23 novembre 2008	Il quotidiano on-line per gli operatori e gli utenti del trasporto	19.53 GMT+1

9 febbraio 2004 I porti di Shanghai e Shenzhen si insediano al terzo e quarto posto della graduatoria dei porti container mondiali I dati definitivi del traffico merci registrato nei primi dieci mesi del 2003 nel porto di Hong Kong In attesa dei dati definitivi del traffico container realizzato lo scorso anno nei porti di Hong Kong e di Kaohiung, il ministero cinese delle Comunicazioni ha annunciato che nel 2003 i porti di Shanghai e Shenzhen hanno raggiunto il terzo e quarto gradino della graduatoria dei porti container mondiali, classifica che nel 2002 li vedeva rispettivamente al quarto e al sesto posto. Nel 2003 il porto di Busan, con una movimentazione complessiva di 10.370.000 teu, è scivolato al quinto posto della graduatoria, mentre Kaohsiung, per il quale è previsto un traffico di circa 8,8 milioni di teu, si insedierà al sesto posto. Secondo i dati statistici preliminari, lo scorso anno il porto di Shanghai ha movimentato circa 11.280.000 teu, con una progressione del 31% sul 2002, mentre il porto di Shenzhen ha movimentato circa 10.650.000 teu (+39,9%). Venerdì scorso intanto il governo di Hong Kong ha reso noti i dati definitivi del traffico registrato nel porto nei primi dieci mesi del 2003.   Summary Statistics on Port Traffic of Hong Kong October 2003 (Source: Port, Maritime and Logistics Development Unit, Hong Kong Economic Development and Labour Bureau) Total (Inward + Outward) Container Throughput   Kwai Chung Terminals<3> Stream & other berths<3>   Kwai Chung Terminals<3> Stream & other berths<3>   Year/ month Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Sub total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Sub total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Total   '000 TEUs Year-on-year growth rate %                           1990 N.A. N.A. 3,831 1,198 71 5,101 N.A. N.A. 15.5 12.3 -10.6 14.3 1991 N.A. N.A. 4,514 1,573 74 6,162 N.A. N.A. 17.8 31.3 4.8 20.8 1992 N.A. N.A. 5,079 <1>2,461 <1,2>432 7,972 N.A. N.A. 12.5 <1> <1> 29.4 1993 N.A. N.A. 5,797 2,797 610 9,204 N.A. N.A. 14.1 13.7 41.3 15.5 1994 N.A. N.A. 7,278 2,839 933 11,050 N.A. N.A. 25.6 1.5 52.8 20.1 1995 8,039 217 8,256 2,930 1,364 12,550 N.A. N.A. 13.4 3.2 46.3 13.6 1996 8,218 468 8,686 3,045 1,729 13,460 2.2 115.3 5.2 4.0 26.7 7.3 1997 8,975 515 9,490 3,156 1,922 14,567 9.2 10.0 9.3 3.6 11.2 8.2   (9,049) (515) (9,564) (2,900) (1,922) (14,386)             1998 8,869 686 9,555 2,641 2,386 14,582 -2.0 33.2 -0.1 -8.9 24.1 1.4 1999 9,511 784 10,295 2,838 3,077 16,211 7.2 14.3 7.7 7.5 29.0 