The yellow rubber duck completes inflation testing and will float into Glory Pier at 4 PM on September 19.

Article by MOOK Travel Life Network’s Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

The yellow rubber duck’s arrival at Kaohsiung’s Glory Pier is in the final countdown stage. Today (13th), the duck and its float were assembled for the first time, undergoing both land and water inflation tests, and were towed from Pier-2 to Glory Pier as a trial. Kaohsiung City Government Information Bureau Director Lai Jui-long stated that due to the use of large blowers on-site, the 18-meter-tall duck was fully inflated in just about 10 minutes. However, inflating it on water must take weather conditions into account, and since the duck moves with the waves, the process is more challenging. After the tests, the duck and float were towed back to Pier-2 for fine adjustments in preparation for its official harbor debut at 4:00 PM on September 19.

The duck body and float were assembled in the morning, followed by a land-based inflation test to confirm the air pressure inside the duck and its fullness. In the afternoon, the first water inflation operation was carried out at Pier-2. After a departure blessing ceremony, a water towing test from Pier-2 to Glory Pier was conducted to evaluate towing speed and angle.

 

The duck’s body is made of PVC-coated fabric, supplied by Nan Ya Plastics, with material strength enhanced by the manufacturer, Atmosphere Co. It is stitched together from 240 uniquely shaped pieces, using approximately 840 meters of fabric in total. A fully inflated duck would require 40 adults holding hands to encircle it. With a height of 18 meters, width of 25 meters, and weight of 1,000 kilograms, it is the second largest in the world and the largest in Asia.

The world’s first detachable duck float, designed and manufactured locally in Kaohsiung by Ching Fu Shipbuilding, is made of metal with a diameter of 15 meters and a total weight of about 11.5 tons. To ensure the duck remains stably positioned in the waters of Glory Pier, four sets of 2-ton anchor blocks will be deployed underwater and securely connected to the float via steel cables.

 

Lai Jui-long emphasized that both domestic and international visitors are welcome to come to Kaohsiung between the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 19 and October 20 to see the duck, enjoy local cuisine, and experience the city’s diverse and vibrant charm.

 

 

●  Further Reading:

Must-visit destinations for Mid-Autumn Festival: A guide to popular spots across Taiwan

http://goo.gl/mqmBHg

 

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