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There are over 670 vessels of different types and sizes in the government
fleet. About 135 vessels are major mechanised vessels serving 16 government
departments including the Hong Kong Police Force (Marine Police region),
Customs and Excise and Fire Services. These are mainly purpose-built vessels
operated and manned by the user departments or the Marine Department.
The department itself controls some 65 vessels which comprise mainly patrol
launches, conveyance launches, pontoons and some specialised vessels such
as hydrographic survey launches and explosives carriers.
The department's launches, apart from meeting traffic
needs for its own port operations, also serve other government departments
that do not have their own fleets. Vessels will be modified and deployed
quickly from the fleet to suit the needs of large or important events.
Since 1999, the department has been outsourcing the
provision of marine transport services, such as conveyance launches and
tug boats, to private contractors. A trial outsourcing in 2002 of two
harbour patrol vessels on day-time operations proved successful, and more
harbour patrol vessels will be outsourced in 2004.
The Government Dockyard at Stonecutters Island occupies a land site
of 9.8 hectares in addition to a protected water basin of 8.3 hectares.
It serves as one of the operational bases for the Marine Department, the
Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department.
The dockyard is also responsible for the design, procurement
and maintenance of all vessels for the Government. In 2003, 19 new vessels
costing $58 million were built and delivered to the Government. Twelve
new building contracts, worth $115 million, were awarded to shipbuilders
in Hong Kong and overseas. |
