ENG-2005 — Page 324

278 Transport

Marine

introduced in 2006, certain types of local vessels will also be able to be surveyed by private inspection organisations or professionals authorised by the Department.

Public Cargo Working Areas

The department manages eight public cargo working areas, 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 7 044 metres.

Reception of Marine Wastes

The department provides contractor services to collect domestic sewage 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 waste collected from ships by registered contractors.

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.

There is also a regional maritime oil spill response plan for the Pearl River Estuary to enhance regional cooperation in the event of a major oil spill occurring in Hong Kong or in any of the neighbouring ports in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macao and Guangzhou.

In November, the department's Pollution Control Unit organised a large-scale, oil-spill clean-up exercise in which all concerned government departments and local oil companies took part.

Shipping

Hong Kong Shipping Register

The Hong Kong Shipping Register (HKSR) has gained a reputation as a world- class register with excellent services. In 2005, it qualified for the second year running for the demanding US Coast Guard's QUALSHIP 21 Scheme confirming its reputation as a high quality flag. There were continuous improvements throughout the year designed to attract top quality tonnage. The HKSR reached the 29.9-million gross tonnage mark at the end of the year, securing its position among the world's top ten shipping registers.

The HKSR is administered by the Marine Department. The supporting legislation related to the register embodies international standards under the IMO, the International Labour Organisation and other international conventions applicable to Hong Kong.

Substantial growth in the HKSR continued in 2005. By year-end, it had grown to 1 085 vessels with a total of 29.9 million gross tonnage, representing a 17 per cent increase in tonnage over 2004.