Marine Department holds seminar to promote navigational safety (with photos)
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Mr Wong said that coxswains and crew members should take appropriate and adequate safety precautions and prepare contingency arrangements before setting sail. Vessels should have sufficient life-saving and fire-fighting equipment. Coxswains and crew members should ensure that vessels, engines and equipment are maintained in conditions that are suitable for navigation. In addition, they should be aware of the contact numbers of the port traffic control unit and units that provide emergency services, and be fully aware of the latest weather conditions and related MD Notices.
On another front, to avoid accidents caused by fatigue, owners and operators of all local vessels must ensure that the duty rosters of crew members, including coxswains, have sufficient rest periods to avoid fatigue at work.
To align with the marine traffic, the MD will establish principal fairways north of Lantau Island and widen the relevant existing fairways. In addition, to enhance navigational safety, the MD will strengthen the monitoring and regulating service of vessels by increasing the number of Very High Frequency (VHF) sectors and VHF channels for reporting vessels' movements and simplifying the notification procedures. The above measures will be implemented progressively.
As more infrastructure projects are being undertaken in Hong Kong these days, coxswains and crew members should pay special attention to MD Notices on marine works. Vessels working in marine works areas should comply with safety measures and those navigating in the vicinity of marine works areas should exercise extra caution to avoid accidents. At today's annual seminar, a veteran coxswain of high-speed craft spoke about the navigational safety precautions of high-speed craft when sailing in the vicinity of the sea passage north of Hong Kong International Airport's Three-runway System currently under construction.
The MD organises regular education seminars and publicity campaigns to step up marine safety promotion. Over the past two years, the MD has launched publicity at three marine ferry terminals to further promote the message that passengers on high-speed craft plying between Hong Kong and Macao should have their seat belts fastened. Similar publicity will be conducted again this year.
Today's annual seminar was attended by about 200 representatives from the shipping industries, coxswains and operators of local vessels, and representatives of marine works projects. The issues discussed covered the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea in Hong Kong waters and reporting emergencies, the establishment of principal fairways north of Lantau Island, re-alignment of fairways and anchorages in the western harbour, the new arrangements of Vessel Traffic Service, analysis of marine accidents and their implications, and the navigational safety precautions in the vicinity of the sea passage north of Hong Kong International Airport's Three-runway System currently under construction. Leaflets on navigational safety were also distributed at the seminar.
The MD Notice on the arrangement on the establishment of principal fairways north of Lantau Island will be issued and uploaded to the department's website (www.mardep.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:12
Issued at HKT 18:12
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