22°17′15.91″N 114°10′25.03″E / 22.2877528°N 114.1736194°E / 22.2877528; 114.1736194
55-461: The Skyluck was a 3,500-ton Panamanian-registered freighter that carried 3,200 Chinese and Vietnamese boat people fleeing Vietnam four years after the fall of Saigon . The ship left Vietnam from the Mekong delta city of Bến Tre , on 24 January 1979, and after a sea voyage entered Hong Kong harbour under the cover of darkness on 8 February 1979. It was discovered and ordered to set anchor by
110-406: A "riot". Six men were acquitted, while four were convicted and received sentences of one to 2½ years. Two of the men later had their sentences reduced by 6 months on appeal. Cargo ship A cargo ship or freighter is a merchant ship that carries cargo , goods , and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year, handling
165-578: A comprehensive 17th-century military book. While the harbour was charted in later maps, the first map depicting it in detail is an 1810 marine chart prepared for the East India Company by Daniel Ross and Philip Maughan, lieutenants of the Bombay Marine . Some of the first recreational activities to take place in the harbour were water competitions such as swimming and water polo in the 1850s, undertaken by members of Hong Kong's first sports club,
220-468: A group of young men unfurled a banner which read in English "Please Help Us", and tossed a message to the press through the wire fencing, which asked that the refugees be allowed to land. Those who did not make it to shore were picked up by launches and returned to the freighter. Those reaching shore were also returned to the ship. A hunger strike was commenced on 12 June, in order to force authorities to allow
275-608: A merchant ship's prefix, denotes that it is a T urbine S teamer. Famous cargo ships include the 2,710 Liberty ships of World War II , partly based on a British design . Liberty ship sections were prefabricated in locations across the United States and then assembled by shipbuilders in an average of six weeks, with the record being just over four days. These ships allowed the Allies in World War II to replace sunken cargo vessels at
330-529: A narrow channel between Indonesia and Singapore / Malaysia , and cargo ships are still commonly targeted. In 2004, the governments of those three nations agreed to provide better protection for the ships passing through the Straits. The waters off Somalia and Nigeria are also prone to piracy, while smaller vessels are also in danger along parts of the South American coasts, Southeast Asian coasts, and near
385-580: A pontoon that had been lashed to the ship to allow food and water delivery. However, the rope ladder was too short and passengers had to jump the remaining 3.5 metres. All of the Skyluck refugees were transported to Chi Ma Wan detention centre on Lantau Island. Within a few weeks, refugees were moved to UNHCR refugee camps, such as the Jubilee Transit Centre in Sham Shui Po. Many ended up immigrating to
440-557: A rate greater than the Kriegsmarine 's U-boats could sink them, and contributed significantly to the war effort, the delivery of supplies, and eventual victory over the Axis powers. Liberty ships were followed by the faster Victory ships . Canada built Park ships and Fort ships to meet the demand for the Allies shipping. The United Kingdom built Empire ships and used US Ocean ships . After
495-590: Is a major tourist attraction of Hong Kong. Lying in the middle of the territory's dense urban region, the harbour is the site of annual fireworks displays and its promenades are used as gathering places for residents and also tourists. The first reference to what is now called Victoria Harbour is found in Zheng He 's sailing maps of the China coast, dated c.1425, which appear in the Wubei Zhi ( A Treatise on Armament Technology ),
550-446: Is estimated that one-third of those who attempted the sea journey, or between 200,000 and 400,000, perished. The journey of the Skyluck occurred during the intensive late-1970s migration period of this 20-year refugee crisis. Of the estimated 800,000 boat people , approximately 230,000 (including 2,600 from the Skyluck ), sought asylum in the former British colony of Hong Kong . The Skyluck left Singapore on 12 January 1979, under
605-417: Is generally considered to be the line formed between the westernmost extremity of Siu Chau Wan (小酒灣) and A Kung Ngam . The western boundary is generally considered to consist of a line drawn from the westernmost point of Hong Kong Island to the westernmost point of Green Island , thence a straight line drawn from the westernmost point of Green Island to the southeasternmost point of Tsing Yi , thence along
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#1732868779969660-433: Is increasing: with bunker fuel consumption at 278 million tonnes per year in 2001, it is projected to be at 500 million tonnes per year in 2020. International standards to dramatically reduce sulphur content in marine fuels and nitrogen oxide emissions have been put in place. Among some of the solutions offered is changing over the fuel intake to clean diesel or marine gas oil, while in restricted waters and cold ironing
