XN000022-1976-02-22 — Page 2

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NEW ADDITION TO POLLUTION CONTROL FLEET

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HONG KONG WILL BE MUCH BETTER PREPARED TO COMBAT POLLUTION FROM OIL SPILLS IN THE HARBOUR WHEN A NEW ANTI-OIL POLLUTION LAUNCH JOINS THE FLEET OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.

COSTING SOME $1.8 MILLION, THE 80-FOOT LAUNCH WAS BUILT LOCALLY AT THE CHEOY LEE SHIPYARD AND is NOW UNDER-GOING SEA TRIALS, IT WILL BE DELIVERED SOME TIME NEXT WEEK. AFTER COMMISSIONING, IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST AND MOST SOPHISTICATED OF THE DEPARTMENT'S POLLUTION CONTROL VESSELS.

THE MARINE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT, MR. TONY MASON, SAID THE SPECIAL LAUNCH HAS STORAGE TANKS WHICH CAN HOLD A TOTAL OF 6,000 GALLONS OF DISPERSANTS. IT WILL THEREFORE BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT DISPERSING OPERATIONS FOR A WHOLE DAY WITHOUT RE-LOADING DISPERSANTS.

+ IT CAN CARRY SUFFICIENT FUEL TO OPERATE FOR ABOUT 100 HOURS AT A STRETCH AT HALF ITS FULL SPEED OF 12 KNOTS.+

EQUIPPED WITH FIVE FIRE MONITORS, THE LAUNCH CAN, IF REQUIRED, BE USED TO ASSIST IN FIRE FIGHTING.

OTHER SPECIAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED INCLUDES SPRAY BOOMS AGITATING DEVICES, AND A POWERFUL PUMP FOR SPRAYING DISPERSANTS.

ALL PROPELLING MACHINERY AND THE FULLY AUTOMATIC PUMPING MACHINERY FOR SPRAYING DISPERSANTS ARE CONTROLLED FROM THE BRIDGE, WHERE THERE ARE ALSO RADAR, ECHO (DEPTH) SOUNDING AND V.H.F. RADIO EQUIPMENT,

THE CRAFT HAS A LARGE CLEAR AFTERDECK, WHERE THE CREW HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO WORK WHEN DEPLOYING AND RECOVERING BOOMS AND OTHER ANTI POLLUTION EQUIPMENT.

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS LAUNCH WILL BE FOR USE AS A COMMAND BOAT WHEN THERE IS A MAJOR SPILL, CO-ORDINATING THE EFFORTS OF THE OTHER CRAFT IN CLEANING IT. SHE WILL ALSO DEAL WITH MINOR SPILLS THAT FREQUENTLY OCCUR AND WILL BE USED IN TRANSPORTING ANTI POLLUTION STAFF ON THEIR DAY TO DAY INSPECTIONS OF OIL TERMINALS, VESSELS THAT ARE TAKING ON BUNKERS AND TANKERS THAT ARE DISCHARGING TO SEE THAT THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH ALL REGULATIONS. THE CRAFT WILL ALSO BE USED FOR TRAINING STAFF IN DEPLOYING ANTI POLLUTION EQUIPMENT.

AT PRESENT, THE POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT HAS ONE VESSEL EMPLOYED FULL TIME TO DEAL WITH OIL SPILLS, ALTHOUGH IN CASE OF NEED, 13 (SOON TO BE INCREASED TO 20) OTHER LAUNCHES FITTED WITH SPRAYING EQUIPMENT CAN BE MOBILISED AT ANY TIME.

+WHEN THE NEW LAUNCH COMES INTO OPERATION, WE WILL DEFINITELY BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO DEAL WITH A MAJOR SPILL.+ MR. MASON SAID.

NOTE TO EDITORS #

COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE NEW LAUNCH ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION IN GIS PRESS ROOM, TOP FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.

FOR

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