ENG-2002 — Page 321

TRANSPORT

Maritime Search and Rescue

The search and rescue responsibility for maritime distress situations occurring within Hong Kong waters and the major part of the South China Sea covering a sea area of about 450 000 square nautical miles, as agreed internationally, rests with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the Marine Department.

The MRCC is manned 24 hours a day by professional staff and is equipped with comprehensive communication equipment and a shore-based Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. It coordinates search and rescue operations in conjunction with other government departments and international ships on the high seas. Staff members of the MRCC regularly hold maritime safety seminars for fishermen's associations and yacht clubs and for the shipping communities in both Guangdong Province and Hong Kong.

In 2002, the centre handled 259 cases of vessel emergencies, of which 79 developed into search and rescue operations, including 13 medical evacuations. A total of 263 persons were rescued. The centre presented safety seminars for the public.

In recognition of its expertise, the Hong Kong MRCC has been selected as a member of the International Maritime Organisation/International Civil Aviation Organisation Joint Working Group for Search and Rescue.

Government Fleet

There are over 650 vessels of different types and sizes in the government fleet. About 150 vessels are major mechanised vessels serving under 16 government departments including the Police Force (Marine Police region), Customs and Excise and Fire Services. These are mainly purpose-built vessels operated and manned by the user departments. The Marine Department itself controls some 100 vessels which comprise mainly patrol launches, personnel carriers, pontoons, self-propelled barges and some specialised vessels such as hydrographic survey launches and explosives carriers.

The Marine Department launches, apart from meeting traffic needs for its own port operations, also serve other government departments that do not have their own fleet. Since 1999, the Marine Department has been outsourcing the provision of marine transport services, such as personnel carriers and tug boats, to private contractors. A pilot scheme to hire two commercial launches for harbour patrol duties was introduced in April 2002. The result of the pilot scheme will be evaluated after two years' trials to see if further outsourcing of patrol launches is desirable.

Government Dockyard

The fully equipped dockyard situated on Stonecutters Island has been in full operation since early 2000. It occupies a land site of 98 hectares in addition to a protected water basin of 8.3 hectares which also serves as an operational base for the fleet of vessels operated by the Marine Department.

The dockyard is responsible for the design, procurement and maintenance of all vessels in the government fleet. In 2002, 24 vessels costing $198 million were delivered

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