715-583: Is intenselly weathered . Victoria Harbour is known for its panoramic night view and skyline, particularly in the direction towards Hong Kong Island where the skyline of skyscrapers is superimposed over the ridges behind. Among the best places to view the harbour are the Peak Tower atop Victoria Peak , or from the piazza at the Cultural Centre or the promenade of Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side. Rides on
770-470: Is no bridge crossing the harbour, but there are three cross-harbour road tunnels: Cross-Harbour Tunnel (opened 1972), Eastern Harbour Crossing (1989), and Western Harbour Crossing (1997). The three tunnels act as important linkages between the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Four Mass Transit Railway routes also run under the harbour. From west to east, they are: The Star Ferry has been crossing
825-717: The Caribbean Sea . A category designation appears before the vessel's name. A few examples of prefixes for naval ships are "USS" ( United States Ship ), "HMS" ( Her/His Majesty’s Ship ), "HMCS" ( Her/His Majesty's Canadian Ship ) and "HTMS" (His Thai Majesty's Ship), while a few examples for prefixes for merchant ships are "RMS" ( Royal Mail Ship , usually a passenger liner), "MV" ( Motor Vessel , powered by diesel ), "MT" (Motor Tanker, powered vessel carrying liquids only) "FV" Fishing Vessel and "SS" ( Screw Steamer , driven by propellers or screws, often understood to stand for Steamship ). "TS", sometimes found in first position before
880-503: The European Union is planning stricter controls on emissions. Cargo ships have been reported to have a possible negative impact on the population of whale sharks. Smithsonian Magazine reported in 2022 that whale sharks , the largest species of fish, have been disappearing mysteriously over the past 75 years, with research pointing to cargo ships and large vessels as the likely culprits. A study involving over 75 researchers highlighted
935-587: The Hong Kong Police . Thus, began a 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 -month-long stalemate as the refugees waited on the ship for the Hong Kong government to decide their fate. The event turned into an international humanitarian incident, which was a symbol of a much larger problem: the estimated one million refugees who risked everything to flee Laos , Cambodia , and Vietnam in the aftermath of the Vietnam War . The end of
990-542: The Star Ferry , including the route between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui , are another way to view the harbour and cityscape. As the natural centre of the territory, the harbour has played host to many major public shows, including the annual fireworks displays on the second night of the Lunar New Year . These shows are popular with tourists and locals alike, and the display is usually telecast on local television. To enhance
1045-512: The Vietnam War was marked by the fall of Saigon in April 1975, and over the next year, North and South Vietnam were merged to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam . This started a period of extreme uncertainty for many South Vietnamese, Hoa , and those with ties to the former South Vietnamese government and military. The following years saw economic hardship, food shortages, and repression of
1100-555: The British colonial authorities. These incidents caused rising tension that would eventually lead to the Arrow War . The harbour was originally called "Hong Kong Harbour", but was later renamed to "Victoria Harbour", to assure shelter for the British fleet under Queen Victoria . The subject of pollution came to the fore in the 1970s with the rapid growth of the manufacturing sector. The water club races were stopped in 1973 due to pollution in
1155-497: The United States, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom or Germany, but had lengthy waits before being accepted. The captain and six crew members were arrested when the Skyluck ran aground on Lamma Island , and charged with conspiracy to defraud the Hong Kong government by making false representation regarding the circumstances of the passengers aboard the ship. One of the charged, the radio operator, received immunity when he turned Crown witness, and another committed suicide prior to
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#17328687799691210-537: The Victoria Recreation Club. During the Taiping Rebellion , armed rebels paraded the streets of Hong Kong. On 21 December 1854, the Hong Kong police arrested several armed rebels who were about to attack Kowloon City . On 23 January 1855, a fleet of Taiping war boats was on the verge of a naval battle against Chinese imperial war boats defending the harbour. The Chinese defenders were ordered away by
1265-457: The bulk of international trade . Cargo ships are usually specially designed for the task, often being equipped with cranes and other mechanisms to load and unload, and come in all sizes. Today, they are almost always built of welded steel , and with some exceptions generally have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years before being scrapped. The words cargo and freight have become interchangeable in casual usage. Technically, "cargo" refers to
