2002-10-29 14:18 The commissioning of Keka class police launches demonstrates the Force's efforts to greatly enhance the operational efficiency of the Marine Police and to provide a high standard of service to the public, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Tsang Yam-pui, said today (October 29). Officiating at the commissioning ceremony of the two Keka class police launches at Joss House Bay this morning, Mr Tsang said that as a key law enforcement unit at sea, the Marine Police have been attaching great importance to improving its efficiency by strengthening its fleet's equipment and to striving for maintaining the law and order in Hong Kong waters. "Following the introduction of digital radio communication system last year and the deployment of two surveillance barges to Deep Bay in the middle of this year, two hi-tech patrol launches of sophistication will be commissioned today," he said. The Keka class launches were brought in to replace the Damen class patrol launches which have been in service for the past 20 years. Mr Tsang said that the launches, each costing $47 million and measuring 30 metres in length, are made of aluminium alloy. "This is the first time that aluminium alloy was used to build large police launches," he added. The new launches are also lighter because of the all-aluminium structure, and therefore the consumption of fuel is less and their operation is more economical. In the past six months, the launches saved up to one fifth of the volume of the fuel consumed by other police launches of similar size. Each of the new police launches is equipped with a hydraulic crane for launching and retrieving a boat promptly to cope with police operations. As the new launches are highly manoeuvrable with a maximum speed of 27 knots and can be steered dexterously, the surveillance ability at sea is greatly enhanced. "The new Keka class launches have adopted a number of modern shipbuilding and advanced technology which will greatly increase the operational efficiency of our officers patrolling at sea, and will provide a better service to the public," said Mr Tsang. During the ceremony, Mr Tsang also expressed his gratitude, on behalf of the Force, to those organisations and people who have contributed to the designing and building of the new launches, including the Government New Craft Section of the Marine Department and the shipbuilder. |