After repeated delays because of bad weather and unexpected technical problems, the fireboat Alexander Grantham will be opened to the public as a museum at the end of the month.
The locally built 500-tonne vessel, which was decommissioned in 2002 after 49 years, has been at Quarry Bay Park since it was lifted from the water at Tsing Yi in March last year.
The museum, for which entry will be free, was to have opened last September but the opening was delayed until April because of the complexity of the project.
Bad weather then affected preparations and unexpected technical problems - such as the discovery of an underwater pipe that transports gas distilled from coal - caused further delays.
'I have never carried out a project that involves so many complicated issues,' said Chan Shing-wai, chief curator of the conservation section of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Eastern district councillor Chan Yiu-tak said Taikoo Shing residents strongly opposed the project initially because of the noise pollution caused by construction and conservation work.
