Fireboat Alexander Grantham

Seeing boats traveling through Victoria Harbour is a common sight when walking along the coastal promenade of Hong Kong Island. Walk far enough east, however, and you'll come across an old fireboat, permanently berthed on the central concourse at Quarry Bay Park.

Named after Alexander Grantham, the British colonial governor of Hong Kong from 1947 to 1957, the vessel was built by the Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company and went into service in 1953. It served as the flagship of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department's fireboat team throughout its operational life, conducting rescue operations around the city's waters and coastline. Noteworthy incidents involving the fireboat include the 1972 Seawise University fire (the former RMS Queen Elizabeth) and the 1971 Jumbo floating restaurant fire.

After being decommissioned in 2002, the Alexander Grantham was acquired by the Hong Kong Museum of History, becoming the city's first preserved historical vessel and the largest item in the museum's collection. Following extensive structural reinforcement, it was lifted out of the water in 2006 and relocated to its current position. It was then converted to become part of an exhibition gallery, which opened to the public in 2007.

The gallery houses a variety of firefighting equipment, storyboards that chronicle the fireboat's history, and interactive exhibits. The boat itself features information plaques detailing the roles of onboard equipment, while the staff office, casualty room, and top deck are accessible to visitors. From the main and top decks, there are incredible views of the harbor that the Alexander Grantham patrolled and protected for nearly 50 years.