XN000022-1984-08-23 — Page 10

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1984

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COMPULSORY PILOTAGE EXPECTED SOON

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LEGISLATION WILL SHORTLY BE INTRODUCED REQUIRING COMPULSORY PILOTAGE OF VESSELS IN HONG KONG HARBOUR.

THE REQUIREMENT WILL BE PUT INTO EFFECT IN THREE STAGES, FOLLOWING WHICH ALL VESSELS OF 1 000 GROSS REGISTERED TONS AND ABOVE, NAVIGATING IN HONG KONG WATERS, WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF A HONG KONG PILOT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE PRESENT PILOTAGE ORDINANCE WILL BE AMENDED TO BRING IT UP TO DATE AND MORE IN LINE WITH PRACTICE IN OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE PILOT'S JOB, HE EXPLAINED, IS TO GUIDE A SHIP IN A SAFE AND EFFICIENT MANNER BETWEEN THE BOARDING STATION AND THE WHARF, TERMINAL AND BUOY.

+ THE PURPOSE OF PILOTAGE IS TO SATISFY TWO SIMILAR SETS OF CRITERIA - ONE BEING THE REQUIREMENT OF THE SHIPOWNER TO HAVE ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AVAILABLE, AND THE OTHER BE-ING THAT OF THE NAVIGATION AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE IN ENSURING SAFE NAVIGATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.

+BOTH COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER IN THE PURSUIT OF OVERALL NAVIGATIONAL SAFETY, HE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE IS THE PILOTAGE AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG AND ALL LICENSED PILOTS ARE MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG PILOTS ASSOCIATION, WHICH ORGANISES THE PROVISION OF PILOTAGE SERVICES ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS. THE FEES CHARGED ARE GOVERNED BY STATUTE.

AS INDICATED IN A REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES TO A QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER 1981, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE INTENDS TO INTRODUCE COMPULSORY PILOTAGE IN THREE STAGES —— EARLY 1985, IN 1987 AND IN 1989.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IS, MEANWHILE, ALSO REVIEWING THE PILOTAGE (DUES) ORDER, WHICH GOVERNS THE CHARGES FOR STANDARD PILOTAGE DUES FOR THE PILOTAGE OF SHIPS IN HONG KONG.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, A STUDY IS BEING UNDERTAKEN TO UPDATE THE PILOTAGE ORDER WHICH CONTROLS THE TRAINING, EXAMINATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR CLASSES OF PILOTAGE AND FOR THE AMENDMENT OF A LICENCE TO A HIGHER CLASS OF PILOTAGE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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