Since 2021, the Association of Taiwan Ports (ATP) (hereinafter referred to as the Association) has been promoting marine education by publishing themed picture books that highlight the unique features of various ports, with children as the primary target readers. Between 2022 and early 2024, it completed picture books for Kaohsiung Port, Keelung Port, and Taichung Port.
In late November 2023, Hualien Port received an invitation from the Association. Through the coordination and planning of Lin Li-Mei, Chief Secretary of Kaohsiung Port, teachers and students from the kindergarten affiliated with Chueng Jih Elementary School in Hualien County’s Yuli Township (hereinafter referred to as ‘Chunri Kindergarten’) visited Hualien Port. After being exposed to the principle of ‘water bank’ and listening to on-site explanations and applications, they decided to create a picture book for Hualien Port with the theme of the ‘water bank’.
After their visit to Hualien Port, the teachers and students of Chueng Jih Kindergarten continued to enhance their understanding of the ‘water bank’ through lessons, hands-on experiments and concept integration into daily life. They eventually developed a whimsical story about a group of animals embarking on an adventurous journey to find the ‘water bank’, making it easier for children to understand. In September 2024, they completed the picture book titled ‘The Animals’ Great Adventure: The Secret of the Water Bank’, and on December 18, held a book launch event. The aim was to convey the importance of cherishing water resources, promote parent-child reading interaction, and enhance the joy of reading.
Since the installation of its first water bank in 1998, Hualien Port has built a total of 12 units. In 2015, its proposal ‘Water Resource Bank – Water Resource Reuse’ won the first place in the Executive Yuan Innovation Application Award. Since then, the port has continued to enhance the system each year. Through the intelligent energy management system established at Hualien Port, water levels and storage volumes of the ‘water bank’ can now be precisely measured and monitored for effective utilization. This system saves approximately 150,000 kiloliters of tap water annually, significantly reducing potable water consumption in the port area, cutting CO₂ emissions, and greatly lowering both water supply and usage costs. Guided by the principle of ‘take from nature, use in an eco-friendly way, and return to nature’, the system collects surface water to achieve the goal of ‘cherishing water resources’ and promoting water conservation.
Hualien Port Branch also donated the picture book to all public and private elementary schools, as well as public kindergartens in Hualien County. In support of the ‘Delivering Books to Rural Areas’ public welfare initiative, the branch has also planned to conduct guided reading sessions in schools throughout 2025. These efforts aim to fulfill corporate social responsibility and promote sustainable and mutual development.
