TRANSPORT
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Combating Oil Pollution in the Port
The Marine Department has developed and implemented a new maritime oil spill response plan. The new plan, in line with the standards that are expected of a world- class port, aims to ensure a timely and effective response to oil spills in Hong Kong
waters.
There is an information exchange network between Hong Kong and the neighbouring ports in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Macau. This enables information on a major oil spill incident in any one of these ports to be disseminated to the others immediately. Regular meetings are held with officials of these neighbouring ports to exchange views.
Each year, the Pollution Control Unit of the Marine Department organises and co- ordinates a large-scale oil spill clean-up exercise in which other government departments and local oil companies take part.
On the World Environmental Day on June 5, 2000, the Marine Department participated in a cross-boundary maritime oil spill response drill in the Pearl River Estuary. The port authorities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macau also took part in the exercise, which tested regional co-operation and responses to major incidents in the area.
Local Craft
In 2000, 13 100 local craft including passenger vessels, cargo vessels, fishing vessels and pleasure vessels were licensed in Hong Kong to provide a variety of efficient and continuous services for the port. The Marine Department expects to bring in new legislation in 2001 with a view to rationalising the licensing and management of these vessels.
Port Planning and Development
The Planning and Development Branch of the Marine Department provides professional advice on port and marine projects, and co-ordinates all marine development works. These include the Container Terminal 9, Central and Wan Chai Reclamation, and developments in the Western district and Tseung Kwan O.
Government Fleet
There are over 600 vessels of different types and sizes in the government fleet. About 160 vessels are major mechanized vessels serving under 17 government departments including the Marine Police, Customs and Excise and Fire Services. These are mainly purpose-built vessels operated and manned by the user departments. The Marine Department itself controls about 100 vessels which consist of mainly patrol launches, personnel carriers, pontoons, self-propelled barges and some specialised vessels such as hydrographic survey launches and explosive carriers. The Marine Department's launches, apart from meeting traffic needs for its own port operations, also serve other government departments which do not have their own fleet.
The new Government Dockyard, situated on Stonecutters Island, has been in full operation since early 2000. The dockyard occupies a land site of 98 hectares in addition to a protected water basin of 8.3 hectares which serves as an operational base for the fleet of vessels operated by the Marine Department. The department is responsible for the design, procurement and maintenance of all vessels in the