ENG-2005 — Page 327

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Distress and Safety System. It coordinates search and rescue operations in conjunction with other government departments and ships on the high seas. The centre's staff regularly hold maritime safety seminars for fishermen's associations, yacht clubs and the shipping communities in both Hong Kong and Guangdong Province.

During the year, the centre handled 227 cases of vessel emergencies, 62 of which developed into search and rescue operations, including

including 13 medical evacuations. A total of 330 persons were rescued.

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

Government Fleet and Dockyard

Government Fleet

The government fleet consists of over 720 vessels of different types and sizes. with major mechanised vessels serving 15 government departments including the Hong Kong Police Force, Customs and Excise and Fire Services. These are mainly purpose-built vessels operated and manned by the user departments or the Marine Department. The department itself controls some 22 pontoons and 59 vessels, which comprise mainly patrol launches, conveyance launches and some specialised vessels such as hydrographic survey launches and explosives carriers. They are deployed to serve the needs of port operations and other government departments that do not have their own fleets.

Since 1999, the department has been outsourcing the provision of marine transport services, such as conveyance launches and tug boats, to private contractors. In 2005, seven pollution control vessels were outsourced. Currently, the department has contracts with local companies for 23 vessels to provide various types of services to the department.

Government Dockyard

The Government Dockyard is on Stonecutters Island with a land site of 9.8 hectares and a sheltered water basin of 8.3 hectares. It serves as one of the operational bases for the Marine Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department.

The dockyard is also responsible for the design, procurement and maintenance of all vessels for the Government. Eighteen new vessels costing $78 million were built and delivered to the Government during the year. Seven new building contracts, worth $21 million, were awarded to shipbuilders in Hong Kong and overseas.

Marine Facilities

The Civil Engineering and Development Department is responsible for the planning, design and construction of public marine facilities including piers, beacons, offshore helipads, breakwaters, seawalls, navigation channels and anchorage areas. In 2005, the department completed reconstruction of the public piers at Cheung