Why go
The boat gives marine firefighting a physical scale that photographs alone cannot convey. Built by the Hong Kong Whampoa Dock Company in 1953, Alexander Grantham served until 2002. Pair the vessel with the gallery’s firefighting objects and multimedia to connect local shipbuilding with the crews who protected ships in the harbour.
What to look for
- The preserved fireboat’s hull and upper deck.
- Firefighting artefacts used to explain marine rescue.
- Multimedia displays tracing the vessel’s working life.
The full story
Alexander Grantham spent nearly half a century working in Hong Kong waters before becoming a museum exhibit. Built locally in 1953 and decommissioned in May 2002, the fireboat took part in major firefighting and rescue operations. These included the Seawise University fire in 1972 and the New Orient Princess fire in 1993. Its history connects the harbour’s commercial activity with the specialised vessels needed when things went wrong at sea. Preserving the boat required moving it out of the water. In March 2006 it was hoisted into its permanent home at Quarry Bay Park, and the exhibition gallery opened in 2007. The vessel is almost 39 metres long, so its size is part of the explanation. Alongside the firefighting displays, it also records the capabilities of Hong Kong’s shipbuilding industry in the early 1950s.
Useful to know
- Allow roughly 45–75 minutes for the vessel and gallery; add time separately for a Quarry Bay Park walk.
- Use Tai Koo MTR station as an approach, then continue towards the waterfront park.
Your next visit
Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.
Outdoor visit · 30–45 min
World planning estimate; admission, opening, visit duration and access need checking.