1320-408: The canal locks a ship can fit in, water depth ( draft ) is a limitation for canals, shallow straits or harbors and height is a limitation in order to pass under bridges. Common categories include: [REDACTED] The TI-class supertanker is an Ultra Large Crude Carrier, with a draft that is deeper than Suezmax, Malaccamax and Neopanamax. This causes Atlantic/Pacific routes to be very long, such as
1375-417: The chairman. There is no known information about results of those arrests, or whereabouts of the gold paid by the Skyluck refugees. When the anchor chain was cut, police attempted to board the ship, and some refugees threw metal, bottles, and gasoline bombs to prevent the authorities from regaining control of the ship. Subsequently, ten refugees were charged for their role in causing what authorities deemed
1430-468: The command of a Taiwanese captain and a mixed crew of Taiwanese, Indonesian, and Chinese seamen. Sometime between 19 and 21 January, the ship entered Vietnamese territorial waters off the Mekong Delta and loading of migrants began. From the coastal city of Bến Tre , refugees boarded small vessels and were shuttled to larger wooden vessels offshore or in rural coastal areas, and then out to the Skyluck . By
1485-479: The country's ethnic Chinese who formed an important part of the urban business class. Between 200,000 and 300,000 people were sent to "re-education camps" where they endured hard labour, torture, and disease. Under the New Economic Zones program , between 750,000 and 1,000,000 people were forced to relocate to northern, uninhabited forested areas, expected to clear jungle for agriculture, and their properties in
1540-575: The danger posed to whale sharks by shipping activities in various regions, including Ecuador, Mexico, Malaysia, the Philippines, Oman, Seychelles, and Taiwan. See also, similar role:- Empire ship , Fort ship , Park ship , Ocean ship . Victoria Harbour Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour in Hong Kong separating Hong Kong Island in the south from the Kowloon Peninsula to
1595-400: The eastern and northern coastal lines of Tsing Yi to its westernmost extremity, and thence a straight line drawn true north towards the mainland. There are several islands within the harbour: Due to land reclamation, the following are former islands that are now connected to adjacent lands or larger islands: The geology around of the harbour is made of a granitic copula which in parts
1650-400: The effects of these expansions, in terms of water quality and loss of natural habitat. It has also been proposed that benefits of land reclamation may be less than the effects of decreased harbour width, affecting the number of vessels passing through the harbour. Nonetheless Victoria Harbour still retains its founding role as a port for thousands of international vessels each year. The harbour
1705-535: The end of November every year, the outer walls of buildings in the central business districts on both sides of the harbours are dressed with Christmas-related decorations, and replaced with Lunar New Year -related ones by January. Victoria Harbour is home to most of the port facilities of Hong Kong , making Hong Kong amongst the world's busiest . An average of 220,000 ships visit the harbour each year, including both oceangoing vessels and river vessels, for both goods and passengers. The Kwai Tsing Container Terminals in
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1760-514: The goods carried aboard the ship for hire, while "freight" refers to the act of carrying of such cargo, but the terms have been used interchangeably for centuries. Generally, the modern ocean shipping business is divided into two classes: Larger cargo ships are generally operated by shipping lines : companies that specialize in the handling of cargo in general. Smaller vessels, such as coasters , are often owned by their operators. Cargo ships/freighters can be divided into eight groups, according to
1815-489: The harbour since the late 19th century. The operated ferry routes today are: Central to Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui, the Wan Chai/Central to Hung Hom services closing in 2011 for lack of patronage. Other regular ferry services also operate in the harbour. The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company used to operate numerous cross-harbour routes between various piers of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Many of
1870-839: The harbour, a year after the former RMS Queen Elizabeth burned and sank at the Tsing Yi island anchorage. Studies also showed excessive nitrogen input from discharges of the Pearl River Delta into the harbour for decades. After completion of the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation Feasibility Study in 1989, the Land Development Policy Committee endorsed a concept for gradual implementation of this additional reclamation. It consists of three district development cells separated by parks, namely, Central , Tamar and Exhibition . The latest proposed reclamation, extending along
