The Port Hong Kong is fortunate in having a sheltered natural harbour, metres to enable ultra large container vessels to access Kwai which provides good access and a safe haven for vessels Tsing container terminals at all tides which helps maintain calling at the port from around the world. Hong Kong as one of major ports of Southern China. The port has always been a key factor in the Hong Kong handled 18.0 million TEUs in 2020, development and prosperity of Hong Kong, which is making it one of the world’s busiest container ports. Of the strategically located on the Far East trade routes and is in the total container throughput, some 14.5 million TEUs were geographical centre of the now fast-developing Asia- Pacific handled at Kwai Tsing Container Terminals, while about 3.5 Basin. million TEUs were handled in mid-stream and other wharves. In terms of tonnage of shipping using its facilities, cargo handled and the number of passengers carried, Hong Cross-boundary Ferry Services: In 2020, the Hong Kong is one of the major ports of the world. Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal Administration: Responsibility for administering the port is in Tuen Mun provided ferry services to Macao and 11 ports in vested in the Director of Marine. The Port Operations the Mainland. About 80 vessels, mostly high-speed Committee advises the director on all matters affecting the passenger craft such as jetfoils and catamarans, operated efficient operations of the port of Hong Kong, except those from these terminals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the under the purview of the Pilotage Advisory Committee and cross-boundary ferry services have been suspended since the Local Vessels Advisory Committee. early 2020. The Marine Department ensures that conditions exist to enable ships to enter the port, work their cargoes and Government Fleet: The government fleet, with more than leave as quickly and as safely as possible. It is concerned 900 vessels, serves 14 government departments such as the with many aspects of safety and pollution prevention Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise standards for all classes and types of vessels, from the Department, and the Fire Services Department. Of these, the largest container vessels to the smallest passenger-carrying Marine Department manages 82 vessels for its port sampans. It also maintains aids to navigation and mooring operations and serving other government departments which buoys for sea-going ships, manages three cross-boundary do not have their own fleets. These vessels include patrol ferry terminals and six public cargo working areas. The launches, purposely built conveyance launches, pontoons Department’s website (https://www.mardep.gov.hk/) provides and some specialised vessels such as hydrographic survey a wide range of information on the port and the Hong Kong launches and explosive carriers. Apart from the above Shipping Register. Government vessels, in 2020, the Marine Department has The Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board was also deployed 33 vessels provided under contract by private established on April 1, 2016. Chaired by the Secretary for operators to provide conveyance launches and tugboat Transport and Housing, the Board provides a high-level services. platform for closer collaboration among the Government, the The Government Dockyard is responsible for the industry and relevant stakeholders to set the direction for the design, procurement and maintenance of all vessels owned long-term development of Hong Kong Port, shipping and the by the Government. It occupies a site of 9.8 hectares on respective maritime services. Stonecutters Island and has an 8.3-hectare protected water basin as an operational base for vessels operated by the Shipping: Hong Kong continues to flourish as a hub port Marine Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the serving the South Asian Pacific region and acting as an Customs and Excise Department, and the Fire Services important entrepot for the Mainland of China and a Department. The dockyard has 10 covered docking sheds, transshipment port in the region. At present, transshipment four movable canopies and 30 open-yard docking spaces for cargo accounted for around 60% of our container throughput. repair and maintenance of vessels. The dockyard also has a During 2020, a total of 88 000 sea-going vessels and ship-lift system and three ship travel hoists capable of shifting river-trade vessels arrived Hong Kong. vessels of up to 750 tonnes to dry docks. An on-line computerised information system is employed to co-ordinate Containerisation: The Kwai Tsing Container Terminals, the maintenance activities and support services to maximise located in the north-western part of the harbour, has nine maintenance efficiency and vessel availability. container terminals with 24 berths along about 7 794 metres of deep water frontage. It covers a total terminal area of about Dry Docks and Slipways: There are extensive facilities for 279 hectares which includes