11.2 2000 10,664 938 11,603 3,033 3,462 18,098 12.1 19.7 12.7 6.8 12.5 11.6 2001 10,154 1,131 11,285 3,011 3,531 17,826 -4.8 20.6 -2.7 -0.7 2.0 -1.5 2002 10,584 1,308 11,892 3,326 3,926 19,144 4.2 15.6 5.4 10.5 11.2 7.4                           2003                         Jan 903 133 1,036 301 372 1,709 17.5 25.9 18.5 12.4 31.5 19.9 Feb 689 96 785 218 258 1,261 5.3 41.7 8.7 15.9 8.5 9.8 Mar 907 121 1,028 337 359 1,724 12.0 1.9 10.7 30.8 15.9 15.2 Apr 909 119 1,028 330 412 1,769 6.5 -2.0 5.4 20.2 16.2 10.3 May 885 102 988 309 365 1,661 7.3 -9.3 5.3 16.6 8.4 7.9 Jun 856 104 960 309 391 1,660 -5.2 3.7 -4.3 6.9 22.1 3.0 Jul 903 115 1,018 325 343 1,686 -3.1 -4.5 -3.3 3.6 -0.7 -1.5 Aug 924 138 1,062 325 404 1,791 -5.2 28.0 -1.9 8.6 21.5 4.5 Sep 957 138 1,095 332 387 1,814 -10.1 27.7 -6.6 17.0 4.2 -0.7 Oct 903 122 1,025 363 386 1,773 -4.1 9.0 -2.7 22.8 11.6 4.7 Nov                         Dec                                                   Cumulative                         2003                         Jan 903 133 1,036 301 372 1,709 17.5 25.9 18.5 12.4 31.5 19.9 Feb 1,592 229 1,821 519 630 2,969 11.9 32.1 14.1 13.8 21.0 15.4 Mar 2,499 350 2,849 856 988 4,693 11.9 19.8 12.8 20.0 19.1 15.4 Apr 3,408 468 3,876 1,186 1,400 6,462 10.4 13.4 10.8 20.0 18.3 13.9 May 4,294 570 4,864 1,494 1,765 8,123 9.8 8.6 9.6 19.3 16.1 12.7 Jun 5,150 675 5,824 1,803 2,156 9,783 7.0 7.8 7.1 17.0 17.1 10.9 Jul 6,053 789 6,842 2,128 2,499 11,469 5.3 5.8 5.4 14.7 14.3 8.9 Aug 6,976 927 7,903 2,453 2,903 13,260 3.8 8.6 4.3 13.9 15.2 8.3 Sep 7,933 1,065 8,998 2,785 3,290 15,073 1.9 10.7 2.9 14.2 13.8 7.1 Oct 8,836 1,187 10,023 3,148 3,676 16,847 1.3 10.6 2.3 15.2 13.6 6.8 Nov                         Dec                             Inward Container Throughput   Kwai Chung Terminals<3> Stream & other berths<3>   Kwai Chung Terminals<3> Stream & other berths<3>   Year/ month Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Sub total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Sub total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Total   '000 TEUs Year-on-year growth rate % 1990 N.A. N.A. 1,830 663 37 2,531 N.A. N.A. 14.3 15.4 -18.9 13.9 1991 N.A. N.A. 2,161 861 37 3,059 N.A. N.A. 18.1 29.8 -0.6 20.9 1992 N.A. N.A. 2,428 <1>1,284 <1,2>220 3,932 N.A. N.A. 12.4 <1> <1> 28.5 1993 N.A. N.A. 2,750 1,503 314 4,566 N.A. N.A. 13.2 17.1 42.7 16.1 1994 N.A. N.A. 3,397 1,595 477 5,469 N.A. N.A. 23.5 6.1 52.1 19.8 1995 3,792 112 3,904 1,612 698 6,215 N.A. N.A. 14.9 1.1 46.4 13.6 1996 3,894 253 4,147 1,625 881 6,653 2.7 125.2 6.2 0.8 26.2 7.0 1997 4,312 252 4,564 1,632 984 7,181 10.7 -0.4 10.1 0.4 11.8 7.9   (4,302) (252) (4,555) (1,584) (984) (7,123)             1998 4,253 393 4,646 1,458 1,180 7,284 -1.2 55.9 2.0 -7.9 19.9 2.3 1999 4,419 415 4,834 1,542 1,650 8,027 3.9 5.6 4.1 5.8 39.8 10.2 2000 4,982 524 5,506 1,700 1,773 8,979 12.7 26.4 13.9 10.2 7.5 11.9 2001 4,755 621 5,376 1,669 1,788 8,833 -4.6 18.4 -2.4 -1.8 0.8 -1.6 2002 4,994 711 5,706 1,775 2,011 9,492 5.0 14.5 6.1 6.4 12.5 7.5                           2003                         Jan 424 81 505 149 196 850 16.4 58.4 21.5 -4.3 46.1 20.5 Feb 370 45 414 123 126 664 15.5 25.1 16.5 17.3 -4.7 11.9 Mar 424 66 490 180 182 852 9.9 11.2 10.1 26.0 18.7 14.9 Apr 431 67 498 164 205 867 8.5 12.3 9.0 4.7 19.9 10.5 May 420 59 479 160 195 833 6.1 4.6 5.9 9.8 16.6 9.0 Jun 398 62 459 162 203 824 -4.7 13.8 -2.5 2.8 19.7 3.3 Jul 426 69 495 167 179 841 0.1 2.9 0.5 6.5 0.8 1.7 Aug 430 81 512 160 209 880 -5.5 33.9 -0.8 -0.6 22.8 4.0 Sep 441 83 524 155 204 883 -13.0 27.1 -8.5 8.0 1.1 -3.8 Oct 419 74 493 187 193 874 -2.5 9.5 -0.9 21.3 4.8 4.4 Nov                         Dec                                                   Cumulative                         2003                         Jan 424 81 505 149 196 850 16.4 58.4 21.5 -4.3 46.1 20.5 Feb 794 125 919 272 322 1,514 16.0 44.7 19.2 4.4 20.9 16.6 Mar 1,218 191 1,409 452 505 2,366 13.8 31.1 15.9 12.1 20.1 16.0 Apr 1,649 258 1,907 616 710 3,233 12.4 25.6 14.0 10.0 20.0 14.5 May 2,069 317 2,386 776 905 4,066 11.0 21.1 12.3 10.0 19.3 13.3 Jun 2,467 378 2,845 938 1,108 4,891 8.2 19.9 9.6 8.7 19.4 11.5 Jul 2,893 447 3,340 1,105 1,287 5,732 6.9 16.9 8.1 8.3 16.4 9.9 Aug 3,323 529 3,852 1,264 1,496 6,612 5.1 19.2 6.8 7.1 17.2 9.1 Sep 3,764 611 4,376 1,420 1,700 7,495 2.6 20.2 4.7 7.2 15.0 7.4 Oct 4,184 685 4,869 1,607 1,893 8,369 2.1 19.0 4.1 8.7 13.9 7.1 Nov                         Dec                             Outward Container Throughput   Kwai Chung Terminals<3> Stream & other berths<3>   Kwai Chung Terminals<3> Stream & other berths<3>   Year/ month Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Sub total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Sub total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Total   '000 TEUs Year-on-year growth rate % 1990 N.A. N.A. 2,001 535 33 2,570 N.A. N.A. 16.6 8.7 1.0 14.6 1991 N.A. N.A. 2,353 712 37 3,102 N.A. N.A. 17.6 33.0 11.0 20.7 1992 N.A. N.A. 2,651 <1>1,178 <1,2>212 4,040 N.A. N.A. 12.6 <1> <1> 30.2 1993 N.A. N.A. 3,047 1,294 297 4,638 N.A. N.A. 15.0 9.9 39.9 14.8 1994 N.A. N.A. 3,881 1,244 456 5,581 N.A. N.A. 27.4 -3.9 53.6 20.3 1995 4,247 105 4,352 1,317 666 6,335 N.A. N.A. 12.1 5.9 46.1 13.5 1996 4,324 215 4,539 1,420 848 6,808 1.8 104.7 