1925-697: The locks on the Saint Lawrence Seaway . The earliest records of waterborne activity mention the carriage of items for trade; the evidence of history and archaeology shows the practice to be widespread by the beginning of the 1st millennium BC, and as early as the 14th and 15th centuries BC small Mediterranean cargo ships like those of the 50 foot long (15–16 metre) Uluburun ship were carrying 20 tons of exotic cargo; 11 tons of raw copper, jars, glass, ivory, gold, spices, and treasures from Canaan , Greece , Egypt , and Africa . The desire to operate trade routes over longer distances, and throughout more seasons of
1980-586: The long voyages south of Cape of Good Hope or south of Cape Horn to transit between Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Lake freighters built for the Great Lakes in North America differ in design from sea water–going ships because of the difference in wave size and frequency in the lakes. A number of these ships are larger than Seawaymax and cannot leave the lakes and pass to the Atlantic Ocean, since they do not fit
2035-637: The morning hours. Authorities escorted the ship and ordered it to anchor in the West Lamma Channel, between Lamma and Cheung Chau Islands. The engine's fuel pumps were removed to immobilize the ship. When questioned by police, the Taiwanese captain claimed that on his way from Singapore, in the course of legitimate shipping activity, he and the crew had rescued the refugees in the South China Sea sometime between 18 and 21 January. Refugees were confined to
2090-430: The north. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony in 1841 and its subsequent development as a trading centre. Throughout its history, the harbour has seen numerous reclamation projects undertaken on both shores, many of which have caused controversy in recent years. Environmental concerns have been expressed about
2145-620: The popularity of the harbour as a sightseeing location, the government introduced a show dubbed A Symphony of Lights . Also recently opened was the Avenue of Stars , built along the promenade outside the New World Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui . Modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , it honours the most illustrious people the Hong Kong film industry has produced over the past decades. By
2200-437: The refugee smuggling ship Huey Fong after it anchored in Hong Kong harbour with 3,300 refugees aboard. In the early hours of 7 February, the Skyluck arrived in Hong Kong waters unannounced, with 2,651 remaining refugees aboard. The Hong Kong Marine Police did not detect the ship as it entered the territorial waters, until it anchored in the middle of Victoria Harbour . The ship was surrounded by police launches and boarded in
2255-408: The refugees to come ashore. When this failed, and a storm and favourable wind direction arrived on 29 June, the anchor chain was cut, and the ship drifted aground on Lamma Island. The port side was damaged and water poured in, leaving the ship partially sunk at the shore. Refugees immediately climbed to shore on cargo nets and rope ladders thrown off the side of the ship. Some exited on the "sea side" to
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2310-503: The routes are now operated by First Ferry . Some of the piers no longer exist because of reclamation projects, or many of the routes became unprofitable. Currently, the company continues to operate vehicular ferry services for vehicles carrying dangerous goods that are prohibited within tunnel crossings. For international passenger traffic and traffic to mainland China and Macau , there are two ferry terminals, namely Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal and Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal , and
2365-427: The ship for more than four months in squalid conditions, with the Hong Kong government providing basic necessities such as food, water, and limited access to mail. On 11 March, a group of about 100 refugees jumped overboard and started to swim the mile to shore. About fifty made it to Lamma Island, where they were promptly rounded up by police. Two were admitted to hospital and treated for exhaustion. While in custody,
2420-504: The ship while it is in port. The process of removing sulphur from the fuel impacts the viscosity and lubricity of the marine gas oil though, which could cause damage in the engine fuel pump . The fuel viscosity can be raised by cooling the fuel down. If the various requirements are enforced, the International Maritime Organization 's marine fuel requirement will mean a 90% reduction in sulphur oxide emissions; whilst
2475-575: The size of the waterbody, with its chairman, Christine Loh , quoted as saying that the harbour "...is a precious national asset and we must preserve it for future generations. I believe an insightful and visionary chief executive would support our stance and work with us to protect the harbour". Reclamation work also led to the demolition of Queen's Pier and Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier , structures of historic significance, to massive public opposition. Victoria Harbour covered an area of about 41.88 km (16.17 sq mi) in 2004. The eastern boundary
