ENG-2012 — Page 278

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Transport

7 am to midnight. The department controls and regulates the use of these cross-boundary ferry terminals under the Shipping and Port Control (Ferry Terminals) Regulations.

Immigration and Quarantine Services

Immigration and quarantine services for ships are available at the Western and Eastern Quarantine and Immigration Anchorages. Immigration service is also available at the Tuen Mun Immigration Anchorage for river-trade vessels. Shipping agents may apply for immigration and quarantine services, including advance clearance, for ships.

Mooring Buoys

The Marine Department provides 17 mooring buoys, including 13 Class 'A' buoys and four Class 'B' buoys for vessels of up to 183 metres and 137 metres long respectively.

Bunkering and Potable Water Supply

Bunkering is readily available at commercial wharves and oil terminals or from a large fleet of private bunkering barges. Bunker supplies meet the latest requirements under Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (also known as the MARPOL Convention). Fresh water can also be supplied alongside berths or from a fleet of private water boats.

Local Vessels Safety Certification Service

The Marine Department's Local Vessels Safety Section provides survey and certification services for local vessels to make sure they comply with safety and pollution prevention requirements. Under the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance, the plan approval and ship survey work for certain types of local vessels may be carried out by recognised authorities, organisations or professionals authorised by the department.

Public Cargo Working Areas

The Marine Department manages six public cargo working areas, which are open to cargo operators for loading and unloading cargo onto and from barges and coasters. The combined length of berths in these working areas is about 5,000 metres.

Collection of Marine Refuse and Waste

The Marine Department's contractors collect domestic refuse from both ocean-going vessels and local vessels. Sewage and oily chemical waste are collected from ships by registered collectors. The collected sewage is taken to the sewage treatment facility in the harbour for disposal, and the oily chemical waste is shipped to the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre on Tsing Yi Island for treatment.

Combating Oil Pollution

The Marine Department maintains a maritime oil spill response plan to ensure a timely and effective response to oil spills in Hong Kong waters. The guide for regional co-operation used by the department and the port administrations of Guangdong, Shenzhen and Macao in response to major maritime oil spills is the 'Regional Maritime Oil Spill from Ship Response Plan for the Pearl River Estuary.

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