105 Swan Boats at Hualien Liyu Lake Pass Inspection, Aiming for Pre-Summer Vacation Reopening

(Central News Agency, Reporter Chang Chi, Hualien County, June 18) Following a pedal boat capsizing accident during the Lunar New Year holiday at Hualien's Liyu Lake, which resulted in the drowning of a 9-year-old boy, all recreational vessels were suspended from operation. The Hualien County Government announced today that 105 swan boats have completed safety inspections and are awaiting review by the Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, with operations expected to resume gradually before the summer vacation.

After the capsizing incident, the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, in accordance with Article 7 of the Regulations Governing Water Recreation Activities, announced the suspension of business operations for passenger boats and water pedal boats (swan boats) at Liyu Lake starting March 5. Operators are only permitted to operate after obtaining relevant permits from the competent authority and passing inspections.

As the competent authorities for floating devices (swan boats) are the Maritime and Port Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and county/city governments, and regulations are handled according to self-governing laws, a decision was made after consultation between central and local governments for the Hualien County Government to establish safety checks for floating devices in accordance with the Maritime and Port Bureau's operational guidelines, after which applications for resuming operations can be submitted to the Administration.

The Hualien County Government's Tourism Department stated today that the 105 swan boats, including both electric and pedal-powered vessels, have completed safety inspections and obtained safety inspection reports certified by third-party professional naval architects. These are awaiting review by the Administration, with the earliest possible resumption of operations before the summer vacation.

The Tourism Department indicated that due to limited inspection personnel, over 30 more swan boats are still awaiting testing and submission for review. Additionally, 5 SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboard) operators have received approval from the Administration to resume operations after self-inspections, while the remaining 3 are in the process of submitting supplementary documents.

The Tourism Department explained that passenger boats like yachts are inspected by the Maritime and Port Bureau, while the county government is responsible for inspecting swan boats carrying 3 to 4 passengers. In the future, operators of floating devices carrying 2 or fewer passengers, such as SUPs, will be required to undergo an annual safety inspection, and floating devices carrying 3 or more passengers will be inspected every 3 years. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1150618

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