ENG-1999 — Page 320

TRANSPORT

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continuous services for the port. The Marine Department expects to bring in new legislation in 2000 with a view to rationalising the licensing and management of these vessels.

Port Planning and Development

The Planning and Development Branch of the Marine Department provides professional advice on port and marine projects, and co-ordinates all marine development works. These include the Container Terminal 9, Central and Wan Chai Reclamation, and the Green Island and Tseung Kwan O developments.

Government Fleet

The Government's fleet of 360 powered vessels is highly visible in the port. The fleet includes specialised vessels such as fireboats, police launches, pollution control launches, hydrographic survey launches and floating clinics. There are also launches for harbour patrolling, immigration, port health, and customs clearance duties as well as duties concerning correctional services and environmental protection.

Taking account of a client department's requirements, the Marine Department designs, procures and maintains all the Government's vessels. It has a rolling 10-year fleet development plan to replace old vessels. In 1999, 14 vessels costing $66 million were delivered to the department and 12 construction contracts, worth $131 million, were awarded to shipbuilders in Hong Kong and overseas.

Shipping

The Hong Kong Shipping Register

The Hong Kong Shipping Register is administered by the Marine Department. The register's supporting legislation embodies international standards and is consistent with Hong Kong's obligations under the International Maritime Organisation, the International Labour Organisation and other international conventions. The Shipping Consultative Committee consisting of representatives of major shipowners, shipping law firms and unions in Hong Kong advises the Director of Marine on the efficient operation of the register. The register had a total fleet of 521 vessels, amounting to 8.34 million gross registered tonnes, at the end of 1999.

The department's surveyors or authorised classification societies undertake statutory surveys of Hong Kong-registered vessels and audit the companies managing those vessels to ensure that high standards are met. Since the register was established in 1990, it has earned a reputation for quality and reliability. Hong Kong-registered ships have one of the best safety records in the world.

To further maintain Hong Kong's position as an international shipping centre, several measures have been implemented since April to make the shipping register more user-friendly, cost-effective and efficient while at the same time maintaining the general standard of the ships registered.

Among these measures were the reduction of registration and related fees, streamlining of registration procedures and the introduction of a new Flag State Quality Control (FSQC) System.