>Press Releases Home > Publications and press releases > Press Releases Measures on speed control of high speed craft in foggy weather introduced The Marine Department (MD) announced today (March 29) that new measures would be introduced immediately to ensure safe navigation of high speed craft in Hong Kong waters when visibility was below one nautical mile due to fog. The new measures include: (a) MD will remind individual high speed craft operators/companies that the Speed Restriction Exemption Permit (SREP) granted to their vessels are not valid when the visibility is below one nautical mile;   (b) MD will alert masters that the SREP granted to their vessels are not valid, and they need to navigate at a safe speed before they are issued permission to leave the berth for their vessels departing at China Ferry Terminal and Macau Ferry Terminal when low visibility exists; and (c) All high speed craft will be required to install an automatic identification system to facilitate better monitoring of movements of these vessels.    A spokesman for the MD said: "It is important that the masters observe the conditions stated in the SREP granted to the vessels to ensure safety.  If the masters violate these conditions, MD will withdraw the SREP immediately." "We previously reminded all the high speed craft operators the speed exemption conditions in the SREP in a meeting held shortly after the marine accident of 'Nan Sha 38' which occurred last month.  They were alerted to the fact that the SREP would not be valid under visibility below one nautical mile; and that MD would withdraw the SREP if the conditions were not observed." MD has today withdrawn the SREP granted to high speed craft "Nan Hua" and "New Ferry LXXXIII" as these vessels did not navigate at a safe speed yesterday morning when the visibility was below one nautical mile. The spokesman said: "MD will continue issuing announcements when the visibility is two nautical miles through maritime VHF channels and radio reminding masters, coxswains of vessels to exercise extreme caution and navigate in Hong Kong waters at a safe speed.  All vessels should comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea." "We shall monitor closely sea traffic during fog conditions to ensure that high speed craft will navigate in compliance with the conditions of the SREP," he said. Ends/Tuesday, March 29, 2005
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