ENG-2008 — Page 322

258 ❘ Transport

training and certification of standards, facilitation of international maritime traffic, and other maritime matters.

International Conference

A Capacity Building Workshop of the Information Sharing Centre of the Regional Co-operation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia was held between November 4 and 6.

Port State Control

Hong Kong is a member of the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (PSC) in the Asia-Pacific Region. The Marine Department participated actively in its various activities, and is the leader of two working groups.

The department's PSC officers are well known for their professionalism and impartiality in conducting ship inspections. In 2008, the department continued to conduct daily PSC inspections, even at weekends whenever practicable. The officers. conducted 681 inspections on ocean-going vessels, or 15 per cent of all ocean-going vessels that visited Hong Kong. About 4 per cent of ships inspected were detained because of serious deficiencies that needed immediate attention.

Maritime Search and Rescue

The Marine Department's Maritime Rescue and Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) co-ordinates search and rescue operations for serious incidents in Hong Kong waters. and within a large part of the South China Sea, covering some 450 000 square nautical miles of sea.

The centre is manned round the clock by professional staff and equipped with modern communication equipment. It is also aided by a shore-based Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.

In 2008, the centre handled 227 vessel-related emergencies, 66 of which involved search and rescue operations. A total of 74 people were rescued.

In recognition of its expertise, the Hong Kong MRCC was chosen as a member of the International Maritime Organisation/International Civil Aviation Organisation Joint Working Group for Harmonisation of Maritime and Aeronautical Search and

Rescue.

Government Fleet and Dockyard

Government Fleet

The government fleet, with over 700 vessels of different types and sizes, including 121 major mechanised vessels and large-type high speed craft, serves 14 government departments such as the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and the Fire Services Department. Some user departments manage their own fleets of specially built vessels. The Marine Department controls and manages 81 vessels of which 47 are provided with manning by the department. These include patrol launches, conveyance launches, pontoons and some specialised vessels, such as hydrographic survey launches and explosives carriers. These vessels