*********************************************************
The Marine Department (MD), the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) conducted a joint inspection and vessel fire safety publicity activity at the Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter this afternoon (November 4). Officers of the MD checked whether the vessels met requirements, including keeping effective and sufficient fire-fighting equipment, and had no excessive amount of inflammable substances and dangerous goods on board. Since the vessels being inspected by the MD complied with the requirements, no verbal warnings were issued and no prosecutions were made.
After holding with relevant departments a seminar on fire prevention in typhoon shelters for representatives of typhoon shelter users, officers of the MD, the FSD, the HKPF, the FEHD and the AFCD also distributed promotional leaflets to persons-in-charge and workers of vessels during the inspection today. The activities served to remind them to keep effective and sufficient life-saving and fire-fighting equipment on board. Ship owners and masters of vessels should properly maintain and regularly inspect the equipment.
In addition, the crew should follow appropriate fire prevention measures, including keeping a close watch on fire when cooking, using up-to-standard cooking stoves, ensuring no miscellaneous articles are placed near cooking appliances when cooking, and not placing an excessive amount of inflammable substances and dangerous goods on board. Inspection and maintenance of devices such as cooking appliances, machinery and electrical installations should be carried out periodically by qualified persons. To prevent overheating of machinery on vessels, crews should facilitate heat dissipation by keeping a clean and orderly environment and ensuring good ventilation. Welding and metal cutting works on board should be carried out by qualified persons and away from inflammable substances. Crews should pay attention to electrical installations nearby and arrange for a crew member to stay on guard with a fire extinguisher.
When joss sticks and paper are burnt on board, they should be burnt in metal containers and away from other items with the crew on board keeping watch on them. The ashes should be sprayed with water to ensure fire is completely extinguished before disposal. The crew should stay alert to the burning process, the movement of the vessel and the wind direction to prevent fire caused by scattered kindling. Crew members should not smoke in places such as beds and cabins, and cigarette ends should be completely extinguished before disposal.
In case of fire, the public should call the 999 emergency hotline immediately, and fire extinguishing equipment such as fire extinguishers and fire hoses should be used safely to control the fire.
A spokesperson for the MD said that the passage areas in typhoon shelters provide emergency access for rescue vessels in addition to allowing the navigation of vessels. Typhoon shelter users should ensure that the passage areas are unobstructed. Unauthorised vessels should not take up any position or be berthed, moored, anchored or secured in a passage area.
Ends/Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:50
NNNN
