Dragon boat accident: Even with a lifejacket, one could be pulled down

@ Sun2Surf

Look at reclamation impact on channel current, say fishermen

By: Himanshu Bhatt (Tue, 19 Jan 2010)

GEORGE TOWN (Jan 19, 2010) : Inshore fishermen who ply the waters of the Penang Channel where the dragon boat capsize incident occurred on Sunday want the authorities to look into the impact of reclamation on the currents in the channel.

Traditional inshore fisherman Khoo Kay Keat points to this new shallow shoreline along the reclaimed land in Jelutong where the Bandar Sri Penang fishermen's jetty is built. Penang held its Pesta dragon boat race here last year. The accident that took the lives of six people during a dragon-boat training session on Sunday occurred about a km away from this reclaimed area.

Khoo Kay Keat, 55, a former Penang Inshore Fishermen’s Welfare Association committee member, who now operates in the area, said they had observed currents changing over last 10 years or so.

He said the inshore fishermen had seen certain stretches along the coastline becoming shallower about the same time that reclamation work had taken place, while the middle portions of the channel had remained deep.

"Certain parts of the channel are as deep as 40ft," Khoo estimated.

"When you reclaim, a lot of sand is placed in places where the sea once was and the sea water is forced to flow along a more constricted route."

He also noted that the authorities had not placed warning signs or buoys to caution the people, especially those going into the channel for amateur water sports activities.

Khoo spoke to theSun near the Jelutong fisherman’s jetty in Bandar Sri Pinang, where the Penang Pesta Open Dragon Boat Race was held last year.

After the dragon boat, which carried 18 rowers, was hit by waves and capsized, survivors recounted being pulled down into the waters by powerful undercurrents.

Khoo said the authorities should consult the traditional inshore fishermen, who had accumulated knowledge and experience of the waters in the channel.

"Do not underestimate the power of the currents. We fishermen know the currents here and how they are changing," he said.

"We can also gauge winds and calculate directions based on the calendar. We even know how to measure depths.

"The currents here can be very strong. Even with a lifejacket, you could be pulled down."

He said the winds and currents around the island had been particularly strong on Sunday, when the accident occurred.

"I was out in the sea and I felt very strong northerly winds," he said.

Khoo also said the state could look into the feasibility of having dragon boat races at the Pantai Jerejak coastline, shielded on two sides by Pulau Jerejak and the Bayan Lepas coastline, and where the waters were more placid.

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