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Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, to a question by the Hon Steven Ho Chun-yin in the Legislative Council today (February 20):
Question:
In the morning of January 19 this year, several fishing vessels caught fire one after another at the typhoon shelter opposite Sam Shing Estate in Tuen Mun (the blaze). Not until eight hours later was the blaze put out. A total of four "hang trawlers" were ravaged and one of them even capsised and sank. Moreover, a number of vessel fires have occurred within the waters of Hong Kong in recent years, and in a vessel fire in Castle Peak Bay last June, the vessel owner even died in the raging flame. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the general response time for the eight fireboats and speed boats currently in Hong Kong to arrive at various typhoon shelters, sea bays and water areas from their respective berths (set out in the table of Question Annex, and put a mark "/" for areas beyond their service area);
(b) given that in the blaze it took as long as about 20 and 40 minutes respectively for the first speed boat and fireboat to arrive at the fire scene after the call, whether it has assessed if this situation was one of the reasons for the ravaging or sinking of the vessels; if the assessment outcome is in the affirmative, whether it will conduct any review and what are the details of such review; if it has not, of the reasons for that;
(c) given that some fishermen have relayed that in the blaze the water pressure of the fire hoses on the speed boats was even weaker than that from the hoses of water supply vessels, rendering it difficult to put out the fires expeditiously, and electronic system failure has happened in some fireboats in the past, whether the Fire Services Department (FSD) will conduct a comprehensive review on the equipment of the fireboats and speed boats; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(d) given the increased fire hazards during the fishing moratorium in the South China Sea and some festivities (e.g. the Lunar New Year, Tin Hau Festival as well as the Spring and Autumn Ancestral Offerings Ceremonies) when a large number of fishing vessels return to berth at the typhoon shelters, whether FSD will put in place fire-fighting measures which are more effective (e.g. deploying fireboats to station at various typhoon shelters and sea bays round-the-clock) or other measures before the next peak season when fishing vessels return to berth, with a view to preventing the spread of vessel fires at typhoon shelters; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(e) given that some fishermen have relayed that fireboats are not stationed at typhoon shelters at present, save for the Aberdeen and Cheung Chau typhoon shelters, and Fireboat 5 berthed at Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal even has to service the water areas of the entire New Territory West, rendering some sea bays and typhoon shelters beyond the reach of fireboats, thus jeopardising the safety of the vessels, whether the authorities will purchase more fireboats of newer models and set up a "fireboat fire station" at each sea bay and typhoon shelter and deploy at least one fireboat to station at each sea bay and typhoon shelter; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the five parts of the question is as follows:
(a) The time it generally takes for various fireboats and fire speedboats of the Fire Services Department (FSD) to arrive at the typhoon shelters or sea bays within their main service areas from their respective fireboat stations or berths is set out at the table of the Reply Annex.
(b) At 10.50am on January 19 this year, the Fire Services Communication Centre received a fire call reporting that there was a fishing vessel fire at the Tuen Mun Typhoon Shelter. FSD immediately despatched two fire speedboats and three fireboats, which were nearest to the incident scene, for fire-fighting and rescue operation.
The first speedboat arrived at the scene at 11.09am (i.e. 19 minutes (Note 1) after the receipt of the call). It activated the water monitor on the board for fire-fighting and commenced rescue and search operation. In the meantime, a marine police launch and a customs launch equipped with fire-fighting equipment also discharged water to assist in extinguishing the fire. At that time, Fireboat No.5, which stations at Tuen Mun, was carrying out fire service duties in other parts of its service area. After receiving the fire call, it immediately headed towards the scene and arrived 40 minutes afterwards.
FSD pointed out that according to the fire call, the fire at the concerned fishing vessel was already vigorous at that time and was spreading to the adjacent fishing vessels because of the wind. As the hull and deck of the fishing vessels were made up of a large amount of fiberglass materials and there were several explosions involving liquefied petroleum gas cylinders on the vessels, the spreading of the fire was intensified and caused severe damage to four fishing vessels. One of the fishing vessels had already leant to right at the early stage of the fire and the fire had caused damage to its hull, leading to severe water ingress into the hull and the sinking of the vessel.
