XN000022-1982-04-04 — Page 4

SUNDAY, APRIL 4. 1982

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ADDITIONALLY THERE ARE 258 MODERN MARINE AIDS TO NAVIGATION LOCATED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG WATERS TO ASSIST THE SAFE AND EASY MOVEMENT OF SHIPS TO THEIR BERTHS AND OUT OF THE HARBOUR.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING FLOTSAM AND JETSAM FROM THE HARBOUR. LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT'S HARBOUR SCAVENGERS CLEARED 4 700 TONNES OF GARBAGE FROM THE WATERS OF HONG KONG. ITS OPERATIONS ARE NOW BECOMING MORE MODERNISED AND PLANS NOW CALL FOR THE USE OF PURPOSE-DESIGNED CRAFT FOR SCAVENGING OPERATIONS WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS.

ADDING RECENTLY TO THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF HARBOUR ACTIVITY HAVE BEEN THE TWO LARGE SCALE PROJECTS IN THE FORM OF POWER STATIONS AT TAP SHEK KOK AND LAMMA ISLAND, WHICH REQUIRE THE SERVICES OF LARGE FUEL VESSELS THROUGH THE WATERS OF HONG KONG. WITH THIS, AND THE INCREASED GENERAL ACTIVITY IN MIND, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW STUDYING PROPOSALS FOR A VESSEL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH COULD UTILISE THREE TYPES OF SENSOR RADAR, VERY HIGH FREQUENCY-DIRECTION FINDING (V.H.F./D.F.) AND LOW-LIGHT TV.

SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD PROVIDE BLANKET COVERAGE OF ALL HONG KONG WATERS USED BY OCEAN-GOING VESSELS, AND WOULD HELP ENSURE THE CONTINUED SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE PORT.

ANOTHER SAFETY FACTOR CONCERNS THE USE OF LICENSED PORT PILOTS. ALTHOUGH NOT YET REQUIRED BY LAW THE SERVICES OF LICENSED PILOTS ARE USED BY ABOUT 90 PER CENT OF ALL OCEAN-GOING SHIPS ENTERING AND LEAVING HONG KONG HARBOUR. IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION, HOWEVER, TO MAKE SUCH PILOTAGE COMPULSORY WITHIN TWO TO THREE YEARS.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ALSO PROVIDES SURVEYORS TO CARRY OUT SURVEYS ON ANY BRITISH OR FOREIGN SHIPS PRIOR TO THE ISSUE OF SAFETY CERTIFICATES WHICH ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA 1974 AND OTHER

INTERNATIONAL SAFETY CONVENTIONS. A PLAN-APPROVAL SERVICE IS ALSO PROVIDED.

NOT SO WIDELY KNOWN IS THE FACT THAT HONG KONG HAS THE LARGEST AND TECHNICALLY MOST ADVANCED FLEET OF HYDROFOILS AND HOVERCRAFT IN THE WORLD. THESE VESSELS ARE SURVEYED AND THE IR OPERATIONS REGULATED BY THE MARINE SAFETY DIVISION,

EXAMINATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY AS MASTERS, MATES AND ENGINEERS, ARE REGULARLY HELD AND ARE RECOGNISED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND ENTITLED TO COMMONWEALTH VALIDITY.

SHIPPING CASUALTIES ARE INVESTIGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS OFFICERS PLAY A PROMINENT PART IN MARINE COURTS OF ENQUIRY.

SAFE WORKING PRACTICES IN SHIPBUILDING, SHIPREPAIRING, SHIP-BREAKING AND CARGO HANDLING AFLOAT IN HONG KONG WATERS ARE PROMOTED AND MONITORED AND THE CAUSE OF MARINE INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS INVESTIGATED.

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