ENG-1997 — Page 318

TRANSPORT

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widening the northern entrance of the CFT, installing a bunker supply line to most berths at the CFT and decorating the exterior walls of the MFT are in progress.

Immigration and Quarantine Services

Immigration and quarantine services, including advance clearance, may be applied for by radio through a ship's agent. The Western Quarantine Anchorage provides these services around the clock, while services are available between 6 am and 6 pm daily at the Eastern Quarantine Anchorages. An immigration anchorage which provides services at Tuen Mun between midnight and 1 pm is a particularly convenient facility for river-trade vessels not intending to enter the central harbour.

Mooring Buoys

Mooring buoys in the harbour provide places for transfer of cargo between ships and barges. The Marine Department provides and maintains 60 buoys which can be booked through the Vessel Traffic Centre.

To cope with recent port development, plans are afoot to reorganise the mooring buoys in Kellett Bank and Junk Bay. This project will involve substantial dredging and co-ordination with other port development projects.

Bunkering

Bunkering is readily available at commercial wharves and oil terminals, or from a large fleet of private bunkering barges. Fresh water can also be provided alongside berths, or from a private fleet of water boats.

Ship Repair and Dry-Docking

The port has extensive facilities for repairing, dry-docking and slipping all types of vessels of up to 150 000 dead-weight tonnes, including oil rigs. Smaller shipyards are able to build and maintain workboats and pleasure vessels. The Marine Department provides a free inspection and advice service to promote safe working practices in ship-repairing, ship-breaking and cargo-handling afloat.

Reception of Marine Wastes

The Marine Department provides refuse collection services for both ocean-going and local vessels. It also scavenges floating refuse in Hong Kong waters with six specialised vessels and 58 hired vessels. Oily and chemical wastes from ships are collected by contractor and delivered to a treatment plant at Tsing Yi Island. Refuse collection and scavenging services are being expanded. When the expansion is completed by early 1999, the department will be able to provide much improved services for collection and scavenging.

An inter-departmental working group has been formed to give advice and co- ordinate resources to safeguard a clean marine environment.

Combating Oil Pollution in the Harbour

The Pollution Control Unit of the Marine Department formulates the government's Oil Pollution Contingency Plan and cleans up oil spills. For clean-up jobs, the unit is equipped with a dedicated oil pollution control launch, five tugs capable of dispersing oil spills with chemical dispersant, one oil skimming boat and an oil storage vessel.