ENG-2010 — Page 320

266 | Transport

Pilotage Service

Pilotage is compulsory in Hong Kong waters for vessels of 3 000 gross tonnage and above, oil tankers of 1 000 gross tonnage and above, and all gas carriers.

The Director of Marine is the pilotage authority, who regulates and monitors pilotage services with the assistance of the Pilotage Advisory Committee. The committee's membership covers a wide spectrum of port users and shipping interests. Pilotage services are provided round-the-clock throughout the year by a commercial company.

Local Vessels

In 2010, about 14 500 local vessels including passenger, cargo, fishing and pleasure vessels were licensed in Hong Kong to provide a variety of efficient services for the port and the community. To improve the licensing and management of these vessels, the new Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance was enacted and came into force in January 2007.

Hydrographic Service

The Hydrographic Office carries out hydrographic surveys and produces nautical charts and publications in Chinese and English. It also produces Electronic Navigational Charts. It issues Notices to Mariners for updating the charts once every two weeks, and also provides real-time information about tides, tidal stream and Ma Wan transit tidal window predictions through the Internet (www.hydro.gov.hk).

Planning, Development and Port Security

The Marine Department provides professional advice on the planning of projects that affect the port and marine traffic, and promulgates in Marine Department Notices the details of marine works. The department's statistical unit compiles and analyses maritime and port statistics on vessel movements and container throughput, and publishes them periodically on the department's website (www.mardep.gov.hk/ en/publication/portstat.html).

All designated port facilities in Hong Kong comply fully with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code of the International Maritime Organisation. The department administers the implementation of the code, including monitoring the training and qualifications of the port facilities' security personnel, security exercises and drills conducted at the port facilities and carrying out annual audits of port facility security arrangements.

Marine Industrial Safety

The Marine Department enforces safety requirements on works carried out on board vessels including cargo handling, ship repair and marine construction under the Shipping and Port Control (Works) Regulation and Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels)(Works) Regulation. Its Marine industrial Safety Section conducts safety checks on works carried out on board vessels and promotes safe working practices and regulations for frontline workers.