New offshore firefighting equipment and new regulations to prevent fire on fishing boats are both on the cards following the massive blaze that swept through six vessels in the Inner Harbour in April.
The fire broke out during this year’s three-and-a-half-month fishing moratorium. It started on a fishing boat in the Inner Harbour, and swiftly spread to five others moored together, causing a series of explosions when onboard gas cylinders ignited. Five of the boats sank, but were later salvaged. Only one person sustained minor injuries during the massive blaze.
Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said his bureau has reviewed the situation and has submitted a proposal to the chief executive for a more efficient offshore fire-fighting plan, as there is currently only one vessel in Macao capable of tackling fires offshore. He suggested buying one large and two medium-sized fireboats which would be placed on standby in the Inner Harbour and at Taipa Ferry Terminal. Wong said he expected the three fireboats to be operational within two years.
The Public Security portfolio has faced criticisms for its offshore fire-fighting methods, such as failing to fight fires up close and only hosing them from a distance, which in April led to the fires reigniting overnight, and failing to remove the gas cylinders left inside the fishing boats, which caused a series of explosions.
Wong said that the Fire Services Bureau (CB) officers has recommend the purchase of heavy-duty fire-fighting robots with long-range fire-fighting equipment, in response to the criticisms that the bureau did not have sufficient equipment to put out the fire in the Inner Harbour, especially as the hoses did not have enough range to fight the fire.
Wong said that the government was also proposing to amend the law regulating fire prevention measures for fishing boats, such as limiting the number of gas cylinders on board when the boat is anchored for a long period of time, and making it mandatory for the fisherfolks to keep at least one crew member aboard each fishing boat at all times.
Wong said it was “unrealistic” for more fire-fighters to be tasked with offshore fire-fighting, as there were already two teams from the CB doing the job, as this would result in duplication and waste of human resources. Instead, Wong said, all relevant departments should improve their own rescue capabilities to increase the overall capacity of offshore fire rescue, The Macau Post Daily reported.
