Marine Department (Hong Kong)

Marine Department

海事處
File:Marine Department Logo.png
Agency overview
Headquarters	Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
Employees	1,407 [1]
Annual budget	919.0m HKD (2008-09) [2]
Agency executives	Roger Tupper, JP, Director of Marine HP Liu, Deputy Director of Marine
Website	www.mardep.gov.hk

The Marine Department (simplified Chinese: 海事处; traditional Chinese: 海事處; pinyin: Hǎishìchù; Jyutping: hoi2 si6 cyu3) of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for maintaining safety and environmental protection of the harbour (Port of Hong Kong), ships registered/foreign ships in Hong Kong and monitor shipping traffic in Hong Kong Waters, search and rescue operations for large waters of the South China Sea.

Its head office is in the Harbour Building (simplified Chinese: 海港政府大楼; traditional Chinese: 海港政府大樓; pinyin: Hǎigǎng Zhèngfǔ Dàlóu; Jyutping: hoi2 gong2 zing3 fu2 daai6 lau4) in Central, Hong Kong.

It also conducts investigations of marine accidents.

The department is led by the Director of Marine, Mr R. F. Tupper, who reports to the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour.

The Marine Department is also responsible for co-ordinating search and rescue operations in the waters around Hong Kong:

• Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre - search and rescue
• administer shipping registry
• ensure compliance with international and marine laws
• ensure compliance with environmental protection standards and combat pollution (namely oil spills)
• provide and maintain government vessels (Government Dockyard)
• facilitate the safe and expeditious movement of ships

Hong Kong is a major cargo port—175 million tonnes of cargo went through its port and 18.1 million TEU in 2000. The Marine Department acts as the port authority (the agency does not exist in Hong Kong).

Facilities

• 6,000 metres of quays - Kwai Chung and Stonecutters container terminals
• 7,750 metres of quays at public cargo working areas
• 58 mooring buoys for ocean-going vessels
• 2 ferry terminals
• Marine Department port facility - former Royal Navy base - HMS Tamar on Stonecutters Island (500 operational vessels)

See also

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• Hong Kong Police Force
• Marine Region