XN000022-1977-05-05 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1977

COURSE ON USE OF RADAR EQUIPMENT

*****

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT'S NAUTICAL TRAINING SCHOOL WILL INSTALL RADAR EQUIPMENT IN THE LECTURE ROOM SO AS TO FACILITATE TRAINING ON THE USE OF RADAR EQUIPMENT FOR ITS FLOATING STAFF.

EQUIPPED WITH SUCH KNOWLEDGE, COXSWAINS OF GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES FITTED WITH A RADAR WILL BE ABLE TO SAIL WITH ADDITIONAL SAFETY IN CONDITIONS OF LOW VISIBILITY.

+THERE WILL BE LESS CHANCE OF ACCIDENT IN DARKNESS AND IN FOGGY WEATHER, ESPECIALLY IN EARLY SPRING WHEN VISIBILITY IS OFTEN REDUCED TO ONLY A FEW METRES,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.

THE COURSES WILL BE ATTENDED BY SENIOR COXSWAINS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO WORK ON VESSELS FITTED WITH RADARS.

IT WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRAINING EQUIPMENT IS INSTALLED AT THE TRAINING SCHOOL, LOCATED WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD IN CANTON ROAD, YAU MA TEI.

THE INITIAL STAGE OF INSTALLATION HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND A LEAD-IN PIPE HAD BEEN PUT UP ON THE ROOF OF THE SIX-STOREY DOCKYARD BUILDING.

+ THE DISC-SHAPED SCANNER OF THE RADAR, CALLED MARINE PATHFINDER', WILL BE MOUNTED ON THE ROOFTOP WHILE THE DISPLAY SCREEN WILL BE SET UP INSIDE ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS OVERLOOK ING THE HARBOUR,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE RADAR SET, HE EXPLAINED

HE EXPLAINED, WAS ACQUIRED FROM THE HARBOUR PATROL VESSEL WHICH HAD A NEW ONE.

AS WITH PREVIOUS COURSES HELD BY THE NAUTICAL TRAINING SCHOOL, THE RADAR COURSE WILL BE OFFERED TO OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHOSE STAFF HAVE USE FOR THE SPECIAL TRAINING.

+ THE SCHOOL ALSO ORGANISES OTHER IN-SERVICE COURSES FOR STAFF OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT STAFF,+ THE SPOKESMAN NOTED.

THIS YEAR, THE SCHOOL PLANS TO PROVIDE 19 FULL-TIME COURSES FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT'S OWN STAFF. THESE COURSES ARE AT VARIOUS LEVELS AND ARE FOR BOTH DECK HANDS AND ENGINE ROOM RATINGS.

+WITH THE EXCEPTION OF INITIAL TRAINING CLASSES FOR NEW ENTRANTS, ALL COURSES AIM TO TRAIN THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS ON GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES, TO HELP THEM TO OBTAIN HIGHER SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROMOTION,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

/+TRAINEES