index

In alignment with the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications organized a large-scale disaster prevention and response exercise to evaluate the disaster response capabilities and resource readiness of central and local governments, as well as private sector partners. Focused on maritime accidents and vessel oil pollution, the exercise took place at Kaohsiung Port on September 3. A total of 42 organizations—including central government agencies, local authorities, and private institutions—participated, mobilizing over 500 personnel.  The event was formally titled the 2025 Kaohsiung Port Large Passenger Ship and Port Disaster Prevention and Response Exercise and featured a highly impactful and dynamic demonstration. The Ministry assigned Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) Director-General Hsieh-lung Yeh to oversee the evaluation of the exercise outcomes, with Secretary-General Tien-kuei Kuo of the Kaohsiung City Government also joining the assessment. Co-organizers included Deputy Director-General Hsiao-hsia Li of the Ocean Conservation Administration, Ocean Affairs Council, and General Manager Pai-feng Wang of the Kaohsiung Branch, Taiwan International Ports Corporation, together with representatives from multiple central ministries and city departments. As the designated lead officer for the exercise, Director-General Yeh urged all participating units to maintain vigilance in times of peace and prepare comprehensively to avert potential disasters. He emphasized that each participating entity must be capable of implementing adequate measures immediately upon the occurrence of a disaster while continually strengthening their capacity to respond to sudden incidents, thereby safeguarding the security of Taiwan’s ports and maritime domains.

The core scenario of the exercise simulated a maritime accident involving the Penghu Ferry, which was carrying 200 passengers and 32 crew members when a fire broke out in its engine room and the vessel subsequently collided with a water bus in Kaohsiung Port. The exercise encompassed a series of complex, compound disasters, including search-and-rescue operations for persons overboard, mass passenger evacuation, transport of stranded individuals, triage and transfer of multiple casualties, temporary shelter arrangements, and marine oil pollution response. Integrating the disaster response capacities of central and local governments as well as private entities, the exercise mobilized more than 20 vessels, 32 vehicles, and 500 personnel. To further assess the feasibility of the emergency response plan, the scenario specifically included the deployment of canine units for explosive detection and the handling of disinformation to prevent interference with rescue operations.

According to the MPB, the primary objective of this disaster prevention and response exercise was to evaluate the effectiveness of both horizontal and vertical coordination among central government agencies, local authorities, and civil society organizations. The exercise aimed to integrate rescue resources, personnel, and equipment while strengthening the collective capacity to respond to unforeseen emergencies. This exercise is expected to reinforce interagency communication and enhance the joint disaster prevention and response capabilities of government agencies at all levels, enabling the rapid activation of emergency mechanisms to minimize casualties and losses.

Given that large passenger vessels carry substantial numbers of travelers and directly affect public safety and property, they remain a regulatory priority for the MPB. Through this live simulation, the MPB sought to validate and refine the emergency response capabilities of all participating units. Looking ahead, it intends to foster close collaboration between the public and private sectors in constructing a resilient and robust protective framework for Taiwan’s ports and passengers.

Contact Person: Wei-en Chen, Section Chief, Southern Maritime Affairs Center

Contact Number: 07-2620630