TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Fisheries Agency defended the newly built Cianjhen fishing port crew quarters in Kaohsiung, saying the facility is intended to improve living conditions for fishers returning to port.
The agency rejected recent news reports describing the facility as a “luxury bathhouse” and said there is no ongoing water shortage. The building opened on June 10, 2025, and provides multiple services, including accommodation, showers, prayer rooms, internet access, and rest areas, it said in a press release.
On July 1, a temporary water outage occurred due to a break in an external water pipeline, but repairs were completed the same day, and there is currently no water shortage, the agency said. During peak periods for squid fishing vessels in June and July, thousands of crew members may return to the port within a short time, leading to high demand for showers and other water facilities. Occasional spikes in water demand may occur, but there is no full-scale water outage, the agency said.
The agency said it has coordinated with fishermen’s associations and related organizations to encourage crew members to stagger usage and better manage peak and off-peak water demand.
The agency acknowledged that a small number of guest rooms have occasionally had odors. It said measures including improved ventilation, replacement of odor-resistant floor drains, and testing of heat-recovery ventilators have been carried out, while contractors continue to investigate isolated cases.
The agency said foreign crew members who have used the facility have expressed appreciation for its showers, rest areas, prayer rooms, internet access, and accommodation, indicating that the facility helps improve living conditions for crews returning to port.
