-
"More recently the compulsory pilotage, which was first introduced in 1985, has extended to all vessels over 3,000 gross registered tons and all tankers over 1,000 gross registered tons."
While these measures were able to meet the present challenge to maintain the port of Hong Kong as one of the safest and efficient ports in the world but there was no room for complacency, Mr Tupper said.
"Predicted growth of marine traffic for the next five years to 2001 sees further significant growth in both ocean-going and river-trade vessel movements," Mr Tupper added.
The department has taken another five-year Programme of Proactive Traffic Management. Major initiatives in the programme include -
(1) Update on the Strategic Planning model through completion of the Marine Activities, Associated Risk Assessment and Development of a Future Strategy for the Optimum Usage of Hong Kong Waters Study by December 1996:
(2) Improved response time at the Vessel Traffic Centre by the establishment of an additional work station in April 1997 to direct vessels approaching from the west;
(3) To enhance the above, the installation of a very high frequency direction
finder at Black Point to assist in vessel radar target identification:
(4) To widen the radar coverage of the Vessel Traffic System by the installation
of an additional radar to cover Mirs Bay by mid-1998;
(5) To extend pilotage provision by establishing a pilot station at the southern
end of the East Lamma Channel;
(6) To construct additional Local Marine Traffic Control Centres at Kwai
Chung Port in late 1998 and Green Island in 2000; and
(7) To enhance the patrol vessel activities by the purchase of new vessels suited to local vessel control and management, and progressive extension of operation hours.