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First local marine traffic control station opens
The opening of the Ma Wan Marine Traffic Control Station at Gemini Point underlines the Marine Department's commitment to safe and efficient marine transport in Hong Kong, the Director of Marine, Mr Ian Dale, said today (Monday).
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the station, the first of a series marine traffic control stations, Mr Dale said the new facility at Gemini Point was just one in a large programme of marine traffic management initiatives to enhance the territory's vessel traffic services into the next century.
The control station, operated round the clock, is equipped with radar, a full communication capability to the main Vessel Traffic Control Centre in Sheung Wan and a control launch under station's direct command.
"With this facility we are able to provide to the masters and coxswains of vessels transiting the busy and hazardous tidal conditions at Ma Wan with a greatly improved level of safety," Mr Dale said.
The Marine Department established in 1989 the Vessel Traffic System (VTS) which enables comprehensive radar coverage of the movements of larger vessels over most of Hong Kong waters.
In localised traffic conflict areas where river trade vessels and ferries converge with ocean-going ships, there is a need to supplement the VTS radar coverage with the ability to segregate smaller vessels from ocean ships.
This is achieved through local control stations backed up with a dedicated control boat. The first example of which is the Ma Wan Marine Traffic Control Station.
The department has plans for similar facilities to be established at Kwai Chung, Green Island and Mirs Bay over the next few years.
"Along with other initiatives at Ma Wan such as improved real time access to tidal information and the installation of a system of traffic lights, this control station is aimed at providing, with adequate margins of safety, more scope for movements of larger vessels around Ma Wan than was previously possible," Mr Dale said.