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COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT
oilers. Fresh water is obtainable at commercial wharves or from water-boats which service vessels at anchor or at government mooring buoys.
Hong Kong has long been associated with shipbuilding and ship repair services. The major shipyards are capable of building dry cargo vessels, tankers and general purpose passenger and cargo vessels up to 500 feet in length but at present the tendency is to specialise in ship repairs, modifications and conversions.
On January 1, 1973, the two major shipyards, Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company of Hong Kong and the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company pooled resources and now operate jointly as Hongkong United Dockyards. The company has extensive facilities for the repair, maintenance and drydocking or slipping of all types and class of bulk oil tankers up to 35,000 deadweight tons, or passenger liners 750 feet in length and 88 feet beam, and drydocks capable of docking vessels up to 25,000 deadweight tons. Additionally, the Island Navigation Corporation operates a floating drydock with a lifting capacity of 100,000 deadweight tons. Minor shipyards in Hong Kong continue to flourish with more than 170 slipways equipped to undertake repairs to small vessels. These shipyards have also developed a capacity for building specialised craft, particularly sophisticated pleasure craft and yachts.
Hong Kong continues to maintain a prominent role as a centre of recruitment for seamen and more than 23,000, out of a total of more than 75,000 locally registered men, are serving on board some 1,418 British and foreign flag vessels. The Seamen's Recruiting Office and the Mercentile Marine Office combine to register and supervise the employment of seamen on board vessels of all flags. The Mariners' Club in Kowloon provides recreation and welfare facilities of a high standard for visiting seamen of all nationalities.
The proximity of Hong Kong to the Portuguese territory of Macau continues to attract both tourists and residents to Macau. The facilities at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island are being improved. The volume of passenger traffic on the route has increased from 1.34 million in 1963 to more than 4.02 million in 1973. Bearing in mind a projected throughput of 5.5 million passengers by 1977, comprehensive plans have been laid before the government to completely reprovision present terminal facilities.
On March 30, 1973, a collision occurred in the eastern approaches to the port between the British tanker Eastgate and the French cargo vessel Circea. The collision resulted in extensive fire on board the Eastgate in which three crewmen died. A prelimi- nary investigation was conducted by the department which resulted in the Governor appointing a full Marine Court of Enquiry. This took place in September 1973 when it was found that the collision was caused by the excessive speed of the Circea during poor visibility. The court also found that the masters of both vessels acted in a seamanlike manner after the collision.
Although storm warning signals were hoisted on several occasions throughout the
year, there was no major damage to shipping or small craft in the port. Unusually heavy and frequent rain affected conventional cargo operations in the port during the
summer.