Observatory Praises Outstanding Voluntary Observing Ships

12 June 2012

The Liaison Group for the Marine Community of the Hong Kong Observatory met for the third time on 8 June 2012. Before the meeting, Mr. C.M. Shun, Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, presented gold awards to the Hong Kong Voluntary Observing Ships (HKVOS) which made over 300 weather observations in 2011, in appreciation of their outstanding effort in contributing to the maritime safety worldwide. The five winning HKVOS are Maersk Gairloch, OOCL Brisbane, OOCL Hamburg, OOCL Rotterdam and OOCL Tokyo.

Mr. W. Zhou, Assistant General Manager of OOCL, said, "the weather reports made by voluntary observing ships are important for the preparation of weather forecasts and warnings of hazardous weather for the sea areas. As this helps safeguard navigation safety, we will continue to support and expand the voluntary observing ships scheme."

Thirty-one representatives from shipping companies, container terminal operators, the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, the Marine Department and the Observatory attended the meeting, the largest participation since the establishment of the Liaison Group in 2010. The opportunity was taken to discuss the Observatory's mairne meteorological services and to share the experience on precautionary measures to be taken in tsunamis by marine communities in other regions.

Mr Shun (middle) presenting gold awards to
the outstanding voluntary observing ships in Hong Kong

Participants of the third meeting of the Liaison Group
for the Shipping Community