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Transport

application of Really Simple Syndication to publish updated Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Notices, Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Information Notes and Marine Accident Investigation Reports; maritime security levels of the port and the Hong Kong-registered ships; Hong Kong Shipping Directory, in which Hong Kong-based marine services companies are listed; real-time vessel arrival and departure information; examination schedules for seafarers; verification of Port Clearance Permits issued; allocation of approved berthing slots at the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal and the China Ferry Terminal; and port and maritime statistics. A link to the website on cross-boundary ferry services is also available on the department's website, providing real-time berthing information about Hong Kong-Macao and Hong Kong-Mainland China passenger vessels.

The department's Electronic Business System provides a one-stop solution to simplify and speed up the submission and processing of port formalities, offering services such as online submission of applications, auto-approval for online applications, self- printing of permits/ certificates, online payment via auto-pay and online checking of application status.

Port Infrastructure, Facilities and Services

Hong Kong is one of the world's busiest ports, and marine civil works are essential to keep the port running smoothly. The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) carries out maintenance work on public landing steps and ferry piers and terminals, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, breakwaters, and other public marine facilities, as well as ensuring regular maintenance dredging of the harbour, navigation channels and major river channels. The CEDD currently maintains 506 hectares of typhoon shelters, five kilometres of quays at public cargo working areas, 127 kilometres of seawalls and breakwaters, 315 piers and landing steps, 101 dolphins (mooring structures), 14,100 hectares of fairways and 3,590 hectares of anchorage

areas.

The CEDD also plans, designs and constructs public marine facilities. In 2014, the CEDD continued with the planning and design of a new public landing facility at Lei Yue Mun and reconstruction of Sharp Island Pier and commenced construction of two additional berths at Sai Kung Public Pier and a cycle parking area at Yung Shue Wan Ferry Pier.

Container handling facilities are a key part of the logistics sector's infrastructure. The nine container terminals at the Kwai Chung-Tsing Yi area, which handle 79 per cent of Hong Kong's container throughput, have 24 berths with a total handling capacity of over 20 million TEUS per

year.

To strengthen Hong Kong's position as an Asia-Pacific regional hub port, in August 2013 the government commenced dredging works for the Kwai Tsing Container Basin and related fairways to a depth of 17.5 metres. When completed in early 2016, this will enable the new generation of ultra-large container ships to use the port at all tides.

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