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Transport
Hong Kong is a modern, well-equipped deep-water port serving two main types of maritime transport: ocean-going vessels from all parts of the world and river-trade vessels from the Pearl River. A daily average of around 80 ocean-going vessels and 430 river-trade vessels arrive at the port; and many high-speed ferries and local vessels work in, or pass through, the harbour.
Port Administration
The Marine Department administers the port, with its principal task to ensure safety of navigation and efficiency of shipping activities in Hong Kong waters. This is achieved through comprehensive traffic management, harbour patrols, vessel traffic services, provision of mooring buoys and strict enforcement of rules and standards of the major international maritime. conventions.
The department liaises closely with shipping and commercial organisations through a number of advisory and consultative committees. Through these channels, users and operators of port facilities can advise the government on port administration matters. The Port Operations Committee advises on all matters related to efficient operation of the port, the Pilotage Advisory Committee on pilotage services, and the Port Area Security Advisory Committee on port security. In addition, the Local Vessels Advisory Committee deals with matters related to local vessels, while the Shipping Consultative Committee advises on the operation of the Hong Kong Shipping Register (HKSR) and Hong Kong's participation in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
The department's website provides a wide range of information on the port and the HKSR, such as notices and details of the department's services and facilities. Its Electronic Business System provides a one-stop solution to simplify and speed up the submission and processing of port formalities, offering services such as online submission of applications, auto-approval for online applications, self-printing of permits and certificates, online payment via auto-pay and online checking of application status.
Port Infrastructure, Facilities and Services
Hong Kong is one of the world's busiest ports, and marine civil works are essential to keep the port running smoothly. The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) carries out maintenance work on public landing steps and ferry piers and terminals, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, breakwaters, and other public marine facilities, and ensure regular maintenance dredging of the harbour, navigation channels and major river channels. The department now maintains a gross area of 506 hectares of typhoon shelters, 5km of quays at public cargo working areas, 127km of seawalls and breakwaters, 318 piers and landing steps, 101 dolphin mooring structures, 14,100 hectares of fairways and 3,590 hectares of anchorage areas.
The CEDD also plans, designs and constructs public marine facilities. In 2015, it continued with the planning and design of a new public landing facility at Lei Yue Mun and reconstruction of Sharp Island Pier, continued with the construction of two additional berths at Sai Kung Public Pier, and completed the construction of cycle parking area at Yung Shue Wan Ferry Pier.
Container handling facilities are a key part of the logistics sector's infrastructure. The nine container terminals at the Kwai Chung-Tsing Yi area, which handle about 78 per cent of Hong
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