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FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1987
ORDER TO EXTEND COMPULSORY PILOTAGE PUBLISHED
AN ORDER TO INTRODUCE THE SECOND PHASE OF PILOTAGE UNDER THE PILOTAGE ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 84) WAS (FRIDAY).
THE COMPULSORY GAZETTED TODAY
THE PILOTAGE (AMENDMENT OF FIRST SCHEDULE) ORDER 1987 EXTENDS, WITH EFFECT FROM AUGUST 1, 1987 THE REQUIREMENT FOR COMPULSORY PILOTAGE GENERALLY TO SHIPS OF 5,000 GROSS REGISTERED TONNAGE (GRT) OR OVER.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT ON APRIL 30, 1985, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL APPROVED THE AMENDMENT OF THE PILOTAGE ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR COMPULSORY PILOTAGE FOR SHIPS NAVIGATING WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THREE PHASES.
HE SAID THE PURPOSE OF DOING SO WAS ΤΟ IMPROVE CONTROL OVER SHIPPING AND TO PROMOTE SAFETY BY REQUIRING VESSELS TO CARRY ON BOARD PILOTS IN AREAS OF NAVIGATIONAL DIFFICULTY.
"THIS IS PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING NUMBER AND SIZE OF OCEAN-GOING VESSELS ENTERING THE PORT EACH YEAR, INCREASING SILTING OF CERTAIN AREAS OF THE HARBOUR AND INCREASING TRAFFIC FLOWS TO AND FROM THE CONTAINER TERMINAL AND THE OIL BERTHS, HE ADDED.
HE SAID THE INTENTION WAS TO INTRODUCE COMPULSORY PILOTAGE IN THREE PHASES:
(A) PHASE I
COMPULSORY PILOTAGE FOR ALL SHIPS OVER 10,000 GRT;
(B) PHASE II
COMPULSORY PILOTAGE FOR ALL SHIPS OVER 5,000 GRT; AND
(C)
PHASE III
COMPULSORY PILOTAGE FOR ALL SHIPS OVER 1,000
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GRT.
THE FIRST PHASE CAME INTO OPERATION ON AUGUST 1. 1985. THE PILOTAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS ADVISED THAT THE SECOND PHASE OF COMPULSORY PILOTAGE SHOULD BE INTRODUCED ON AUGUST 1, 1987. THE THIRD PHASE IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED IN 1989.
ALSO PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY ARE THE PILOTAGE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 AND THE PILOTAGE (AMENDMENT} REGULATIONS 1987 UNDER THE SAME ORDINANCE.
PROPOSES TO AMEND THE THE PILOTAGE ADVISORY FROM FIVE TO SEVEN; AND TO AN APPLICANT FORM PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS,
THE PILOTAGE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEE FROM 11 TO 13 AND THE QUORUM EMPOWER THE PILOTAGE AUTHORITY ΤΟ EXEMPT MEDICAL EXAMINATION IF HE HAS, WITHIN THE SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO A SIMILAR EXAMINATION.
/THE BILL ........