XN000022-1993-12-03 — Page 13

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1993

HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS FOR VESSELS PASSING UNDER BRIDGES

NO

EXCEEDING

VESSELS HAVING A MAST, SUPERSTRUCTURE OR CARGO HEIGHT 17 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL ARE ALLOWED TO PASS UNDER THE TSING YI (SOUTH) AND TSING TSUEN (NORTH) BRIDGES, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARINE (PLANNING AND LOCAL SERVICES), MR S Y TSUI SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD ON NOVEMBER 24 ENDORSED SUCH RESTRICTION UNDER THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL (AMENDMENT) REGULATION

1993.

THE REGULATION DESIGNATES A RESTRICTED AREA IN RAMBLER CHANNEL SO THAT, EXCEPT WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, NO VESSEL HAVING A MAST OR SUPERSTRUCTURE HEIGHT EXCEEDING 17 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL IS ALLOWED:

IN THE CASE OF A VESSEL BEING TOWED, TO ENTER, BERTH OR UNBERTH WITHIN THE AREA UNLESS IT IS BEING TOWED BY SUCH NUMBER OF TUGS OR OTHER VESSELS AS MAY REASONABLY BR REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE VESSEL HAVING REGARD TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES PERTAINING THERETO; OR

ΤΟ APPROACH A BRIDGE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PREJUDICE THE SAFETY OF THE BRIDGE.

"THE REGULATION ALSO APPLIES TO VESSELS NAVIGATING IN THE RESTRICTED AREAS NEAR THE AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE WHERE THE HEIGHT RESTRICTION IS 14 METRES ABOVE THE SEA LEVEL," SAID MR TSUI.

IF WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE THIS REGULATION IS CONTRAVENED, THE MASTER OF THE VESSEL AND THE MASTERS OF THE TUGS OR OTHER VESSELS TOWING THE VESSEL COMMIT AN OFFENCE, AND ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000 AND IMPRISONMENT OF SIX MONTHS.

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"ALSO, IF A VESSEL IS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH ANY BRIDGE WITHIN THE RESTRICTED AREAS, THOSE CONCERNED ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50,000 AND IMPRISONMENT OF SIX MONTHS.

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MR TSUI ADDED THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE, VESSELS WITH PROVEN RECORDS OF REGULAR USE IN THE RECENT PAST OF THE RAMBLER CHANNEL PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA (PCWA) HAVING A MAST OR SUPERSTRUCTURE HEIGHT EXCEEDING 17 METRES BUT BElow 20 METRES MAY APPLY FOR PERMISSION TO NAVIGATE UNDER THE TSING TSUEN (NORTH) BRIDGE THE PURPOSE OF GAINING ACCESS TO THAT PCWA. SUCH PERMISSION WILL BE GRANTED WITH STRICT CONDITIONS AND WILL INITIALLY BE VALID FOR SIX MONTHS.

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