bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

John Carney

A crackdown on moorings means hundreds of boat owners could see their vessels left at the mercy of the typhoon season.
The Marine Department has stepped up enforcement of rules regarding boat length and ownership of moorings.
Where owners are found in breach of the regulations, they are being given just two weeks' notice to move their boats.
And with a chronic shortage of sheltered moorings, it means many vessels could be left without a safe haven.
The action comes at a time when boat owners fear rents at some privately held moorings could soon more than double.
Paul Zimmerman, a Southern district councillor and chief executive of Designing Hong Kong, urged the government to create public marine centres.
"We need to address the shortfall of safe moorings for the increasing number of boats used for tourism, pleasure, recreation and sports," he said. "This shortfall of moorings makes it impossible for people - except for the super-rich - to enjoy Hong Kong's magnificent shorelines and beautiful waters."
The department has issued warning letters to hundreds of boats in Aberdeen Harbour for exceeding the lengths designated for their moorings. Many moorings are for vessels up to 19 feet, but a lot of the boats exceed this.
Owners of the moorings were also reminded they must be the owners of the boats using those moorings, to prevent problems created by rampant sub-letting.
Owners in breach of the rules are being given two weeks to vacate their moorings. The department refused to extend the notice period until the end of the typhoon season in November.
The marine authorities said they were only enforcing the law. Every private mooring should be used only by the designated vessel, they confirmed.
"Moreover, any oversized vessel may also cause obstruction to other vessels," a department spokesman said. "Owners will be required to remove any oversized vessel from the private mooring within 14 days."
Failing this, the department had the power to remove the vessel itself and re-allocate the berth.
Kandy Chan, manager of the Sun Hing Shipyard at Po Chong Wan Road, Aberdeen, agreed the government had to act fast to avert further problems. "Along the coastline between Kwun Tong and where the old Kai Tak airport used to be is a perfect area to erect temporary and permanent moorings for pleasure boats," she said.
"In the long term, expanding the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter would also create new moorings."


Boat owners face stormy waters after enforcement of mooring rules

Vessels moored at Shum Wan Typhoon Shelter, where owners have been given two weeks to move oversized boats. Photo: Jonathan Wong

News

Hong Kong

Officials step up enforcement of mooring rules, meaning hundreds of vessels may be forced out


The Marine Department has stepped up enforcement of rules regarding boat length and ownership of moorings. The crackdown means hundreds of boat owners could see their vessels left at the mercy of the typhoon season. 


Boat owners face stormy waters after enforcement of mooring rules

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Officials step up enforcement of mooring rules, meaning hundreds of vessels may be forced out

Officials step up enforcement of mooring rules, meaning hundreds of vessels may be forced out