Marine Region reached another milestone on August 17 in implementing the Versatile Maritime Policing Response (VMPR) project, with a formal contract signing ceremony for the Central Command System (CCS).

The contract, which was awarded to PCCW-HKT Business Services Ltd and Indra Sistemas S A, is valued at some $69 million and will provide the Regional Command and Control Centre Marine (RCCC MAR) with live day and night video pictures of selected areas in Hong Kong waters.

PCCW have a wealth of experience in providing communication and other related services in Hong Kong, while Indra have previously supplied a Coastal Security System for the Guardia Civil in Spain.

Deputy Regional Commander Marine Austin Kerrigan commented: "I had the privilege of heading a delegation of officers from Marine Operations and Support Bureau to Spain in early 2006 to understand firsthand the capabilities of the system and was impressed by its potential. We were fortunate enough to see the fruits of an operation which resulted in the seizure of a very large quantity of cannabis resin, following the controlled interception of a high powered speedboat off the Mediterranean coast."

Mr Michael Leung, Assistant Director (Business Development) of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, who is overseeing the project on behalf of the Force, and Mr George Fok, Managing Director of PCCW, signed the contract, witnessed by Marine Regional Commander Debbie Chang and Mr Roger Kwok, Director of PCCW, at a ceremony in Marine Headquarters. Also in attendance was Mr Jolly Wong, CTE COMMS, representing Information Systems Wing, who is providing technical support for the project.

Marine Region is all geared up for the VMPR project and the related training began at the end of the first quarter of this year. According to the implementation plan, 42 craft will take three years to deliver and arrive in batches, starting from the third quarter of this year and CCS will commence operation in the second quarter of 2009. The project will roll out in MNDIV at the end of this year, followed by MEDIV, MWDIV, MSDIV and MHDIV, and is due for completion in mid 2010.

This month has also seen successful initial trials of the Medium Patrol Launch (MPL) and Divisional Fast Patrol Craft (DFPC) in Taiwan and Australia respectively. The first Barge Operating Platform is now in Hong Kong undergoing the final internal fitting out prior to being deployed. The first batch of six DFPCs and six MPLs are scheduled to arrive in September and December this year respectively.

From left: Marine Regional Commander Debbie Chang, PCCW Managing Director George Fok, EMSD Assistant Director (Business) Michael Leung and PCCW Director Roger Kwok at the contract-signing ceremony