November 11, 2022 — The Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) of the MOTC commenced the construction of the Changhua Wind Farm Channel Transportation Management Service Center and Central Taiwan Maritime Affairs Center Office Building earlier today (17). Joined by guests such as Chief Tai-Shan Wu of Deputy Minister Chi-Chang Tsai of the Legislative Yuan’s Office, Chief Hsin-Hsiu Chen of Legislator Ching-i Lin’s Office, Deputy Director General Pin-Chuan Chen of the MPB, MOTC, Vice President Miao-Tang Chen of the Taiwan International Ports Corporation Taichung Branch, CIQS team, and the representative of the Taichung City Government, Chief Secretary Ho-Ting Huang of the MOTC hosted the commencement ceremony. The taiko drums team of the Chung Cheng Primary School also performed at the ceremony and joined everyone else to witness the upgrade of the Maritime Safety Service of Taiwan.
Chief Secretary Ho-Ting Huang stated: as a response to the green energy policy of Taiwan while taking the safety of vessels into account, the MPB of the MOTC has established the Offshore Wind Farm Channel VTS Center at the Signal Station of the Port of Taichung in October 2021 to control the activities of vessels around the Changhua Wind Farm Channel, guide vessels to pass the channel safely, and report anomalies in real-time. The future establishment of the Changhua Wind Farm Channel Transportation Management Service Center and Central Taiwan Maritime Affairs Center Office Building shall build a solid foundation for the development of sustainable green energy and maritime safety. Therefore, the MOTC shall continue to supervise the MPB to ensure the construction finishes on time and create a new administrative center at the Port of Taichung while building a denser maritime safety network.
Deputy Director General Pin-Chuan Chen of the MPB stated: the Changhua Wind Farm Channel Transportation Management Center and Central Taiwan Maritime Affairs Center Office Building passed the reviews of the Urban Development Bureau for urban design and obtained the license for construction earlier this year. The building combines images of wind masts, which reflect the history of Taichung when the Wu Chi Harbor was full of bamboo rafts and the masts of sailboats, and the vessel traffic service and monitoring functions of modern buildings to present cultural implications and local features. The design won the 2022 Fédération Internationale des Administrateurs de Bien-Conselis Immobiliers (FIABCI) -Taiwan gold medal for Best Plans and Designs on August 19, 2022. The design also plans to reshape the urban greenways around the building so that the surrounding trees may protect the area against winds and sand, reserve water resources, and help to regulate the climate. The design even connects the base with the nearby wind break forest to form a harbor city green belt and expects to obtain the golden label for green buildings and the bronze label for smart buildings. In the future, the Center shall be responsible for the maritime safety of the offshore wind farm channels and create a friendly public affair environment, providing better administrative services to visiting business owners.
The Changhua Wind Farm Channel Transportation Management Service Center and Central Taiwan Maritime Affairs Center Office Building locates at the intersection of Zhongheng 11th Rd. and Central 2nd Rd. in Taichung. The building has five stories above ground and one basement level with a floor area of approximately 7,117 square meters. The building is designed by H.T Chang Architect and constructed by Jinbiao Construction Co., Ltd., and H.T Chang Architect shall supervise the construction, which is expected to complete in mid-June of 2024. And by 2024, the MPB shall cooperate with the Phase 3 Wind Farm Block Development Policy and increase the number of personnel in the Offshore Wind Farm Channel VTS Center from the current 5 persons to 18 persons to provide an all-around check-in service and maritime safety service to receive vessels at the Changhua Wind Farm Channel and the channels at the west and north sea areas.
