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Five months of dredging in Hong Kong waters, speed limits apply

HONG KONG's Marine Department has issued a reminder to ships that a speed limit of five knots must be observed between 8am and 12 midnight every day from July 1 to September 15 in a number of restricted zones.

The Marine Department said this is because dredging operations will be carried out in the eastern fairway for a period of five months.

The speed limit of five knots will apply to the following restricted zones: Plover Cove and Sha Tin Hoi near Tolo Harbour; the port shelters and rocky harbours of Ta She Wan, Tsam Chuk Wan, Hebe Haven (Pak Sha Wan), east Kiu Tsui Chau, west Kiu Sai Chau, south Kau Sai Chau, Bluff Island and Clear Water Bay.

The speed limit applies on Hong Kong Island, south, to To Tei Wan, Tai Tam Habour, Stanley Bay, Chung Hom Wan, South Bay, Deep Water Bay, Tai Tam Bay and Repulse Bay, as well as to Luk Chau Wan and Sham Wan on Lamma Island; Tung Wan in Cheung Chau and to Discovery Bay on Lantau Island.

Coxswains and masters of all vessels, particularly large and powerful vessels, are strongly advised to exercise due care and avoid generating excessive wake wash when navigating in the restricted zones, in areas near swimming beaches and fish culture zones, in particular near the Kai Lung Wan Fish Culture Zone.

In narrow channels, such as Sor See Mun (Fu Tau Fan Chau) and Fat Tong Mun (Tung Lung Chai), the speed of all vessels should be reduced to a safe speed not exceeding five knots. Operators of speedboats and jet skis should exercise due care when navigating in narrow waterways, such as river channels, and proceed at a safe speed at all times.

The dredging operations will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum): (A) 22 deg. 18.057'N / 114 deg. 12.530'E, (B) 22 deg. 18.010'N / 114 deg. 12.647'E, (C) 22 deg. 17.899'N / 114 deg. 12.639'E, (D) 22 deg. 17.916'N / 114 deg. 12.596'E, (E) 22 deg. 17.860'N / 114 deg. 12.596'E, (F) 22 deg. 17.859'N / 114 deg. 12.440'E, and (G) 22 deg. 17.975'N / 114 deg. 12.440'E

The works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including one grab dredger, four hopper barges, three tug boats and one survey boat. A working area of 50 metres around the dredger will be established.

The hours of work will be from 7am to 11pm hours from Mondays to Sundays, including public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works area outside the hours of work, according to Marine Department Notice No 84.