XN000022-1976-09-05 — Page 2

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1976.

SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO GUIDE MARINE TRAFFIC

IN HK WATERS *****

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT PLANS TO ENGAGE A SPECIALIST CONSULTANT FIRM TO CARRY OUT A DETAILED STUDY ON THE TYPE OF SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT WHICH CAN HELP IMPROVE THE EXISTING SERVICE TO SHIPS USING THE HARBOUR IN VARIOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS.

AT PRESENT, A V.H.F. RADIO SYSTEM AND VISUAL CONTACT ARE THE PRINCIPAL MEANS OF MONITORING MOVEMENTS OF SHIPS IN THE HARBOUR.

THE NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY EVIDENT AS STATISTICS SHOW THAT NOT ONLY THE NUMBER OF VESSEL CALLS HAS INCREASED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS BUT THE SIZE OF CERTAIN VESSELS AND AMOUNTS OF CARGOES SHIPPED IN AND OUT HAVE ALSO GONE UP.

DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, OVER 15,000 VESSELS REPRESENTING 68.4 MILLION NET REGISTERED TONS ENTERED AND LEFT HONG KONG. THIS COMPARED WITH 14,637 VESSELS AND 64 MILLION TONS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

WITH A VIEW TO FINDING THR BIGHT TYPE OF SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT, THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON DEVELOPMENTS IN OTHER PORTS IN ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN ARMERICA AND EUROPE.

IN APRIL THIS YEAR, MR. ROGER PARRY, OF THE DEPARTMENT'S PLANNING DIVISION, VISITED THE HAGUE TO ATTEND A FOUR-DAY SYMPOSIUM ON VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEMS.

THE CONFERENCE, ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 300 REPRESENTATIVES FROM 25 COUNTRIES, DISCUSSED IN GENERAL TERMS, THE SAFETY OF VESSELS MOVING IN AND OUT OF CONGESTED WATERWAYS SUCH AS THE APPROACHES TO MAJOR PORTS AROUND THE WORLD, AS WELL AS SUCH INTERNATIONAL WATERWAYS AS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL AND THE MALACCA STRAITS.

DURING HIS STAY IN THE EUROPEAN CITY, MR. PARRY MET A WEST GERMAN PROFESSOR WHO WAS AT THE TIME TESTING ONE OF THE LATEST PIECES OF V.H.F. EQUIPMENT USED FOR IDENTIFYING AND LOCATING SHIPS IN ALL-WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHICH IS SAID TO HAVE AN EXTREMELY HIGH DEGREE OF ACCURACY.

+WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS AN OVERLAPPING SYSTEM PROBABLY CONSISTING OF RADAR, DAY AND NIGHT REMOTE CONTROLLED TELEVISION AND V.H.F. RADIOLOCATION EQUIPMENT,+ MR. PARRY SAID.

+H” EXPLAINED