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The main focus of the study was to consider the overall risk assessment and the predicted growth in incident levels, the marine community survey, and the results of the analysis of alternative development scenario or 'what if cases.
Mr Dale noted that taking fully into consideration the views of port users, the marine community survey received an exceptionally high response which commonly requested progressive role from the Marine Department in managing and operating the port.
He said, "The extensive data collection exercises and analysis were also performed to establish the existing and forecast movements of all types of vessels up to the year 2011."
On the Marine Risk Assessment, Mr Dale noted that the results indicated an likely increase by 42 per cent in the number of marine incidents on the basis of the existing management procedures, representing a rise from a level of 233 in 1994 to some 333 by 2011.
"However, the number of vessel arrivals has almost doubled during the corresponding period," Mr Dale pointed out.
"It is also projected that there could be a significant increase in ship to ship incidents from 2006 onwards due to increase in traffic density and capacity constraints unless alternative measures are taken," he added.
In this regard, the study indicates that the forecast marine traffic should be distributed over as much of the available water areas as possible, thus reducing the level of potential conflict.
The indications also point out that there is an urgent need to implement the proposed strategy as the marine traffic can reach a level where the incidence will rise significantly around 2006.
"With the MARAD Strategy in place, it is considered that a significant reduction could be obtained in the projected level of all types of ship to ship collisions." Mr Dale said.
"I am now considering the implementation of the measures outlined within the study," he added.
End