XN000022-1976-12-20 — Page 6

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1976

LIGHTED BUOYS FOR TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME

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FIVE NEW LIGHTED BUOYS. DESIGNED TO HELP VESSELS KEEP WITHIN TRAFFIC SEPARATION, HAVE BEEN BUILT BY A MARINE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTOR AND WILL BE INSTALLED WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1977.

THEY WILL BE PLACED AT TURNING POINTS OF THE EASTERN AND WESTERN APPROACHES TO THE HARBOUR TO MARK SEPARATION LINES OF THE TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME INTRODUCED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.

THE LIGHTED BUOYS, MEASURING 36 FEET IN HEIGHT WITH A DIAMETER OF 10 FEET, WILL BE THE LARGEST EVER TO BE USED IN HONG KONG AND AMONG THE BIGGEST IN THE WORLD. THEY HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY DESIGNED TC..ITHSTAND TYPHOON CONDITIONS IN EXTREMELY EXPOSED LOCATIONS.

DESIGNED BY A U.K. COMPANY AND AMENDED LOCALLY TO SUIT HONG KONG'S REQUIREMENTS, THE BUOYS WILL INCORPORATE SUCH FEATURES AS RADAR REFLECTORS, ELM FENDERS AND WORKING PLATFORMS WITH GUARD RAILS FOR THE SAFETY OF MAINTENANCE STAFF. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE THE UNIQUE FEATURE OF INNER WATERTIGHT MANHOLES TO COMPLEMENT THE STANDARD CUTER WATERTIGHT MANHOLES, AND WILL BE FITTED WIT FLASHING LIGHTS VISIBLE AT A RANGE IN EXCESS OF FIVE NAUTICAL "ILES.

IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME, A NEW LEAFLET DESCRIBING THE ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN PREPARED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AND ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THEY CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE SMALL CRAFT LICENSING SECTION OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AT 102, CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG.

LOTE TO EDITORS:

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF THE LAST TWO CF THE FIVE NEW BUOYS AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD IN THE OFFICE OF THE MARINE OFFICER (BUCYS) AT THE CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 9TH FLOOR, ROOM 103 AT ABOUT 9.30 A.M. TOMORRO.... (TUESDAY).

YOU ARE INVITED TO HAVE THE CEREMONY COVERED.

FTER THE CEREMONY, "ELERS OF THE PRESS WILL BE TAKE: TO THE LOVAGE..T GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD FOR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BUCYS.

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