Nuclear defence ship ready to help Hong Kong firefighters prepare for the unthinkable

Hong Kong has no nuclear energy facilities of its own, but the city is only about 50km (30 miles) from the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province on the Chinese mainland. While authorities say the risk of a serious accident or disaster is extremely low, the city’s government has a long-standing Daya Bay Contingency Plan (DBCP) and a major interdepartmental exercise to test the city’s readiness was set for January 12, 2023. The drills will involve a unique vessel designed to handle chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence called Fireboat 7. On January 6, 2022, the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFS) gave the Post a rare look inside the boat equipped with water cannons, a radiation-proof drencher and other gear for evacuation and decontamination missions.