SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 1987
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MACAU FERRY TERMINAL BOUNDARY EXTENDED
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THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED THE BOUNDARIES OF THE MACAU FERRY TERMINAL TO ENSURE THE SAFE MANOEUVRING OF FERRIES WHEN ARRIVING FROM AND DEPARTING TO MACAU,
THE NEW TERMINAL BOUNDARIES, WHICH CAME IN EFFECT IN MARCH, EXTENDED THE ORIGINAL DISTANCE OF 50 METRES MEASURED FROM THE OUTER PIER TO 90 METRES.
+ANY STEP THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A COLLISION IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR WHEN THE SAFETY OF SO MANY PASSENGERS IS INVOLVED, + SENIOR MARINE OFFICER (TERMINALS), MR J.D. SHEARMAN, SAID.
THE NEW TERMINAL BOUNDARIES HAVE BEEN MARKED BY YELLOW BUOYS AT THE CORNERS AND DELINEATE AN AREA OF ABOUT 11.3 HECTARES.
THE AREA DELINEATED BY THE NEW BOUNDARIES HAS BEEN GAZETTED AND RESERVED EXCLUSIVELY FOR FERRY VESSELS USING THE TERMINAL. ALL OTHER VESSELS INCLUDING SAMPANS, PLEASURE VESSELS, TUGS. LIGHTERS, ARE NOW USUALLY PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE BOUNDARIES.
MR SHEARMAN ADDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OPERATED A CONTINUOUS VHF RADIO-TELEPHONE SERVICE WHICH PERMITTED COMPREHENSIVE MARINE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FERRIES AS THEY APPROACHED THE TERMINAL. +IN THIS WAY, INCOMING AND OUTGOING FERRIES CAN BE MANOEUVRED SAFELY UNDER ADVICE+, HE SAID.
SAFETY AROUND THE APPROACHES IS ONLY ONE OF THE MANY ASPECTS OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT'S WORK IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MACAU FERRY TERMINAL WHICH IS USED BY FIVE COMPANIES OPERATING FERRIES TO MACAU AND HANDLES SOME 8 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR.
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT PLAYS A CO-ORDINATING ROLE IN ARRANGING THE SAILING SCHEDULES OF THE 32 FERRIES THAT MAKE 164 TRIPS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND MACAU EVERY DAY.
AT THE MOMENT, 460 OFFICERS FROM 6 GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, POLICE, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES AND CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES STAFF THE TERMINAL, UNDER THE CO-ORDINATING INFLUENCE OF THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE.
MR SHEARMAN WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TERMINAL SINCE ITS OPENING IN 1985 CHAIRS VARIOUS WORKING GROUPS SET UP TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE OPERATORS OF THE FERRIES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THE HONG KONG - MACAU FERRY TERMINAL FACILITATION STANDING COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARINE, PORTS DIVISION, MEETS QUARTERLY TO DEAL WITH POLICY MATTERS AFFECTING PASSENGER TRAFFIC.
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