaged in 2019 at Shau Kei Wan. In 2018, seven boats were lost at Clear Water Bay marina. In 2020, three were damaged in Kwun Tong and one in Aberdeen.
The latest fire impacting small vessels started in the early morning. Apparently a late-night BBQ party had gone awry. Reportedly more than 30 vessels were impacted and 20 sank. The fires which started around 2am were only considered under control around 9am.
While some are quick to focus on live-aboard concerns, questions must be raised as to why so many vessels were impacted, and why it took around seven hours to bring the situation under control.
Boat fires are different from fires onshore. Wooden and glass-reinforced plastic boats burn well and they have petrol and cooking gas on board.
On Sunday, every time a fire appeared to be under control, the flames jumped to the next vessel because of wind, exploding gas tanks, and burning fuel leaking from sinking boats.
Observers on-site reported that fire services teams may have lacked suitable equipment. The fire boat which attended was too large for the tight spaces among the many moored vessels. Equipment to cut nearby boats loose and to drag them away from burning vessels was sparse.
Fortunately, eight new firefighting speedboats, each equipped with a powerful water cannon, are on order. They will need to be strategically located where vessels take shelter.
Other than equipment, we need a strategy in Hong Kong for expansion of our typhoon shelter capacity throughout the city to cope with the growing fleet of pleasure vessels, and to make sure each shelter is well equipped to deal with fire safety.
Ten years ago, after the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter was partially closed for tunnel work, vessels were moved to the already crowded Aberdeen shelter. In the 2020 Policy Address, the government promised to explore the expansion of the Aberdeen typhoon shelter. This initiative should now be fired up.
The article was first published as a letter by Paul Zimmerman, vice-chairman, Southern District Council; and CEO, Designing Hong Kong; in the South China Morning Post on 2 July 2021.
https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3139445/hong-kong-typhoon-shelter-blaze-highlights-need-fire-expansion
The spectacular night of fires at Aberdeen Harbour early last Sunday morning has been reported in the media around the world.
Vessels ablaze incidents occur regrettably regularly in Hong Kong. Another vessel burned early on June 18 off the Eastern Channel in Tseung Kwan O. Ten vessels were lost in 2015, one in 2016, and another six were damaged in 2019 at Shau Kei Wan. In 2018, seven boats were lost at Clear Water Bay marina. In 2020, three were damaged in Kwun Tong and one in Aberdeen.
The latest fire impacting small vessels started in the early morning. Apparently a late-night BBQ party had gone awry. Reportedly more than 30 vessels were impacted and 20 sank. The fires which started around 2am were only considered under control around 9am.
While some are quick to focus on live-aboard concerns, questions must be raised as to why so many vessels were impacted, and why it took around seven hours to bring the situation under control.
Boat fires are different from fires onshore. Wooden and glass-reinforced plastic boats burn well and they have petrol and cooking gas on board.
On Sunday, every time a fire appeared to be under control, the flames jumped to the next vessel because of wind, exploding gas tanks, and burning fuel leaking from sinking boats.
Observers on-site reported that fire services teams may have lacked suitable equipment. The fire boat which attended was too large for the tight spaces among the many moored vessels. Equipment to cut nearby boats loose and to drag them away from burning vessels was sparse.
Fortunately, eight new firefighting speedboats, each equipped with a powerful water cannon, are on order. They will need to be strategically located where vessels take shelter.
Other than equipment, we need a strategy in Hong Kong for expansion of our typhoon shelter capacity throughout the city to cope with the growing fleet of pleasure vessels, and to make sure each shelter is well equipped to deal with fire safety.
Ten years ago, after the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter was partially closed for tunnel work, vessels were moved to the already crowded Aberdeen shelter. In the 2020 Policy Address, the government promised to explore the expansion of the Aberdeen typhoon shelter. This initiative should now be fired up.
The article was first published as a letter by Paul Zimmerman, vice-chairman, Southern District Council; and CEO, Designing Hong Kong; in the South China Morning Post on 2 July 2021.
https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3139445/hong-kong-typhoon-shelter-blaze-highlights-need-fire-expansion
Previous campaign
Thank you for your support.
Southern District Council unanimously agreed to ask Government to expand the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter on the
south, and to add a second breakwater at the western entrance.
In addition, the Southern District Council agreed:
1 April 2014
Southern District Council unanimously agreed to ask Government to expand the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter on the
south, and to add a second breakwater at the western entrance.
In addition, the Southern District Council agreed:
- To request the Marine Department to speed up its scheduled review of the supply of and demand for berthing space, and
- To meet with boat owners/representatives to minimize conflicts between fishing and pleasure vessels anchored in the western section of the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter during the upcoming fishing moratorium.
1 April 2014
謝謝你們的支持。
南區區議會於星期一的會議上一致同意要求政府向南面擴展香港仔避風塘，及於西面入口增建一條防波堤。
另外，南區區議會亦同意：
2014年4月
南區區議會於星期一的會議上一致同意要求政府向南面擴展香港仔避風塘，及於西面入口增建一條防波堤。
另外，南區區議會亦同意：
- 要求海事處加快展開「本地船隻的停泊處及避風泊位檢討」的步伐。
- 要求海事處與不同船主／代表／持分者會面相討於休魚期期間漁船與遊艇就香港仔西面避風塘泊位衝突的事宜。
2014年4月
