HONG KONG 2004 - Transport

The department manages two cross-boundary ferry terminals: the China Ferry Terminal (CFT) with 13 berths and the Macao Ferry Terminal (MFT) with 12 berths. The CFT is open from 7 am to 10 pm daily. From January 2005 onwards, the opening hours will be extended to 2 am on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. The MFT operates round-the-clock.

Immigration and quarantine services are available at the Western Quarantine and Immigration Anchorage and the Eastern Quarantine and Immigration Anchorage. A shipping agent may apply for immigration and quarantine services, including advance clearance, for a ship.

The Tuen Mun Immigration Anchorage operates 24 hours daily for river trade vessels plying between Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta ports. Pre-arrival clearance (PAC) has been extended to Mainland River/Coastal Trade Vessels (MRCTVs). All MRCTVs may apply for the PAC facilities. MRCTV operators who are interested in the scheme may submit applications to the Harbour Control Section of the Immigration Department.

The department provides 29 mooring buoys in the harbour area for ship operations. There are 19 class 'A' buoys for vessels up to 183 metres in length and 10 class 'B' buoys for vessels up to 137 metres in length. Booking of these mooring buoys is made through the VTC.

Bunkering is readily available at commercial wharves and oil terminals or from a large fleet of private bunkering barges. Fresh water may also be provided alongside berths or from a private fleet of water boats.

The port has extensive facilities for repairing, docking and slipping all types of vessels up to 300 metres in length and 42 metres in beam. Local shipyards are able to build and maintain ferries, cargo boats, workboats and pleasure vessels. The department's Marine Industrial Safety Section provides free services in carrying out safety inspections of vessels and issuing permits for vessels to undergo repairs. As part of its safety advisory service, the section publishes free leaflets and pamphlets that promote safe working practices in ship-repairing, ship-breaking and cargo-handling afloat as well as in marine construction work.

The Local Vessel Safety Section provides a certification service for all types of local vessels, and some types of pleasure vessels, to ensure they comply with requirements in construction safety, life-saving appliances, fire-fighting equipment, light and sound signals, and anti-pollution installations. By mid-2005, when new legislation is to be introduced, certain types of local vessels can also be surveyed by private inspection bodies authorised by the Marine Department.

The department manages eight Public Cargo Working Areas, in which licensed cargo operators are allowed to load and unload cargo onto and from barges and coasters. The total length of berths available in these working areas is 6 992 metres.

The department provides contractor services to collect domestic and operational refuse from ocean-going vessels and local vessels. The Chemical Waste Treatment Centre on Tsing Yi Island provides facilities for handling oily and chemical wastes from ships. Registered contractors collect such wastes from ships and deliver them to the centre.

The department maintains a maritime oil spill response plan to ensure a timely and effective response to oil spills in Hong Kong waters.

There is also a regional maritime oil spill response plan for the Pearl River Estuary. The aim of this plan is to enhance regional cooperation in the event of a major oil spill occurring in Hong Kong or in any of the neighbouring ports in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macao and Guangzhou.

In October, the department's Pollution Control Unit organised a large-scale oil spill clean-up exercise in which all concerned government departments and local oil companies took part.