Yukun to be berthed in the city and open for public tours for the first timeHong Kong people will be the first in the world to inspect the nation's highly innovative training vessel Yukun as the ocean-going ship will be open for public visits during its stay in the special administrative region.
As part of celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, public visits to Yukun - one of the world's most advanced training ships - are organized for Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. Visitors can join guided tours to the ship's bridge, canteen and library, and see dormitories used by students training on the ship.
Tours will be organized for Hong Kong students from secondary schools and maritime schools during the ship's stay.
Yukun, owned by the Dalian Maritime University (DMU), is a 116-meter vessel for further training of people who have already acquired maritime skills. Setting sail from Dalian, Liaoning province, on June 25 the training ship will be berthed at the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui until Wednesday.
This is the ship's second visit to the special administrative region; it was anchored here in 2015.
Li Chi-wai, chairman of Hong Kong Seamen's Union, said the Yukun will let the public see the strides the country has made in maritime education. Li's union is one of several local organizations which invited the vessel to Hong Kong.
He added that visiting Yukun would be particularly beneficial to the city's young people. Many were not aware of the country's latest maritime developments.
Echoing Li, Wang Fengwu, deputy-director of the DMU delegation and party secretary of DMU Navigation College, said Yukun would improve communication between maritime students in Hong Kong and those on the mainland.
Wang said that as one of the busiest ports in the world, Hong Kong needed more people skilled in maritime and related industries.
"The DMU has many alumni working in Hong Kong. We welcome Hong Kong students to go on exchange programs and study at the DMU," said Wang.
Launched in 2008, Yukun has trained 10,000 students majoring in maritime-related areas. These include navigation science, control engineering, marine engineering and environmental engineering. The vessel is well-equipped with the latest radar and other technologies. Unlike similar training ships, Yukun does not have any cargo space. This provides more room for students to practice operating skills. The vessel can take as many as 196 students on board during each voyage.
Tickets for the public are available after a donation of HK$10 per visitor to non-profit organization the Community Chest of Hong Kong. Visitors are advised not to wear slippers or sandals on the ship.
