The little yellow duck takes a bath — “even the brush broke” but it’s still just as dirty

▲ The little yellow duck is still dirty after its bath. (Photo / Taken fromthe Yellow Rubber Duck Welcome to Keelung Facebook page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

After the little yellow duck was displayed on the 21st, a thick layer of grime accumulated on its body, turning it into a “lined duck.” On the morning of the 25th, the organizers gave the duck a 30-minute bath. However, the bath didn’t restore its cleanliness, as the duck remained covered in streaks of dirt. Regarding this, Huang Jing-tai, the event initiator, stated that the cleaning had limited effect, and they will temporarily suspend the operation for now. Further cleaning will be considered after consulting with a professional team.

On the morning of the 25th, the organizers called in ships from CSBC Corporation and an environmental services company to use high-pressure water jets to give the duck a “good scrub,” starting from a distance and moving closer. Staff also used long brushes to remove dirt from the duck, “even breaking the brush,” but the effect was still not obvious. A local business owner mentioned that the continuous rain, along with the daily dust and grime settling in Keelung Harbor, makes cleaning very difficult. Even if it’s cleaned, it might turn black again in a few days.

▲ After the little yellow duck’s bath, the dirty streaks on its body remain clearly visible. (Photo / Taken from the Yellow Rubber Duck Welcome to Keelung Facebook page)

Due to the black soot and dust from cargo ships burning diesel near Keelung Harbor, coupled with the northeast monsoon winds and frequent rain in winter, the duck naturally couldn’t stay clean and ended up completely filthy. However, some members of the public pointed out that this is a unique situation for Keelung Harbor, and the blackened duck has actually become a characteristic of Keelung.

Initiator Huang Jing-tai stated that over the past few days, he has been discussing the duck’s cleaning process with Mr. Florentijn Hofman. Hofman repeatedly emphasized the importance of “the duck’s safety,” so it was decided to start with a water spray cleaning method. However, the exhaust fumes from ships entering and leaving the harbor contain oily residues, which cannot be removed by spraying water alone. Using chemical agents also raises concerns about polluting the sea area. They will further study a win-win solution with Hofman and the manufacturing team.