Countdown begins: One week to go until the Little Yellow Duck debuts | World’s first detachable floating platform undergoes testing

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The arrival of the Little Yellow Duck in Kaohsiung is entering the final stages of preparation. Today (12th), the duck’s floating platform underwent its first water-based towing test from Pier-2 Art Center to Glory Pier, along with platform positioning. The underwater anchoring operation will affect the accuracy of the floating platform's positioning and is closely related to the orientation of the displayed Little Yellow Duck. Artist Florentijn Hofman also places great importance on the towing and anchoring tests. It is expected that tomorrow afternoon, the assembly test of the duck and the floating platform, as well as a blessing ceremony for the Little Yellow Duck’s trial voyage, will take place.


▲The floating platform will remain stationary at Glory Pier tonight to test sea conditions and tides, before being returned to Pier-2 tomorrow morning. (Photo / Provided by Kaohsiung City Government)
Lai Jui-long, Director of the Kaohsiung City Government’s Information Bureau, pointed out that the Little Yellow Duck’s floating platform was manufactured by CSBC Corporation, Taiwan, and was carefully towed this afternoon to Pier-2 for docking. This was followed by a water-based towing test to Glory Pier. Tonight, it will remain stationed at Glory Pier to monitor sea and tidal conditions, then be returned to Pier-2 tomorrow morning for the assembly of the duck and the platform, as well as an inflation test of the duck. He further explained that considering the space at Glory Pier, anticipated crowds of spectators, and optimal photo angles, the Little Yellow Duck’s beak will face the entrance direction of Glory Pier’s Seaside Road and Xintian Road.

The floating platform is made of metal, with a diameter of 15 meters and a total weight of approximately 11.5 tons. It is the world’s first detachable floating platform. To ensure the duck remains stable in the waters of Glory Pier, four sets of anchor blocks, each weighing about 2 tons, have been placed underwater. This afternoon, divers will carry out the underwater anchoring operation and secure the anchor blocks to the platform using steel cables. To reduce the overall weight of the floating platform, CSBC used relatively expensive aluminum alloy material custom-made for the duck. The central part of the platform is divided into eight segments, which are connected and secured with stainless steel screws to achieve detachability.


▲%夹⊙几√ㄓ山鹗艄钩桑?本冻ご锉5米，总重量约11.5吨，是世界第一座可拆卸式的浮台。(Photo / Provided by Kaohsiung City Government)

The floating platform has a total buoyancy of approximately 14.5 tons, primarily provided by four large steel pipes beneath it, each with a diameter of 60 centimeters. These pipes must be welded together using specialized engineering techniques to ensure they are watertight, thereby providing stable buoyancy to keep the duck afloat. Four lifting rings are designed at the corners of the platform, which will be responsible for hoisting the platform, towing it on water, and anchoring it underwater. Supporting a platform weighing around 11.5 tons with just these four rings is one of the key technical challenges of this water-based towing test.

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