4.3 7.8 27.3 7.5 1997 4,663 263 4,926 1,523 938 7,387 7.8 22.4 8.5 7.2 10.6 8.5   (4,746) (263) (5,009) (1,316) (938) (7,264)             1998 4,616 293 4,909 1,183 1,206 7,297 -2.7 11.3 -2.0 -10.2 28.6 0.5 1999 5,092 369 5,461 1,296 1,427 8,184 10.3 26.0 11.2 9.6 18.4 12.2 2000 5,683 414 6,096 1,333 1,689 9,118 11.6 12.2 11.6 2.8 18.4 11.4 2001 5,399 510 5,909 1,341 1,743 8,993 -5.0 23.3 -3.1 0.6 3.2 -1.4 2002 5,589 597 6,186 1,551 1,916 9,652 3.5 17.0 4.7 15.6 9.9 7.3                           2003                         Jan 479 52 531 152 176 859 18.5 -4.3 15.8 35.5 18.3 19.4 Feb 320 51 371 95 132 597 -4.5 60.2 1.1 14.2 25.2 7.6 Mar 483 55 538 157 176 871 13.9 -7.4 11.3 36.7 13.2 15.6 Apr 478 52 529 166 207 902 4.6 -16.0 2.2 40.7 12.8 10.1 May 466 43 509 149 170 828 8.4 -23.1 4.8 24.9 0.3 6.9 Jun 458 43 501 147 187 836 -5.6 -8.0 -5.8 11.8 24.9 2.7 Jul 477 46 522 157 165 844 -5.9 -13.9 -6.6 0.8 -2.3 -4.5 Aug 494 56 550 165 196 911 -5.0 20.3 -2.9 19.3 20.1 4.9 Sep 515 55 571 177 183 930 -7.4 28.6 -4.8 26.2 8.0 2.3 Oct 483 48 532 176 192 900 -5.4 8.3 -4.3 24.5 19.5 4.9 Nov                         Dec                                                   Cumulative                         2003                         Jan 479 52 531 152 176 859 18.5 -4.3 15.8 35.5 18.3 19.4 Feb 798 104 902 246 307 1,456 8.1 19.5 9.3 26.4 21.2 14.3 Mar 1,281 159 1,440 404 484 2,327 10.2 8.6 10.0 30.3 18.1 14.7 Apr 1,759 210 1,969 569 690 3,229 8.6 1.3 7.8 33.1 16.5 13.4 May 2,225 254 2,478 718 860 4,057 8.6 -3.9 7.2 31.3 12.9 12.0 Jun 2,683 296 2,979 865 1,048 4,892 5.9 -4.5 4.7 27.5 14.9 10.3 Jul 3,160 342 3,502 1,023 1,212 5,737 3.9 -5.9 2.9 22.5 12.2 7.8 Aug 3,653 399 4,052 1,188 1,408 6,648 2.6 -2.9 2.0 22.1 13.2 7.4 Sep 4,168 454 4,622 1,366 1,590 7,578 1.3 0.1 1.1 22.6 12.6 6.8 Oct 4,652 502 5,154 1,541 1,783 8,478 0.5 0.8 0.6 22.8 13.3 6.6 Nov                         Dec                             Total (Inward + Outward) Container Throughput by ocean vessel and river Year/month Ocean vessel<3> River cargo vessel Ocean vessel<3> River cargo vessel   '000 TEUs Year-on-year growth rate % 1995 10,968 1,581 N.A. N.A. 1996 11,263 2,197 2.7 38.9 1997 12,130 2,437 7.7 10.9   (11,949) (2,437)     1998 11,510 3,072 -3.7 26.0 1999 12,350 3,861 7.3 25.7 2000 13,697 4,401 10.9 14.0 2001 13,165 4,662 -3.9 5.9 2002 13,910 5,234 5.7 12.3           2003         Jan 1,203 505 16.2 30.0 Feb 907 353 7.7 15.9 Mar 1,245 479 16.5 12.0 Apr 1,238 531 9.8 11.6 May 1,194 467 9.6 4.0 Jun 1,165 495 -2.2 17.7 Jul 1,227 458 -1.4 -1.7 Aug 1,249 542 -2.0 23.1 Sep 1,289 525 -4.4 9.5 Oct 1,266 508 2.4 11.0 Nov         Dec                   