(c) FSD conducts overall review on its marine fire-fighting and rescue strategies in Hong Kong as well as the related equipment from time to time. The present fire-fighting and rescue equipment of FSD for handling marine incidents are of similar standards to those used by other advanced regions. The fire speedboat that first arrived at the scene in the incident was equipped with one water monitor and fire-fighting hoses and other equipment. Its fire pump can discharge water at a maximum rate of 450 litres per minute and with a reach of 26 metres. Fire speedboats have higher speed and offer greater flexibility for operation, thereby enabling speedier arrival of firemen at the scene for fire-fighting and rescue operation.
The Marine Department (MD) is responsible for the maintenance and repair of all FSD's vessels. It also prepares regular maintenance schedule for each of the vessels to ensure that the equipment on them is kept in good condition.
(d) A larger number of vessels will return to berth at the typhoon shelters during fish moratorium and festive periods. In the light of this, FSD will deploy vessels to major typhoon shelters during morning, noon and evening sessions daily to conduct inspection and broadcast fire safety messages to remind fishermen of fire safety. In view of the increased fire risks in the Tuen Mun Typhoon Shelter during fish moratorium and the Lunar New Year holidays, FSD will also particularly deploy fire speedboat and firemen on standby and conduct inspection at the Shelter, with a view to strengthening its fire safety during those periods.
Moreover, FSD and related departments will organise thematic talks on fire prevention to remind fishermen about the use and maintenance of electrical installations on vessels and teach them the correct way to use a fire extinguisher, etc. This will help to strengthen their fire safety awareness and prevent fire. On the other hand, FSD will also conduct fire drills at sea in collaboration with the Police and MD so as to enhance the efficiency of fire-fighting and rescue operation.
FSD will continue to monitor the number of fishing vessels berthed at individual typhoon shelters during fish moratorium and the periods leading up to and after various festivals, and will consider deploying fire speedboats and firemen on standby and to conduct inspection at the shelters so as to provide more efficient fire-fighting and rescue services in case of a fire.
(e) At present, FSD takes into consideration the overall risk assessment of different regions, including the distribution of vessels, utilisation of shipping channels, existence of high risk facilities on the sea and along the coastline, etc., in deciding the location of fireboat stations and the stationing of fireboats. On whether a fireboat would be deployed at a particular typhoon shelter, it depends on whether the concerned shelter is at a strategic location within that water area, and whether it may provide a suitable berth for the fireboat, e.g. whether the water depth of the shelter is sufficient, etc. FSD has deployed fireboats at the Aberdeen and Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelters as they facilitate the provision of fire-fighting and rescue services to the southern waters of Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island as well as the southern waters of Cheung Chau and Lautau Island respectively, and the water depth of the two shelters is sufficient.
In addition, FSD is proceeding with the replacement of Fireboat No.7. The new Fireboat No.7 is expected to be in operation in end 2014 and is planned to be deployed to the Tuen Mun Fireboat Station to strengthen the marine fire-fighting and rescue services for the northwestern waters including Tuen Mun.
FSD will closely monitor various developments in Hong Kong waters and assess the fire risk from time to time. It will also review the deployment of fire service resources and operation strategies regularly and make appropriate arrangement in light of the needs of individual areas or periods, including the deployment of fire speedboats and firemen on standby at the shelters in specific periods. FSD will also continue to strengthen its fire safety publicity and education efforts at the shelters to enhance fire safety awareness of fishermen for fire prevention purpose.
Note 1: The concerned fire speedboat took a longer time to arrive at the Tuen Mun Typhoon Shelter than what is normally required as there were more vessels on the sea than usual.
Ends/Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:42
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