Today (12/6) in the early morning, a Thai migrant worker was involved in a construction accident at the North Extension Wharf Caisson Temporary Storage Area in Taipei Port. Due to a collision between the construction vessel and the platform, the worker was hit by a cover plate, fell into the sea, and despite rescue efforts, was pronounced dead. Port of Keelung, Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd stated that Hwang Chang General Contractor, responsible for the project, was engaged in the construction of the "Extension of the Outer Contour Breakwater for the Kwangtung Receiving Station Expansion Project" by Taiwan CPC Corporation. The incident has been reported to labor inspection authorities as required.
Keelung Port Authority stated that Hwang Chang General Contractor was conducting caisson towing operations at 4 am in the North Extension Wharf Caisson Temporary Storage Area. After the caisson floated, it was towed by a main construction tugboat toward the wharf entrance. Due to the caisson getting stuck in the mud, a secondary tugboat assisted in pushing from behind, suspected to cause the caisson to slide, leading to a Thai worker falling into the caisson.
Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd. clarified that Hwang Chang General Contractor is contracted for the "Extension of the Outer Contour Breakwater for the Kwangtung Receiving Station Expansion Project" by Taiwan CPC Corporation, and they are not an outsourced contractor commissioned by Taiwan Ports Corporation. The company leases maritime space at Taipei Port for caisson prefabrication and temporary storage. The accident involving the construction tugboat (workboat) during caisson towing is not considered a collision involving a commercial ship.
Port of Keelung, Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd pointed out that the fallen Thai worker was urgently transported to Mackay Memorial Hospital in Tamsui at 5:51 am, and at 5:57 am, the hospital determined the worker's death. The construction company has reported the incident to labor inspection authorities in accordance with regulations.
〔udn.com Taipei Instant Report from Reporter Zhou Xiangyun/〕2024-01-06 16:15
〔photo from Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd〕