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COMMUNICATIONS
compulsory, it is recommended owing to the density of traffic and the presence of reclamation and harbour works.
Quarantine and immigration formalities are carried out at the eastern or western quarantine anchorages. Port health and im- migration launches are on duty from 6.30 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the eastern anchorage and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the western anchorage. There is an inward night clearance scheme whereby agents, upon giving due notice to the departments concerned, can obtain inward clearance for freight ships arriving between 11 p.m. and 6.30 a.m. Radio pratique may also be granted in certain cases and this arrange- ment, apart from reducing the number of movements within the busy part of the harbour, is popular with shipping interests since it means that disembarkation and cargo work can begin immediately a ship is berthed. This is especially important to the operators of oil-tankers.!
Signal stations on Waglan Island and other points in the harbour and approaches are continuously manned. All movements are reported to the Port Control Office, where staff are available at all times to deal with emergencies and queries. The signal stations are in communication by radio-telephone with marine and port health launches, while police, immigration, fire services and preventive services have their own individual circuits. Vessels at buoys and wharves may hire radio-telephones commercially to link up with the public telephone services. As a precaution against fire in ships or waterfront premises, a fleet of fire-floats is manned by the Fire Services Department and in addition many government and commercial tugs are fitted with fire-fighting monitors.
Port activity in 1965 again showed an increased movement of shipping, the volume of imports, exports and transhipment cargoes all remaining at a high level. Details of vessels entered and cleared during the year, together with figures of cargo loaded and dis- charged, are in Appendix XXXVIII, which also shows the number of passengers, including emigrants, who landed and embarked. Regular and frequent services are maintained by many well-known and old-established shipping lines, some 20 companies providing regular sailings to Europe and a similar number to the North American continent. There are also regular services to Australian, New Zealand, South African, South American and Asian Ports.
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