Taiwan’s maritime incidents decreased last year by about 30 percent compared with 2021, thanks to the implementation of new safety measures, the Maritime and Port Bureau said yesterday.
A total of 101 maritime incidents were recorded last year, down from 144 in 2021 and a record low, bureau data showed.
Excluding incidents involving fishing vessels, the figure fell to 57 from 93 in 2022.
Photo: screen grab from the bureau’s YouTube channel
The bureau said it had implemented lessons learned following the grounding of vessels in following Typhoon Gaemi in 2024.
The government reduced grounding incidents to five last year from 12 in 2024, by implementing clearance measures within 12 nautical miles (22.2km) of shore before a sea alert for a typhoon is issued, it said.
The bureau carried out 23 clearance operations in Taiwan’s littoral waters last year, including five during typhoons, adding that it reached a goal of “zero grounding incidents” during typhoons last year by relocating 630 vessels, it said.
It also carried out emergency tugboat contracts four times, with all salvage operations successfully completed, it said.
The bureau is looking to expand its at-sea towing and rescue capabilities as it tenders bids for a large tugboat contract, it said.
Separately, more than 99 percent of shipowners have followed new insurance rules that took effect last year, the bureau said.
Since Oct. 15 last year, all shipowners have been required to purchase protection and indemnity insurance plans from the International Group of P&I Clubs, Taiwanese insurance firms or insurers with an international credit rating of “BBB” or higher, it said.
Shipowners who fail to purchase insurance plans from qualified insurers should place a bond and enclose an insurance plan to enter and exit the nation’s commercial seaports, it said.
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