Marine Department, Hong Kong SAR - HKU Libraries - The ...

port operations
One of the many functions of the Marine Department is to
facilitate the safe and swift movement of ships,
cargoes and passengers through the port.
Of these, there are 41 'A' Class
moorings suitable for vessels of a
length not exceeding 183 metres,
and 20 'B' Class moorings for
vessels no longer than 137
metres in length.
Buoy dues are levied by the
Marine Department on vessels using
government moorings.
Pollution Control
THE Marine Department's Pollution
Control Unit is responsible for
preventing and cleaning up oil
discharges into sea and harbour
cleansing services.
The Unit undertakes regular
inspections of vessels that are
bunkering/transferring oil in Hong
Kong waters and advises the masters
on the precautions to be taken.
The Pollution Control Unit also
checks oil terminals to ensure
that their anti-oil pollution
equipment is in good order.
The unit provides a floating refuse
scavenging service in the harbour
and in the major typhoon shelters
and a free, daily domestic waste
collection service to sea-going
vessels moored or anchored in
Victoria Harbour.
Maritime Search and Rescue
(SAR) and Marine
Emergency Centre (MEC)
SINCE its establishment in 1985, the
Marine Department's Maritime
Rescue Co-ordination Centre
(MRCC) has become one of the
world's most highly regarded search
and rescue facilities.
The Marine Department is the
Maritime Search and Rescue
Co-ordinator for the area of the
South China Sea north of latitude
100° north and west of longitude
120° east, excluding the immediate
coastal waters of neighbouring
states. Covering an area of some
450,000 square kilometres, the
MRCC is one of the few fully
operational shore-based radio
stations of the Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System. It is
also instrumental in saving hundreds
of lives each year.
The Marine Emergency Centre
(MEC) is co-located with the MRCC
on the 12th floor of the Rumsey
Street Multi-storey Car Park
Building, Sheung Wan, where full
communication capability is
available for the co-ordination of
search and rescue missions for ships
getting into difficulties within about
1,300 kilometres of Hong Kong.
A full-time staff of SAR trained
officers are on duty at the MRCC
and MEC 24 hours a day.
Pilotage
THE Director of Marine is the
autority regulating and monitoring
pilotage services in Hong Kong.
Compulsory pilotage covers ships
of 3000 gross registered tonnes or
more and all gas carriers, which are
required to telex the Vessel Traffic
Centre 12 hours in advance of their
estimated arrival time to advise on
their requirement for the services of
a pilot. Pilotage services are
provided on a 24-hour basis by a
licensed pilot who is a member of
the Hong Kong Pilots Association.
Hydrographic Service
THE Hydrographic Office has taken
over provision to the shipping