DANNY LEE DANNY.LEE@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 22 September, 2015, 11:41am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 22 September, 2015, 12:18pm
At least one attempt to notify police resulted in a caller being directed to the Marine Department. Photo: Sam Tsang
A semi-submersible barge looked precariously and partially submerged on Tuesday morning, appearing to the naked eye to be sinking and prompting some members of the public to notify police.
The ship, thought to be used for reclamation works in Victoria Harbour, had small banners placed around it reading “work in progress”. The ship is currently located just north of Wan Chai Ferry Pier.
It appeared that the barge was unloading precast units. A notice posted on the Marine Department website stated that reclamation-related works were to be carried out from September 21 onwards.
Yet the sight of a lopsided barge worried many, including those working in offices overseeing the harbour.
The barge had a banner attached to it reading 'works in progress'. Photo Sam TsangOne office worker at the AIA tower in Fortress Hill said, “Everyone was kind of shocked because it looked like half of the ship had already sunk.”
She said the ‘sinking barge” was visible shortly before 10am and thought it conspicuous and that someone should have contacted the police by then.
“But there was only a small boat next to it, so we weren’t sure if the police were aware of what was happening,” the office worker added.
She decided to call 999 shortly after 10am and was put through to the Marine Department, which said it had sent a boat there to check.
The office worker consulted the department’s website and learned that a semi-submersible barge was to be involved in unloading work.
The Marine Department has been contacted for comment.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1860317/sinking-feeling-and-alarm-partially-submerged
