Photo: HKPF
Sai Kung has always been a hot spot for Hong Kong people to engage in water sports. However, accidents at sea are occurring more frequently in recent years, as BUZZ has recorded. In the first seven months of this year, there were 65 accidents at sea, and eight fatal accidents were recorded, compared to 76 rescue missions in Sai Kung last year, with eight deaths. The Marine Police East Division has announced that it has rented two jet skis from Japan’s YAMAHA to strengthen the rescue capability at sea, especially in shallow water areas. The trial period is two years, and a two-year trial plan was launched yesterday (15/8). The police did not disclose the rental amount.
The two newly rented jet skis have no exposed propellers, which will help strengthen the rescue capabilities in shallow water, beaches and crowded areas. The passenger capacity of the water motorcycle is three people. Each time, two police officers will drive the water motorcycle to carry out the task, and another rescued person can be carried. During the rescue operation, the marine police will simultaneously dispatch a support ship to let the rescued people board the ship.
The jet-ski can reach 50 nautical miles per hour, has a length of 3.58 metres, and a width of 1.27 metres. It has high flexibility and manoeuvrability. It is expected to arrive at the scene within 15 minutes after receiving the report.
“At the moment, we do have some shallow water craft, but they’re still limited by the [shore],” Kezia Tsang Kit-ying, the assistant divisional commander of the marine east division, said on Tuesday. She also commented that with the tailboard behind the jet ski, the Marine Police can pull the rescued person out of the water faster than the support boat.
She also pointed out that police officers who drive jet skis need to hold marine police professional sailing qualifications, life-saving bronze medals, good physique and swimming skills, and rich sailing experience. There are currently 16 officers from the Marine Police East Division participating in the pilot programme.
Tsang said that the trial plan will last for two years and will undergo the first round of review in November this year. During this time, police will assess whether the jet ski can perform tasks in bad weather, as well as the effectiveness of cooperation with the drone team, etc.; then the second phase of the test will be carried out from March to April next year.
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