Sail-World.com : Second Qingdao algae barrier in case of wind
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Second Qingdao algae barrier in case of wind |
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'A Laser out training off Qingdao, with patches of weed visible to windward and the weed-trawlers further to windward'
Andrew Campbell ©
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A stronger sea barrier was installed on Saturday off the Qingao China coast to keep algae out of the Olympic sailing venue.
The first 20,000-meter barrier was completed on Friday, then a second 22,000-meter barrier which can block algae at wind speeds up to 30 knots, was assembled 100 metres outside the first one, local authorities said. More than 100 boats with 500 people worked on the barriers.
The first barrier has been proved effective and the second could end our worries about algae,' said Zhao Han, head of the project and deputy director of the Qingdao Maritime Safety Administration.
Only scattered bits of algae could still be found in cleared areas and they would be fully cleared by July 15, Zhao said. The sailing event will take place here from Aug. 8-23.
Zhao said plans were being drawn up to deal with winds in excess of 30 knots, which are common in this area in August, according to meteorological records over the past 30 years.
Before the barriers were put up, algae drifted into the venue from the southeast, which interfered with athletes' training.
The barrier project was hindered by heavy fog from July 7-11, delaying it by three days.
Ships would stand by at the barriers to clean up any further algae that drifted in, said Zhao. Patrol vessels would also check the barriers and repair any areas broken by high winds, he said.
New emergency response plans would be discussed soon by experts of the maritime safety administration, Zhao said.
Starting in mid-June, the coast was coated with a vast algae bloom. A bright green covering of algae smothered beaches and extended out several hundred meters. It covered 32 percent of the sailing venue at the peak of the outbreak but now covers only 0.5 percent.
More than 15,000 soldiers and volunteers, plus 1,100 fishing boats and 38 naval vessels, worked to remove the unsightly but non-toxic algae. The accumulated algae has been covered by soil and lime to avoid odours. Some might be processed into food products or fertilizer.
Hein Verbruggen, International Olympics Committee coordination commission chairman, called the algae outbreak 'an unavoidable natural disaster.'
Qingdao Mayor Xia Geng said the government would keep up the cleaning work and guarantee the cleanness of the water, shore and air.
by Offical Report - Xinhua News Agency
6:52 PM Sat 12 Jul 2008 GMT
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