A Hong Kong-registered fishing vessel, named “深蛇XXXX,” ran aground early yesterday morning after colliding with the protective rail of the Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge (informally known as the city’s “old bridge”), the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) said in a statement yesterday.
No injuries were reported, and the incident did not impact navigation safety, the statement said.
At around 9 a.m. yesterday, Macau Customs Service (SA) officers detected a fishing boat deviating from its course via its maritime intelligence monitoring system, the statement said, adding that the vessel was found listing and stranded in the waters off Macau Tower.
Customs officers notified the bureau, and both dispatched rescue boats to the scene, the statement said, adding that four crew members aboard the fishing vessel, all of them mainlanders, were rescued by customs officers.
After checking its smart maritime system and offshore surveillance footage, the Marine and Water Bureau confirmed the vessel’s navigational track and verified the collision with the bridge’s protective rail.
According to the statement, the bureau is investigating the cause of the incident, interviewing the crew, and assessing the damage to the bridge’s infrastructure.
The incident resulted in a small amount of oil being released from the fishing vessel, because of which the bureau activated its emergency response plan, including setting up containment booms and absorbent materials around the vessel to prevent further spread of the oil, as well as cleanup operations.
To ensure the safety of navigation, temporary warning signs have been placed in the area, and navigational alerts have been broadcast to passing vessels, the statement said.
The bureau urged all ships entering and exiting Macau waters to strictly adhere to navigation regulations, follow buoy instructions, and pay attention to tidal information to ensure a safe passage.
The bureau also emphasised its commitment to strengthening waterway oversight and maritime traffic management, pledging to take legal action against vessels that violate navigation rules.
This handout photo provided by the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) yesterday shows the Hong Kong-registered fishing boat, which hit the protective railing of the old Macau-Taipa bridge, run aground off Macau Tower.
