>Press Releases Home > Publications and press releases > Press Releases Special harbour patrol operations to enhance marine safety The Marine Department's Harbour Patrol Section (HPS), in a special operation targeting river trade vessels at Tuen Mun Immigration Anchorage (TMIA) this month, has so far inspected more than 110 vessels and detected 100 of them having defects. "Most of the defects were of minor nature such as the lack of updated charts and manning problem, and masters or agents of those vessels were required to take follow-up actions," Senior Marine Officer Mr Summy Chu Wah-sau said today (April 16). "If any major problems are identified, vessels will not be allowed to enter or depart Hong Kong waters until the problems are rectified," he said. Mr Chu stressed that the operation was mounted to identify substandard vessels and to convey a clear message to the shipping community, especially owners and agents of river trade vessels, that ships must be kept in good shape on all aspects when navigating in Hong Kong waters. During this month, HPS officers conduct random checks on vessels at TMIA where they will inspect equipment and general conditions of a ship, certificates of the ship and its crew, as well as its general loading and lashing conditions. "The operation is mounted from midnight till the morning hours, which is the busiest period of TMIA when most of the river trade vessels arrive and depart," Mr Chu said. Last month, the HPS officers also conducted a special operation to monitor vessel movements at the principal fairways, including Central Fairway, Hung Hom Fairway, Northern Fairway and Kap Shui Mun Fairway. A task force was set up to target on vessels violating the rules on prevention of collision. As a result, 52 prosecutions were initiated against masters whose vessels failed to proceed with their starboard sides near to the outer limit of a fairway. Of the prosecution cases, 60 per cent involved river trade vessels while the rest were local vessels. The task force also carried out anti-speeding operation in Central Fairway and Hung Hom Fairway during the period, resulting in the prosecution of eight local vessels for exceeding the harbour speed limit. Mr Chu reiterated that in order to enhance navigational safety in Hong Kong waters, special operations would be mounted from time to time in addition to normal harbour patrol duties. Monday, 16 April 2001
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