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Transport
Harbour Patrol and Local Control Station
The department's Harbour Patrol Section operates 25 patrol launches which help enforce marine legislation, maintain safety of the port and shipping, as well as respond to marine. emergencies.
The department's local traffic control station at Kwai Chung Container Terminal 8 operates 24 hours. Equipped with a dedicated patrol launch, the station provides information and traffic organisation services to vessels in the vicinity of the Kwai Chung-Tsing Yi container port area.
Carriage of Dangerous Goods
The Marine Department conducts random shipboard inspections of vessels in Hong Kong waters in accordance with international and local standards. An effective notification system for monitoring dangerous goods carried by local vessels was introduced in 2012.
Pilotage Service
Pilotage is compulsory in Hong Kong waters for any vessel of 3,000 gross tonnage and above, oil tankers of 1,000 gross tonnage and above, and all gas carriers. The Director of Marine is the pilotage authority, who regulates and monitors pilotage services with the assistance of the Pilotage Advisory Committee. Pilotage services are provided round-the-clock throughout the year.
Local Vessels
In 2013, about 17,220 local vessels (including passenger, cargo, fishing and pleasure vessels) were licensed in Hong Kong to provide a variety of services for the port and the community.
Hydrographic Service
The Hydrographic Office carries out hydrographic surveys and produces nautical charts, Electronic Navigational Charts and publications in Chinese and English. It issues Notices to Mariners for updating the charts once every two weeks, and also provides real-time information about tides, and Ma Wan transit tidal window predictions through the internet (www.hydro.gov.hk).
Planning, Development and Port Security
The Marine Department provides professional advice on the planning of projects that affect the port and marine traffic, and promulgates in Marine Department Notices the details of marine works. The department's statistical unit compiles and analyses maritime and port statistics on vessel movements and container throughput, and publishes them periodically on its website (www.mardep.gov.hk/en/publication/portstat.html).
All designated port facilities in Hong Kong comply fully with the International Maritime Organisation's International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. The Marine Department implements the code, including monitoring the training and qualifications of the port facilities' security personnel, security exercises and drills conducted at the port facilities, and carrying out annual audits of port facility security arrangements.
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