Taiwan’s first whale-watching boat is back at sea after six months of repairs

2022-07-29

The whale-watching boat Haijing is back on the water, much to the joy of its owners and fans. The boat was one of two that burned down while at port in January, and the pandemic meant delays to its repair. The boat’s operator said the pandemic had already chipped away at his business, so the fire was an especially hard blow. Now, Haijing - a boat that many have fond memories of from its 20 years in operation - is back in action, ready to take ocean-lovers off into the horizon.

Three dolphins swim in unison next to the boat, diving in and out of the water. It’s a captivating sight for the passengers on board this whale-watching boat.

This boat is the Haijing. Before it sets off on its inaugural trip, the crew set off firecrackers to christen the vessel. However, this is not a new vessel. It is more of a phoenix that has reemerged from the ashes.

In January this year, Haijing and one other boat moored at Shitiping Fishing Harbor caught fire. The two boats were more than 20 years old.

Lin Kuo-cheng
Boat captain
When we sent the boat off for repair, we had knots in our heart. Due to the pandemic the workers at the factory were away from work, which caused a long delay in the repairs. Actually, these past few years the business has experienced negative growth, and after the boat caught fire we felt like we had to just give up. After all the years we had that boat, of course we had feelings toward it.

Voice of Ms. Yu
Dolphin researcher
It’s very touching, because it’s our old friend. Actually, when Haijing was damaged it was hard for us. Now, it’s been restored – and restored to even newer, even greater, even better condition. It can once again take those of us who are passionate about the sea, or passionate about dolphins back out onto the open water.

Haijing, which is registered to Hualien’s Fengbin Township, was Taiwan’s first whale-watching boat. Its popularity kicked off a surge in interest in whale watching. Now, after being out for repairs for half a year, Haijing has been reborn anew.

Lin Kuo-cheng
Boat captain
It took about a month to do the inspection after the repairs. The deck had burned up, so that was completely replaced, which means that all the equipment is the same as that of a new boat. Therefore, it had to undergo all the same safety tests as a new boat. So, my friends, there is no need to worry – it is completely safe.

After half a year out of water, Taiwan’s first whale-watching boat is back at sea. For sea lovers, Haijing’s resurrection is like the return of an old friend.

"海鯨號"浴火重生重新啟航海豚熱情迎接

2022-07-29

花蓮豐濱鄉石梯坪漁港是台灣賞鯨的發源地，今年一月全台首艘賞鯨船遭到大火燒毀，業者花了半年的修復，一個月的檢驗，終於正式啟航保證。長期搭乘海鯨號出海觀察海豚的研究人員也說，修復後，船隻變得更新更好，海豚的親近程度也不減當年。

三隻海豚，動作一致，下潛再抬頭，進出水面的每一秒，都能引起賞鯨船上遊客的驚嘆。

這艘船叫海鯨號，出航前，點燃一長串鞭炮，爆竹聲四起，炸出新氣象。像是新船下水，但其實是老將的王者回歸。

因為今年一月，花蓮石梯坪漁港，海鯨號兩艘賞鯨船遭付祝融，兩艘船的船齡都達20年以上。

[[海鯨號船主林國正]]
“送出去維修開始，我們心中的糾結，因為疫情，工廠的員工脫班、脫工，延誤非常多時間。其實我們在這幾年當中業務量是負成長的，船被火燒了之後我們也覺得要放棄了。這麼多年下來，當然我們對這艘船也有感情。”

[[聲源 : 鯨豚研究人員余小姐]]
“很感動，因為我們熟悉的老朋友，其實它(船)當初受傷時我們很難過，現在又看它康復了，而且甚至變得更新更棒更好，再載著所有熱愛海洋、熱愛鯨船的人回到海上。”

花蓮豐濱鄉的海鯨號是國內第一家正式營業的賞鯨業者，開啟國內的賞鯨風潮，歷經半年多修復，如今浴火重生、揚帆啟航

[[海鯨號船主林國正]]
“花費了將近一個月時間做檢查，被燒掉的上甲板整個都換新，等於所有的設備跟儀器，都已經跟新船沒什麼兩樣，安全測試度跟新船是一樣的，所以朋友們不用擔心，很安全的。”

整艘船經過大整修，就如同新船一般，但鯨豚對船隻的熟悉與友善，絲毫不減半分。海鯨號以更新的風貌盛大回歸，業者希望能夠帶回人潮，重現往日風光。