News Flash / Rubber Duck Successfully Launched, Heads to Glory Pier — Reinforced Base to Withstand Typhoon Usagi

▲ The Rubber Duck's Countdown to Kaohsiung Arrival — At 11 a.m. on the 19th, after inflation, the duck was launched and sailed into Glory Pier. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-yin)

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Reported by Reporters Chen Zi-yin and You [character missing] Ru / Kaohsiung

The Rubber Duck landed at Kaohsiung’s Glory Pier at 4 p.m. on the 19th. Early that morning at around 6 a.m., staff began a full rehearsal at the Pier-2 Art Center. Due to the approaching Typhoon Usagi, the rehearsal progressed somewhat slowly. It wasn’t until after 11 a.m. that when the duck was fully inflated and finally launched into the water, the excited crowd on-site erupted into cheers and applause. Currently, Kaohsiung enjoys bright sunshine, and the city has already seen heavy traffic from those returning home for the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is expected that in the afternoon, even more duck fans will flock to Glory Pier to catch a glimpse of the giant duck.

▲ The Duck Launches into the Water (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-yin)

Regarding the 19th’s rehearsal and safety measures for the duck, Kaohsiung City Government’s Information Bureau Director Lai Rui-long stated that due to concerns about the typhoon, the entire base of the duck had been reinforced — a process slightly different from previous operations — hence the more cautious approach to the rehearsal. Deflating the duck to “avoid the typhoon” would only be done as a last resort.

According to reporters on-site, the overall engineering involved in the launching process was much larger than imagined, with two cranes deployed, along with one tugboat and one monitoring vessel for the duck. After the duck was launched, it was towed toward Glory Pier. Due to the typhoon, the base had been reinforced and welding strengthened, making this a completely new test. As a result, staff had to be extra careful with every step.

▲ The Duck Makes Its Way Toward Glory Pier, with Crowds Lined Along the Left Bank (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-yin)

In fact, by the time of the rehearsal, thousands of people were already waiting at Glory Pier. Earlier, during the inflation phase at the Pier-2 dock, dozens of people had also waited patiently just to witness the moment the duck was inflated and launched. When the duck was finally inflated and set afloat, the crowd erupted in awe and cheers.

▲ Sprinkling Water (left), Pilot Guidance (center), Arrival (right)