Marine works for construction of three-runway system north of airport

For approximately 12 months, marine works involving reclamation, seawall construction, sand filling, deep cement mixing, stone column installation, drilling of boreholes, laying of sand blankets, water monitoring, hydrographic survey and diving operations will be carried out in the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (U) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 18.059’N / 113 deg. 53.861’E
(B) 22 deg. 18.120’N / 113 deg. 52.852’E
(C) 22 deg. 18.667’N / 113 deg. 52.446’E
(D) 22 deg. 18.558’N / 113 deg. 52.096’E
(E) 22 deg. 18.835’N / 113 deg. 52.139’E
(F) 22 deg. 19.103’N / 113 deg. 52.181’E
(G) 22 deg. 19.350’N / 113 deg. 52.220’E
(H) 22 deg. 19.513’N / 113 deg. 52.723’E
(I) 22 deg. 19.670’N / 113 deg. 53.212’E
(J) 22 deg. 19.820’N / 113 deg. 53.676’E
(K) 22 deg. 19.953’N / 113 deg. 54.085’E
(L) 22 deg. 20.119’N / 113 deg. 54.604’E
(M) 22 deg. 20.265’N / 113 deg. 55.070’E
(N) 22 deg. 20.418’N / 113 deg. 55.533’E
(O) 22 deg. 20.214’N / 113 deg. 55.994’E
(P) 22 deg. 20.097’N / 113 deg. 56.257’E
(Q) 22 deg. 19.946’N / 113 deg. 56.597’E
(R) 22 deg. 19.833’N / 113 deg. 56.850’E
(S) 22 deg. 19.642’N / 113 deg. 56.919’E
(T) 22 deg. 19.357’N / 113 deg. 56.832’E
(U) 22 deg. 19.329’N / 113 deg. 56.755’E

Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights and radar reflectors will be laid at co-ordinates (D), (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), (L), (M), (N) and (Q) to mark the boundary of the works area. The yellow marker buoys at coordinates (G) and (N) will also be fitted with AIS.

Cardinal mark buoys will be laid at co-ordinates (E), (F), (O) and (P) to indicate the safe side on which to pass the works area. The characteristics of the cardinal mark buoys are as follows:

Co-ordinate (E): 22 deg. 18.835’N / 113 deg. 52.139’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Black horizontal band on a yellow body
Light: 9 flashes
Top Mark: Cones point towards each other
Radar Reflector: Fitted

Co-ordinate (F): 22 deg. 19.103’N / 113 deg. 52.181’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Black horizontal band on a yellow body
Light: 9 flashes
Top Mark: Cones point towards each other
Radar Reflector: Fitted

Co-ordinate (O): 22 deg. 20.214’N / 113 deg. 55.994’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Yellow horizontal band on a black body
Light: 3 flashes
Top Mark: Cones point away from each other
Radar Reflector: Fitted

Co-ordinate (P):22 deg. 20.097’N / 113 deg. 56.257’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Yellow horizontal band on a black body
Light: 3 flashes
Top Mark: Cones point away from each other
Radar Reflector: Fitted

Silt curtains, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established around the boundary of the works area. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the extent of the silt curtains.

The works will be carried out by a flotilla of special purpose vessels including drilling barges, cutter suction dredgers, spreader pontoons, sand pumping barges and deep cement mixing barges, and other types of vessels including derrick lighters, flat top barges, hopper barges, dry cargo vessels and jack-up platforms at various stages. Some tugboats, work boats, guard boats and self-propelled delivery barges will provide assistance. The number and types of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.

A working area of approximately 150 metres will be established around each special purpose vessel. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the special purpose vessels.

A working area of approximately 50 metres will be established around each derrick lighter and flat top barge. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the derrick lighters and flat top barges.

Yellow flashing lights will be installed at the corners of the jack-up platforms to indicate the positions of the platforms.

The water depth at the works areas will be reduced.

To safeguard the marine works operations and ensure navigational safety, guard boats will station in the works area and patrol the waters in the vicinity to give necessary guidance to the vessels approaching the works area.

The hours of works will be round-the-clock. Diving operations will be carried out from time to time during the hours of work.

Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.

Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.

(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at [email protected])

Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No. 47 of 2019