Mainland and Macao Ferry Services

The department manages two cross-boundary ferry terminals: the China Ferry Terminal with 13 berths and the Macao Ferry Terminal with 12 berths. The Macao Ferry Terminal operates round-the-clock. The China Ferry Terminal is open from 7 am to 10 pm from Monday to Friday, and from 7 am to 2 am on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Immigration and Quarantine Services

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 a day for river trade vessels plying between Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta ports. Pre-arrival clearance has been extended to all Mainland river/coastal trade vessels. Operators of such vessels may submit pre-arrival clearance applications to the Harbour Control Section of the Immigration Department.

Mooring Buoys

The department provides a total of 31 mooring buoys for ship operations. There are 21 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 can be made through the Vessel Traffic Centre.

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 MARPOL 73/78 Convention on marine pollution. Fresh water can also be provided alongside berths or from a private fleet of water boats.

Ship Repair and Dry-docking

The port has extensive facilities for repairing, docking and slipping all types of vessels up to 300 metres long and 42 metres wide. 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, cargo handling afloat and marine construction work.

Local Vessels' Safety Certification Service

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. When new legislation is introduced in 2006, certain types of local vessels will also be able to be surveyed by private inspection organisations or professionals authorised by the Marine Department.

Public Cargo Working Areas

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 7 044 metres.

Reception of Marine Wastes

The department provides contractor services to collect domestic sewage 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 waste collected from ships by registered contractors.

Combating Oil Pollution

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 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 November, 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.