Sailboat carrying Ukrainian family docked at Taichung for repairs

Sailboat carrying Ukrainian family docked at Taichung for repairs

2023-11-29

A Ukrainian family of three has been granted a 30-day permit to stay in Taiwan, so that they can repair their sailboat. The family was heading to the Philippines when their vessel broke down, forcing them to dock at Taichung. Speaking to Taiwan media, they said they’d been living at sea ever since escaping the Russia-Ukraine war.

A sailboat is moored at Wuqi Fishing Port. Its deck is filled with household items.

This family of three hails from Ukraine, and the sailboat is their home.

Valeriy’s wife
Ukrainian
Now I have left our home because it is a very dangerous situation and we can’t be there.

The boat is steered by the father of the family, 41-year-old Valeriy. Five years ago, he embarked on a tour of Asia via sailboat. After the war broke out in Ukraine last year and put his family in peril, he went home to get his wife and son, so that they could travel together. Their original plan was to go to the Philippines to buy parts for boat repairs. But on Nov. 22, the ship’s rudder failed, and they were forced to dock at a nearby port.

Valeriy
Ukrainian
Now it’s step by step, first safety for my family and safety for my boat. And after, I think about everything else.

Valeriy’s son
Ukrainian
Everybody is good in Asia, especially in Taiwan. I do not worry.

The family of three is fleeing the war by sailing the seven seas. They were forced to make an emergency stop in Taiwan, which granted them seven days to repair the vessel. Their time was up on Wednesday, but the repairs were still not complete. The National Immigration Agency intervened to give them a 30-day extension.

Chen Ying-tsung
Taichung official
The malfunction happened at night, and they sailed straight over. We’re letting them stay at Wuqi Fishing Port to repair the boat.

Lai Chien-chun
National Immigration Agency official
The three are visitors, and their destination is the Philippines. They are not seeking asylum.

The National Immigration Agency says the family was granted a 30-day entry permit, in accordance with the relevant regulations. The family says they are thankful for the help received during their unexpected stop in Taiwan.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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烏克蘭1家3口開船躲戰亂方向舵故障停台中港求援

2023-11-29

俄烏戰爭持續延燒，22日有一艘外籍帆船，船上的一家三口都是烏克蘭籍，在前往菲律賓途中，因為方向舵故障，突然停靠台中港求助。三人表示是為了躲避戰爭，開船到國外旅遊，移民署也緊急協助申辦短期簽證，獲外交部核發臨時入國停留許可30日，等待船隻修復。

帆船停靠梧棲漁港，甲板船艙載著家當。

Valeriy一家三口來自烏克蘭，這段時間以船為家。

[[烏克蘭人 Valeriy(太太)]]
“我離開我們的家園，因為那裡現在處於很危險的情況，我們沒辦法待在那裡。”

負責開船的41歲的男子Valeriy，五年前，開船到韓國旅遊，結果去年烏俄戰火延燒，擔心家人安危，他決定把妻小接出來，一同旅行，原本計畫到菲律賓採購零件維修船隻，沒想到22日方向舵突然故障，緊急靠港求助。

[[烏克蘭人 Valeriy]]
“第一步是要確保我家人和我的船的安全，之後再去思考其他事情。”

[[烏克蘭人 Valeriy(兒子)]]
“亞洲的每個地方都很好，尤其是台灣，所以我不擔心。”

一家三口躲避戰爭，開船出海，這回意外停靠台灣，但船隻還沒修繕完，7天的停留期限，29日就到期，移民署也緊急介入，協助申辦30天停留簽證。

[[台中海資所長陳英琮]]
“他是晚上的時間，船故障，就直接開進來。我們會再繼續讓他在梧棲漁港裡面來進行整修。”

[[移民署國境事務大隊長賴建均]]
“該三人係旅遊行程，目的地為菲律賓，非屬庇護案件。”

移民署台中港國境事務隊表示，已依規定核發臨時入國停留許可30日。這趟旅行意外停靠台灣，三人也不斷感謝台灣人的幫助。

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