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Transport
Public Cargo Working Areas
The Marine Department manages six public cargo working areas with a total berth length of about 5,000 metres, which are open to cargo operators for loading and unloading cargo onto and from barges and coasters.
Cross-boundary Ferry Terminals
The Marine Department operates two cross-boundary ferry terminals: the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal with 10 berths and the China Ferry Terminal with 12 berths. The Hong Kong- Macao Ferry Terminal operates round-the-clock. The China Ferry Terminal operates daily from 7 am to midnight. The department controls and regulates the use of these cross-boundary ferry terminals under the Shipping and Port Control (Ferry Terminals) Regulations.
Mooring Buoys
The Marine Department provides 13 Class 'A' and four Class 'B' mooring buoys for vessels up to
183 metres and 137 metres long respectively.
Bunkering and Potable Water Supply
Bunkering is readily available at commercial wharves and oil terminals or from a large fleet of private bunkering barges. Bunker supplies meet the latest requirements under Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (also known as the MARPOL Convention). Fresh water can also be supplied alongside berths or from a fleet of private water boats.
Vessel Traffic Services
The department's Vessel Traffic Centre operates round-the-clock to provide vessel traffic services (VTS) with a modern VTS surveillance system, and a Very High Frequency radio system with full coverage of all navigable waters in Hong Kong.
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.
Pilotage
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.
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