thesouthchinaseaencompassesaportionofthepacific（13页）.docVIP

MARITIME RESCUE CO-ORDINATION CENTRE OF HONG KONG SAR Dr. Stephen Y K Li Marine Department, Hong Kong China Abstract The South China Sea encompasses a portion of the Pacific Ocean stretching from Singapore to the Strait of Taiwan in the northeast. It is rich in natural resources such as oil and natural gas. Due to the high economic growth in China, shipping in the South China Sea is vital to world trade today. However, due to adverse weather, human error and other causes, marine accidents occur from time to time. Seamen and passengers sustained injuries or lost their lives in marine accidents. The Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (HK MRCC) is dedicated to minimizing the extent of danger to human lives and damage to properties when a marine accident is occurred. The prime responsibility of the HK MRCC is to render assistance to all marine craft which found themselves in difficulties at sea. The geographic limit within the HK MRCC’s responsibility is bordered to the south by 10( north latitude and to the east by 120( east longitude. The search and rescue system of Hong Kong SAR comprises of a number of government departments. HK MRCC has installed modern GMDSS equipment to listen and monitor any assistance/distress call from vessels. The HK MRCC acts as a coordinator of search and rescue operation by deploying aircraft and vessels of the relevant departments into action. The Digital Selective Calling and the Cospas-Sarsat systems maintain watch on distress channels whilst the Navigational Telex system (Navtex) promulgates vital information to the mariners. The HK MRCC is manned with professional officers. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that rescue planning and operations are implemented in an effective and efficient manner when a marine emergency arises. HK MRCC also maintains close co-operation with the neighbouring maritime authorities to ensure that search and rescue operations are conducted smoothly in the region. 1. Introduc