container yards and container repairing, maintaining, dry-docking and slipping of all types of freight stations. The nine container terminals have a total vessels in Hong Kong. Two large shipyards, located off the handling capacity of over 20 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent west coast of Tsing Yi Island, operate three floating dry docks. units) a year. The navigation depth of the Kwai Tsing port The largest has a lifting capacity of up to 46 000 tonnes. basin and the approaching channel have been dredged to 17 There are also a number of smaller shipyards, which carry promptly initiate and co-ordinate actions required to facilitate out repairs to vessels. safe navigation in the port. Vessels conveying dangerous goods in the waters Port Facilities and Services: The Marine Department of Hong Kong are to strictly comply with the International operates and maintains 15 mooring buoys for sea-going Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. The required dangerous vessels. Of these eight are suitable for ships up to 183 metres goods manifests submitted for these vessels are recorded in in length, three for ships up to 160 metres and four for ships the Marine Department’s Dangerous Goods Information up to 137 metres. Among all these mooring buoys, six of System. them are typhoon mooring buoys to which ships can remain Fire-fighting and rescue vessels operated by the secured during tropical cyclones. This improves efficiency Fire Services Department are kept in a state of operational and reduces operational costs of vessels as additional preparedness at all times. The pollution control vessels of the movements can be avoided during adverse weather Marine Department’s contractor are on 24-hour standby to conditions. deal with oil spills. In addition to the three Immigration and Quarantine To facilitate transfer of cargoes between vessels Anchorages designated for visiting vessels to complete port and shores, and cargoes to and from Pearl River ports, the formalities, there are eight dangerous goods and 13 Marine Department provides and manages six public cargo general-purpose anchorages providing temporary berthing working areas in various parts of Hong Kong with a total berth spaces for vessels. The areas and water depths of the length of 4 852 metres. anchorages differ and serve different sizes and draughts of Bulk handling facilities for coal and oil are provided ships calling at Hong Kong. at the power generating stations at Tap Shek Kok in Castle The Marine Department maintained more than 570 Peak and at Po Lo Tsui on Lamma Island. modern marine aids to navigation in Hong Kong waters to To ensure navigational safety, the Hydrographic guide visiting ships to and from their berths. The aids to Office (HO) of the Marine Department is responsible for navigation are constantly improving the reliability and surveying Hong Kong waters and producing nautical charts efficiency to ensure greater safety. All fairway buoys are lit for mariners. In compliance with the standards of the and fitted with radar reflectors. Traffic Separation Schemes International Hydrographic Organization, the HO promulgates are implemented in the East Lamma Channel and Tathong fortnightly Notices to Mariners to update the bilingual nautical Channel to facilitate traffic management and enhance charts as well as the Electronic Navigational Charts. It also navigational safety. broadcasts continually on 289 kHz Differential Global The Marine Department’s VHF radio network Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) correction signal for provides comprehensive marine communication coverage mariners using DGNSS receiver to more accurately fix the throughout the harbour and its approaches. The department’s position. Tidal Stream Prediction Service for Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) maintains waters and the real-time tidal information of several tide direct contact with emergency response services, which gauges along the coastline are available on the HO’s website include the Government Flying Service, Marine Police and at https://www.hydro.gov.hk/eng/services.php. Fire Services Department. The MRCC operates 24-hour a The Director of Marine is the Pilotage Authority. day throughout the year and is equipped with Global Maritime Pilotage is compulsory for ships of 3 000 gross tonnage or Distress and Safety Systems for maritime distress alert over in general and gas carriers of any gross tonnage. monitoring. It co-ordinates assistance to any vessels in Quarantine and immigration facilities are available distress within the Hong Kong Search and Rescue Region in on a 24-hour basis. Advance immigration clearance and radio the South China Sea. pratique may be obtained by certain vessels on application. A comprehensive Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), with radar surveillance and tracking capabilities as well as a fully Hong Kong Shipping Register: Hong Kong is an integrated data handling sub-system, covers all navigable international maritime centre.