Floating bases to curb illegal sea-borne activities
Built in Guangzhou, the two brand new barges have recently come into service in Deep Bay to serve as Police bases and surveillance platforms.
Each weighing 227 tonnes, the 'floating bases' are 30 metres long, 13 metres wide and 15 metres tall. Their draught is 0.8 metres.
Senior Inspector Dicky Chung Shu-man, Sub-unit commander in Deep Bay, told OffBeat that the 'floating bases' had been introduced to replace three aging water jet boats built in 1986.
Floating bases enhance Marine Police
capabilities
Mr Chung said: "Equipped with sophisticated radar systems, night observation devices, global positioning systems and gyrocompass, the new barges have greatly enhanced our capabilities in spotting and tracking any suspicious targets moving in the bay.
"Each barge is the base for three 5.4-meter high speed interceptors which carry out round-the-clock sea patrols in the Deep Bay area.
"The barges have provided our staff with a stable, safe and more favourable working environment which greatly facilitates our work in detecting and curbing illegal sea-borne activities," Mr Chung added.
Other facilities on the barges include holding areas for captives, interview rooms, a first-aid room and a helicopter winching area.
To familiarise Marine officers with the operation of the new barges, Sea Standard Division has arranged work-up training courses for all officers of Deep Bay Sub-unit. The courses cover a number of topics including the operation of the advanced control room and different ways to launch high speed interceptors.