Marine and other authorities from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau carried out a joint exercise in Macau’s coastal waters yesterday morning, with the aim of testing and enhancing their joint capabilities to carry out emergency and rescue operations in the Pearl River Estuary, according to a statement by the Macau Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA).
The joint exercise was conducted in the maritime area north of the entrance to the channel leading to the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal.
According to the statement, yesterday’s exercise simulated a collision between a high-speed passenger ferry and a construction vessel, resulting in damage to the ferry’s engine room, water ingress, and a risk of sinking.
In the simulated scenario, the ferry captain issued a distress signal and deployed a life raft, to which all passengers and crew were evacuated, while the construction vessel also sustained damage, losing its propulsion, and a fire broke out on its bow, prompting the crew to attempt to extinguish the flames.
In the simulated scenario, a man fell overboard from each of the vessels. Upon being notified of the “accident”, the Macau Marine and Water Bureau immediately activated its Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, contacting Macau’s maritime emergency-response authorities, namely the DSAMA and the Macau Customs Service, to launch a rescue operation. However, the statement said, given the severity of the “accident”, the DSAMA also requested the participation of maritime search and rescue units from Guangdong and Hong Kong, and also notified Macau’s Civil Protection Operations Centre.
In the simulated scenario, following the arrival of vessels from the Macau Customs Service and the DSAMA, the individuals in the life raft were transferred to a Macau Customs Service rescue vessel with the support of a DSAMA vessel. Vessels from the Macau Customs Service and the Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration proceeded to search for the two men that had fallen overboard.
As the man who had fallen from the passenger ferry had “sustained serious injuries”, he was transported by a Macau Customs Service vessel to a DSAMA vessel equipped with a helipad, and then airlifted by a helicopter from Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service to the helipad at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal for hospitalisation, the statement said.
Afterwards, an “smart” vessel from the Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration located the man who had fallen from the construction vessel. Under the DSAMA’s coordination, he was rescued by the Hong Kong Government Flying Service helicopter and transported to the helipad at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal for hospitalisation, the statement said.
In the simulated scenario, other vessels from Guangdong and Macau equipped with water cannons sprayed the construction vessel and extinguished the fire. Under the Macau Marine and Water Bureau’s coordination, the Macau Customs Service, the Public Security Police (PSP), the Fire Services Bureau (CB), the Health Bureau (SSM), and the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) provided shoreside services including triage, emergency care, hospitalisation, psychological counselling, and border control for the rescued individuals.
The statement said that yesterday’s exercise was organised by the Macau Marine and Water Bureau’s, with the participation of marine and various other entities from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. In addition to the abovementioned entities, other entities from the three places participating in the exercise also included Macau’s Unitary Police Service (SPU) and Civil Aviation Authority (AACM), the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, the Zhuhai Maritime Safety Administration, the Zhuhai Emergency Management Bureau, and Hong Kong’s Marine Department.
The exercise mobilised 20 vessels, one helicopter, four vehicles, and 262 personnel deployed from the three places.
Vessels from Guangdong and Macau equipped with water cannons spray a construction vessel to extinguish a fire during a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau joint exercise conducted in Macau’s coastal waters yesterday. – Photo: DSAMA