Cumulative         2003         Jan 1,203 505 16.2 30.0 Feb 2,111 859 12.3 23.8 Mar 3,355 1,338 13.9 19.3 Apr 4,594 1,869 12.7 17.0 May 5,788 2,335 12.1 14.1 Jun 6,953 2,830 9.4 14.8 Jul 8,180 3,289 7.6 12.1 Aug 9,429 3,831 6.2 13.6 Sep 10,718 4,355 4.8 13.1 Oct 11,984 4,863 4.6 12.8 Nov         Dec           Percentage Distribution of Total (Inward + Outward) Container Throughput by Handling Location   Kwai Chung Terminals<3> Stream & other berths<3>   Year/month Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Sub total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Total   % % % % % % 1990 N.A. N.A. 75.1 23.5 1.4 100.0 1991 N.A. N.A. 73.3 25.5 1.2 100.0 1992 N.A. N.A. 63.7 <1>30.9 <1,2>5.4 100.0 1993 N.A. N.A. 63.0 30.4 6.6 100.0 1994 N.A. N.A. 65.9 25.7 8.4 100.0 1995 64.1 1.7 65.8 23.3 10.9 100.0 1996 61.1 3.5 64.5 22.6 12.8 100.0 1997 61.6 3.5 65.1 21.7 13.2 100.0   (62.9) (3.6) (66.5) (20.2) (13.4) (100.0) 1998 60.8 4.7 65.5 18.1 16.4 100.0 1999 58.7 4.8 63.5 17.5 19.0 100.0 2000 58.9 5.2 64.1 16.8 19.1 100.0 2001 57.0 6.3 63.3 16.9 19.8 100.0 2002 55.3 6.8 62.1 17.4 20.5 100.0               2003             Jan 52.9 7.8 60.6 17.6 21.8 100.0 Feb 54.7 7.6 62.3 17.3 20.4 100.0 Mar 52.6 7.0 59.6 19.6 20.8 100.0 Apr 51.4 6.7 58.1 18.6 23.3 100.0 May 53.3 6.1 59.5 18.6 22.0 100.0 Jun 51.6 6.3 57.9 18.6 23.5 100.0 Jul 53.6 6.8 60.4 19.3 20.4 100.0 Aug 51.6 7.7 59.3 18.2 22.6 100.0 Sep 52.8 7.6 60.4 18.3 21.3 100.0 Oct 50.9 6.9 57.8 20.5 21.7 100.0 Nov             Dec                           Cumulative             2003             Jan 52.9 7.8 60.6 17.6 21.8 100.0 Feb 53.6 7.7 61.3 17.5 21.2 100.0 Mar 53.3 7.4 60.7 18.2 21.1 100.0 Apr 52.7 7.2 60.0 18.3 21.7 100.0 May 52.9 7.0 59.9 18.4 21.7 100.0 Jun 52.6 6.9 59.5 18.4 22.0 100.0 Jul 52.8 6.9 59.7 18.6 21.8 100.0 Aug 52.6 7.0 59.6 18.5 21.9 100.0 Sep 52.6 7.1 59.7 18.5 21.8 100.0 Oct 52.4 7.0 59.5 18.7 21.8 100.0 Nov             Dec                 Percentage Share of Empty Containers (in TEU)   Kwai Chung Terminals<3> Stream & other berths<3>     Inward % Outward %   Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Total   Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Sub total Ocean vessel River cargo vessel Sub total Total % Inward % Outward % Total % Inward % Outward % Total % Inward % Outward % Total %                                   1990 N.A. N.A. 29.5 N.A. N.A. 7.1 17.8 18.1 13.4 16.0 29.5 36.0 32.6 26.5 8.8 17.6 1991 N.A. N.A. 28.3 N.A. N.A. 5.5 16.4 11.4 13.8 12.5 31.9 30.5 31.2 23.6 7.7 15.6 1992 N.A. N.A. 27.8 N.A. N.A. 4.6 15.7 9.8 15.3 12.4 40.5 25.8 33.3 22.6 8.9 15.7 1993 N.A. N.A. 28.1 N.A. N.A. 