Director of Marine Roger Tupper has called on vessel owners and personnel to exercise greater caution as major marine works will soon start in Hong Kong and the Pearl River estuary.

Opening a navigational safety seminar today, Mr Tupper reminded guests reclamation to the east of the airport for the Boundary Crossing Facilities of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge has started and will continue for at least five years. Reclamation works for the Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link will start this year and continue until 2016.

He urged vessel owners and personnel to be aware of all the stages of marine works and to navigate with extreme caution and safe speed in the vicinity of the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, in the western waters of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta.

Department notices will be issued to promulgate the various stages of the works with navigational safety advice. The department will enhance co-operation with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration to convey safety information to local shipping in the Pearl River Delta.

Investigations into the causes of past accidents proved it is essential to verify the seaworthiness of vessels, engines and equipment before setting sail, to have properly trained and qualified crew, and to have good working communications with port control and emergency services. It is also important to be fully aware of the latest weather reports, especially fog and strong-wind warnings.