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Marine Region conducted a commissioning ceremony for new vessels at Joss House Bay, Sai Kung on June 18. The new vessels include eight Multi-Mission Interceptors, two Deep Bay Hovercrafts and a High Speed Interception Training Boat.
Commissioner Tang Ping-keung, Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Siu Chak-yee, Director of Operations Kwok Yam-yung, Director of Management Services Lam Hiu-tong and Marine Regional Commander David Jordan took the Police Launch 3 from the base of the Marine Regional Headquarters in Sai Wan Ho to the Tin Hau Temple at Joss House Bay, Sai Kung to attend the ceremony. Along the way, they inspected the Marine Parade as the fleet sailed past.
The Commissioner stated in his speech that the introduction of the new vessels reflects the continuous efforts of the Force in improving Hong Kong’s maritime and border security. He also presented each commander of the new vessels with a plaque engraved with the respective vessel’s year of launch and model type. In addition to a lion dance performance, the ceremony also featured a show by the new fleet where officers launched signal flares and manoeuvred the new vessels in a traditional “infinity pattern” on the sea.
The Fleet Replacement Programme is the largest purchase project in the history of Marine Region. Together with the 11 vessels commissioned at the ceremony, a total of 124 new launches and small support craft will be put into service in the coming few years, which will significantly increase Marine Region’s capabilities in sea rescue and law enforcement.
The Multi-Mission Interceptor belongs to Small Boat Division (SBDIV). With its triple 350-horsepower outboard engines, the new craft can attain a speed of more than 100 kilometres per hour (km/h), which will significantly help deter and detect illegal immigration and smuggling activities in Hong Kong. The Deep Bay Hovercraft belongs to Marine West Division and is capable to be manoeuvred on both sea and land, which is the first model type adopted by a disciplinary force in Hong Kong. The Hovercraft can achieve a speed of 55 km/h, with a carrying capacity of up to eight people, hence it can be deployed to save people in shallow waters and along the mudflats at Deep Bay. The new High Speed Interception Training Boat is mainly utilised by SBDIV for internal training, with the highest speed reaches
100 km/h. These new vessels can greatly enhance the operational capabilities of the Marine Police in performing daily duties and responding to emergencies and better equip officers for meeting maritime policing challenges.
Please visit the following link to watch the video of the ceremony：（https://www.facebook.com/HongKongPoliceForce/videos/975466909856664/）.