5.9 16.4 10.4 13.3 11.7 36.5 29.8 33.3 22.8 9.5 16.1 1994 N.A. N.A. 19.7 N.A. N.A. 7.8 13.3 8.7 14.2 11.1 38.7 28.1 33.5 18.1 10.8 14.4 1995 20.1 2.5 19.6 7.7 39.2 8.4 13.7 9.0 16.1 12.2 48.7 30.9 40.0 20.1 12.4 16.2 1996 20.2 13.3 19.7 7.9 22.7 8.6 13.9 13.8 14.1 13.9 53.9 29.2 41.8 22.8 12.3 17.5 1997 19.0 14.0 18.8 8.3 24.8 9.2 13.8 15.8 16.6 16.2 55.3 29.0 42.5 23.1 13.2 18.1   (19.1) (14.0) (18.8) (8.1) (24.8) (9.0) (13.7) (16.3) (19.2) (17.6) (55.3) (29.0) (42.5) (23.3) (13.4) (18.3) 1998 27.2 15.0 26.1 6.9 41.6 9.0 17.3 13.7 26.1 19.3 49.3 29.0 39.0 27.4 15.0 21.2 1999 27.1 12.6 25.9 5.1 35.4 7.1 15.9 11.8 20.0 15.5 53.6 31.1 43.2 28.9 13.3 21.0 2000 31.2 17.3 29.9 4.4 24.4 5.7 17.2 10.1 15.4 12.4 51.4 33.6 42.7 30.4 12.3 21.3 2001 31.0 16.4 29.3 4.1 18.4 5.4 16.8 7.9 11.7 9.6 44.8 37.6 41.3 28.4 12.6 20.4 2002 30.8 9.9 28.2 4.2 19.7 5.7 16.5 5.8 7.7 6.7 42.7 40.7 41.7 27.1 13.0 20.0                                   2003                                 Jan 34.1 6.7 29.7 3.9 25.0 6.0 17.5 7.8 5.8 6.8 40.7 43.6 42.1 28.4 13.6 21.0 Feb 29.9 10.5 27.8 6.2 19.0 8.0 18.5 6.9 6.9 6.9 40.8 38.4 39.6 26.4 14.5 20.8 Mar 20.1 8.7 18.5 5.0 17.1 6.3 12.1 5.3 6.8 6.0 36.3 40.3 38.3 19.5 13.3 16.4 Apr 24.2 9.1 22.2 5.6 17.9 6.8 14.3 4.5 5.6 5.1 36.5 40.7 38.6 22.2 14.4 18.2 May 27.0 8.5 24.7 6.2 16.6 7.1 15.6 6.8 5.4 6.1 37.8 40.1 38.9 24.3 13.6 19.0 Jun 31.0 12.8 28.6 4.1 24.6 5.9 16.7 6.5 6.0 6.3 40.2 43.4 41.7 27.1 14.3 20.7 Jul 33.6 10.3 30.4 3.4 22.5 5.1 17.4 7.0 6.1 6.6 36.4 39.1 37.7 27.0 11.9 19.5 Aug 32.2 11.0 28.8 2.8 21.0 4.7 16.3 8.9 5.9 7.3 39.8 41.6 40.7 27.8 12.8 20.2 Sep 34.3 8.8 30.3 3.1 16.4 4.4 16.8 8.1 5.9 6.9 39.0 40.6 39.8 28.4 11.8 19.9 Oct 30.8 7.6 27.3 3.9 19.0 5.3 15.9 7.5 5.3 6.4 36.2 38.1 37.2 25.0 12.3 18.6 Nov                                 Dec                                                                   Cumulative                                 2003                                 Jan 34.1 6.7 29.7 3.9 25.0 6.0 17.5 7.8 5.8 6.8 40.7 43.6 42.1 28.4 13.6 21.0 Feb 32.1 8.1 28.9 4.8 22.0 6.8 17.9 7.4 6.2 6.8 40.7 41.4 41.0 27.5 14.0 20.9 Mar 27.9 8.3 25.3 4.9 20.3 6.6 15.8 6.5 6.4 6.5 39.1 41.0 40.0 24.6 13.7 19.2 Apr 27.0 8.5 24.5 5.1 19.7 6.7 15.4 6.0 6.2 6.1 38.4 40.9 39.6 24.0 13.9 19.0 May 27.0 8.5 24.5 5.4 19.2 6.8 15.5 6.2 6.0 6.1 38.3 40.8 39.5 24.1 13.8 19.0 Jun 27.6 9.2 25.2 5.1 20.0 6.6 15.7 6.2 6.0 6.1 38.6 41.2 39.9 24.6 13.9 19.3 Jul 28.5 9.4 25.9 4.9 20.3 6.4 15.9 6.3 6.0 6.2 38.3 40.9 39.6 24.9 13.6 19.3 Aug 29.0 9.6 26.3 4.6 20.4 6.2 16.0 6.7 6.0 6.4 38.5 41.0 39.7 25.3 13.5 19.4 Sep 29.6 9.5 26.8 4.4 19.9 5.9 16.1 6.8 6.0 6.4 38.6 41.0 