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TRANSPORT
registered tons and over will be required to engage the services of a Hong Kong-licensed pilot when navigating in the pilotage area.
All licensed pilots are members of the Hong Kong Pilots Association, which is a commercial organisation operating under the provisions of the Pilotage Ordinance and the powers of the Pilotage Authority, who is the Director of Marine.
All navigation buoys in Hong Kong coastal waters conform with the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities Maritime Buoyage System, and those marking major fairways are lit and fitted with radar reflectors. Aids to navigation in the harbour and its approaches are constantly being improved to ensure greater maritime safety.
The Port Communications Centre, which is manned by professional officers at all times, controls and monitors shipping movements within Hong Kong waters, and is equipped with various communications systems, VHF Radio, teleprinter, telephone and facsimile. These systems provide comprehensive maritime communications both within the harbour and its approaches and, through commercial links with Cable and Wireless, on a world- wide basis.
The implementation phase of a Vessel Traffic System to reduce navigational risks in Hong Kong waters began in January 1987 and is expected to be completed in 1989. The system will consist of five remote radar sites located at Black Point, north-east Lantau, Shek Kwu Chau, Bluff Head and Waglan Island, with the Vessel Traffic Centre located at the Macau Ferry Terminal.
Marine Department launches patrol the main harbour area and its approaches. They are in continuous radio contact with the Port Communications Centre, thereby enabling them to respond to any emergency and fulfil the executive functions of the duty officer in the Port Communications Centre. Well-equipped fleets of fire boats, tugs, and marine police vessels are also readily available to respond to emergencies in the harbour.
The Marine Department, by international agreement, is the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordinator for the area of the South China Sea north of latitude 10°N and west of longitude 120°E, excluding the immediate coastal waters of neighbouring states. The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre can be manned at any time on receipt of an emergency message through the various international emergency communication channels which are continuously monitored, and a full search and rescue mission can then be activated and run by staff fully trained in search and rescue techniques. Various search and rescue units are available for use in the form of vessels, aircraft (both fixed and rotary wing), and additional assistance can be obtained from the Rescue Co-ordination Centres in the region.
Bunkering facilities within the port are readily available to all vessels at wharves, oil terminals, or from a large fleet of bunkering barges. Fresh water can also be provided at alongside berths, or from a private fleet of fresh water boats.
The port has extensive facilities for repairing, dry-docking, and slipping all types of vessels, including oil rigs. Vessels of up to 40 000 tonnes deadweight, and 230 metres in length can be accommodated. A large number of minor shipyards are available to undertake repairs to small vessels, and are also equipped to build and maintain sophistic- ated patrol craft and pleasure vessels.
Hong Kong is a prominent centre for shipowning, ship financing and ship management activities. Most local shipowners and connected businesses are represented by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, whose members control a significant percentage of the world's tonnage. At the end of 1988, the association members' fleet stood at 1219 ocean-going vessels totalling 57 million deadweight tons or 16 million gross registered tons,