XN000022-1996-01-18 — Page 6

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Work to deepen Rambler Channel due to start

The chairman of the Port Development Board's Container Handling Committee, Mr Gerry Forsgate, today (Thursday) hit out at critics who claim large container ships can not use Hong Kong's port because approach channels are not deep enough.

He pointed out that at 15 metres, the approach to Container Terminal Seven and Eight could take even the biggest container vessels when fully loaded.

He said: "Work is expected to start later this year on a $120 million project to dredge the Rambler Channel. This will allow the bigger vessels to use Terminal One to Six, fully loaded if necessary.

"But the present channel, with a depth of 12.25 metres is adequate for any vessel wishing to use the older terminals.

"The fact that OOCL's 4950 TEU vessel the OOCL Hong Kong was recently named in the port, and will call here regularly, proves that Hong Kong is approachable by the latest generation ships." His remarks follow suggestions that delays in dredging the Rambler Channel will mean ships being diverted from Hong Kong to other ports.

"There have been no cases of vessels being unable to use the port because of lack of depth in the Rambler Channel," Mr Forsgate emphasised.

"The port and shipping industry has been aware for some time that the introduction of bigger container vessels will necessitate the dredging of the channel from its current depth of just over 12 metres to 15 metres.

"This was recommended in the South-east Tsing Yi Development Study in 1991. Dredging work was included in the Container Terminal Nine project and was scheduled to have been completed last year.

reasons.

"As you know." he continued, "the CT9 project was delayed for political

"Because of this, the Government has decided to carry out some of the infrastructure work associated with CT9 as separate projects as soon as possible. These include dredging the Rambler Channel and building the Duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge.

"The Port Development Board, at its meeting last December, said that the dredging should be completed by mid-1997. Every effort is being made to meet that target. It is hoped that work can start in September this year and be completed by June 1997."