39.7 25.7 13.3 19.5 Oct 29.7 9.3 26.8 4.4 19.8 5.9 16.1 6.9 5.9 6.4 38.3 40.7 39.5 25.6 13.2 19.4 Nov                                 Dec                                   N.A. Not Available P Preliminary figures R Revised figures ( ) Starting from 1998, a new series of container throughputs has been compiled. To facilitate comparison, figures for 1997 compiled according to the new series is presented in brackets.     Explanatory Notes < 1 > Changes in the definition of ocean and river vessels As from 1 January 1992, the statistical systems on ocean and river vessel trips, containers and cargo have been completely overhauled and redesigned by Marine Department. Reporting procedures, methodology and quality control are enhanced, in addition to full computerisation. Also, a new definition has been adopted by both Marine Department and Census & Statistics Department in compiling shipping, cargo and container statistics related to ocean and river vessels. The new definition is based on trade route and its difference with the old one is set out below. Old Definition (until 31 Dec 1992) Within 24 hours of arrival and before departure, vessels are required to report entry and obtain clearance either at Marine Department’s Port Formalities Office (PFO) or its District Marine Offices (DMOs). Ocean vessels are defined operationally as vessels completing port formalities at PFO. On the other hand, vessels completing port formalities at DMOs are defined as river vessels. In most cases, the latter are vessels below 500 gross registered tonne (GRT) plying between Hong Kong and Pearl River ports (including Macau). New Definition (effective 1 Jan 1993) The classification of vessels entering/leaving Hong Kong water into ‘ocean’ and ‘river’ is made on the basis of the ‘river trade limits’ defined under the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance Cap 313. The river trade area broadly includes the Pearl River , Mirs Bay and Macau, and other inland waters in Guangdong and Guangxi which are accessible from waters in the vicinity of Hong Kong. Ocean vessels are those vessels plying outside the legally defined river trade limits and river vessels are those plying exclusively within the limits. Because of the changes in definitions, 1992 figures were compiled on both bases so that comparative year-on-year growth rates for 1993 statistics can be derived. < 2 > A standardised manifest has been in use from 1 Apr 92 (trial period in Jan-Mar 92) to collect river cargo and container throughput data. < 3> Starting from 1998, all figures except those on ocean trade empty TEUs are compiled by the Census