2530-593: The smaller shipping companies and private individuals operate tramp ships. Cargo liners run on fixed schedules published by the shipping companies. Each trip a liner takes is called a voyage. Liners mostly carry general cargo. However, some cargo liners may carry passengers also. A cargo liner that carries 12 or more passengers is called a combination or passenger-run-cargo line. Cargo ships are categorized partly by cargo or shipping capacity ( tonnage ), partly by weight ( deadweight tonnage DWT), and partly by dimensions. Maximum dimensions such as length and width ( beam ) limit
2585-414: The south confiscated, and redistributed by Communist authorities. It was in this environment of hardship and repression that approximately two million South Vietnamese fled the country between 1975 and the mid-1990s. The majority left in the late 1970s, with an estimated 800,000 fleeing by boat. Known as the "boat people" , they endured dehydration, starvation, pirate attacks, and dangerous sea conditions. It
2640-453: The time the boarding was finished, there were 3,200 migrants on the freighter. The price of passage for each refugee was between 10 and 15 taels of gold (one tael = 1.2 troy ounces ), with the cost of gold at the start of 1979 being around US$ 230. On 24 January, the ship departed Vietnamese waters; on the evening of 31 January it arrived off Palawan , Philippines , and overnight approximately 600 refugees were offloaded to shore. The operation
2695-599: The trial. The remaining four, and the captain, were called "evil" by the Judge of the Tsun Wan District Court. However, the five were acquitted on the basis that they only intended to bring the refugees to the Philippines, and there was evidence they sailed the ship to Hong Kong under duress. An investigation into the Skyluck Steamship Company officers resulted in the arrest of three company officers, including
2750-533: The type of cargo they carry. These groups are: Specialized types of cargo vessels include container ships and bulk carriers (technically tankers of all sizes are cargo ships, although they are routinely thought of as a separate category). Cargo ships fall into two further categories that reflect the services they offer to industry: liner and tramp services. Those on a fixed published schedule and fixed tariff rates are cargo liners. Tramp ships do not have fixed schedules. Users charter them to haul loads. Generally,
2805-775: The war many of the ships were sold to private companies. The Ever Given is a ship that was lodged into the Suez Canal from March 25 to 28, 2021, which caused a halt on maritime trade. The MV Dali , which collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore , Maryland , United States , on 26 March 2024, causing a catastrophic structural failure of the bridge that resulted in at least 6 deaths. Due to its low cost, most large cargo vessels are powered by bunker fuel , also known as heavy fuel oil, which contains higher sulphur levels than diesel. This level of pollution
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#17328687799692860-553: The waterfront from Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay , faced public opposition, as the harbour has become a pivotal location to Hongkongers in general. Activists have denounced the government's actions as destructive not only to the natural environment, but also to what is widely considered one of the most prized natural assets of the territory. NGOs, including the Society for Protection of the Harbour , were formed to resist further attempts to reduce
2915-473: The western part of the harbour is the main container handling facility, operating round the clock. Some 19.8 million containers (measured in TEUs ) were handled by the region in 2016. Some 400 container ships serve Hong Kong weekly, connecting to over 500 destinations around the world. For many years until 2004, Hong Kong handled the most containers TEUs but slipped to sixth place on declining volumes by 2016. There
2970-563: The year, motivated improvements in ship design during the Middle Ages . Before the middle of the 19th century, the incidence of piracy resulted in most cargo ships being armed, sometimes quite heavily, as in the case of the Manila galleons and East Indiamen . They were also sometimes escorted by warships . Piracy is still quite common in some waters, particularly in the Malacca Straits ,
3025-445: Was discovered by Philippine naval authorities, who drove the Skyluck out of Philippine waters. There are multiple accounts from passengers that, on 1 February, another large vessel came alongside the Skyluck , and the collected gold payment of the passengers was transferred under armed guard. Only 10 days earlier, Hong Kong authorities had found and confiscated close to 4,000 troy ounces of gold payment (then worth US$ 1 million) aboard
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