ENG-2003 — Page 322

TRANSPORT

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Mooring Buoys

The department provides 31 mooring buoys in the harbour area for ship operations. There are 19 class 'A' buoys for vessels up to 183 metres in length and 12 class 'B' buoys for vessels up to 137 metres in length. Booking of these mooring buoys is made through the Vessel Traffic Centre.

Bunkering

Bunkering is readily available at commercial wharves and oil terminals or from a large fleet of private bunkering barges. Fresh water may 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, docking and slipping all types of vessels of sizes up to 300 metres in length and 42 metres in beam. Local shipyards are able to build and maintain ferries, cargo boats, workboats and pleasure vessels. The department's Marine Industrial Safety Section provides free services in carrying out safety inspections of vessels and issuing permits for vessels to undergo repairs. As part of its safety advisory service, the section publishes free leaflets and pamphlets that promote safe working practices in ship-repairing, ship-breaking and cargo-handling afloat as well as in marine construction work.

Local Vessels Safety Certification Service

The Local Vessel Safety Section provides a certification service for all types of local vessels, except pleasure vessels, to ensure they comply with requirements in construction safety, life-saving appliances, fire-fighting equipment, light and sound signals, and anti-pollution installations.

Public Cargo Working Areas

The department manages eight Public Cargo Working Areas (PCWA), in which licensed cargo operators are allowed to load and unload cargo onto and from barges and coasters. The total length of berths available in these working areas is 6992 metres. The Wan Chai PCWA was decommissioned on October 3 for local development but the Chai Wan PCWA was reopened on the same day to take over the cargo activities of Wan Chai.

Reception of Marine Wastes

The department provides contractor services to collect domestic and operational refuse from ocean-going vessels and local vessels. The Chemical Waste Treatment Centre on Tsing Yi Island provides facilities for handling oily and chemical wastes from ships. Registered contractors collect such wastes from ships and deliver them to the centre.

Combating Oil Pollution

The department maintains a maritime oil spill response plan to ensure a timely and effective response to oil spills in Hong Kong waters.