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Transport
Vessel Traffic Services
The department's Vessel Traffic Centre facilitates the traffic of visiting vessels to ensure their safety and expeditious movement.
Harbour Patrol and Local Control Station
The department's Harbour Patrol Section operates 29 patrol launches to enforce marine legislation, maintain safety of the port and shipping, and respond to marine emergencies. Its local traffic control station in Kwai Chung provides information and traffic management services to vessels in the vicinity of the Kwai Tsing container port area.
Pilotage
Pilotage is compulsory in Hong Kong waters for any vessel of 3,000 gross tonnage or above, oil tankers of 1,000 gross tonnage or above, and all gas carriers. The Director of Marine regulates and monitors pilotage services.
Hydrographic Services
The Hydrographic Office carries out hydrographic surveys and produces nautical charts, electronic navigational charts and other publications to help vessels navigate in Hong Kong waters. It provides Notices to Mariners for updating the charts once every two weeks and, through the internet, real-time information about tides, forecasts about tidal streams and predictions about the Ma Wan transit tidal window.
Immigration and Quarantine
Immigration and quarantine services for ships are available at the western and eastern quarantine and immigration anchorages. An immigration service is also available at the Tuen Mun Immigration Anchorage for river-trade vessels.
Carriage of Dangerous Goods
The Marine Department conducts random shipboard inspections of vessels in Hong Kong waters according to international and local standards.
Local Vessels Safety Certification
The department's Local Vessels Safety Section provides survey and certification services for local vessels to make sure they comply with safety and pollution prevention requirements.
Port Security
All designated port facilities in Hong Kong comply fully with the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. The department implements the code, including monitoring the training and qualifications of the port facilities' security personnel, overseeing security drills and exercises conducted at the port facilities and carrying out annual audits of port facility security arrangements.
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