ENG-2018 — Page 278

Hong Kong Year Books 香港年報 All

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Transport

Hydrographic Services

The Hydrographic Office carries out hydrographic surveys and produces nautical charts, electronic navigational charts and other publications to help vessels navigate in Hong Kong waters. It provides Notices to Mariners for updating the charts once every two weeks and, through the internet, real-time information about tides, forecasts about tidal streams and predictions about the Ma Wan transit tidal window.

Immigration and Quarantine

Immigration and quarantine services for ships are available at the western and eastern quarantine and immigration anchorages. An immigration service is also available at the Tuen Mun Immigration Anchorage for river-trade vessels.

Carriage of Dangerous Goods

The department conducts random shipboard inspections of vessels in Hong Kong waters according to international and local standards.

Local Vessels Safety Certification

The 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.

Port Security

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

Marine Industrial Safety

The department's Marine Industrial Safety Section 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 the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Works) Regulation. It conducts safety checks on such works and promotes safe working practices and regulations.

Port Development

The department provides professional advice on the planning of projects that affect port and marine traffic. Maritime and port statistics on vessel movements and container throughput are published periodically on its website. The government looks at ways of enhancing port performance and operational efficiency, such as facilitating the use of port back-up land.

Maritime Industry

About 50 international shipping lines offer ocean liner services in Hong Kong, with about 310 sailings weekly to around 450 destinations worldwide. More than 800 maritime-related companies operate in the territory, providing quality services such as ship management, ship

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