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Transport
as seafarers working on board Hong Kong-registered ships. In 2012, 43,267 seafarers of different nationalities served on board Hong Kong-registered ocean-going ships and 1,332 officers and ratings served on high-speed ferries plying within the Pearl River Delta Region.
The Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme is designed to attract local graduates to join the maritime profession in Hong Kong by providing financial incentives for them to take up sea- going cadetship training. By December 2012, 231 cadets had joined the scheme since it started in July 2004.
Participation in International Shipping Activities
International Maritime Organisation
The HKSAR Government, under the name 'Hong Kong, China, is an associate member of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and has a permanent representative in London. The Hong Kong maritime industry is consulted on, and closely informed of, all issues discussed at IMO meetings that may affect Hong Kong. In 2012, HKSAR Government officials attended 20 IMO meetings. Topics discussed included enhancing maritime safety and security, measures to reduce marine pollution, matters related to maritime laws, seafarers' training and certification of standards, facilitation of international maritime traffic, and other maritime matters.
Port State Control
Hong Kong is a member of the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (PSC) in the Asia-Pacific Region. The Marine Department participates in its various activities, including leading the Technical Co-operation Advisory Group and as a member of three other working groups.
In 2012, the Marine Department's officers conducted 717 PSC inspections on ocean-going vessels, or 15 per cent of all ocean-going vessels that visited Hong Kong. About 4.6 per cent of ships inspected were detained because of serious deficiencies that needed immediate attention.
Maritime Search and Rescue
The Marine Department's Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) co-ordinates search and rescue operations within Hong Kong waters and in international waters of the South China. Sea. Its area of responsibility covers about 450,000 square nautical miles. The MRCC is manned by professional staff and equipped with modern communications equipment for receiving distress alerts and communicating with ships.
The Hong Kong MRCC is one of the eight maritime members nominated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to participate in a 16-Member international joint working group, which was established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the IMO to discuss aeronautical and maritime search and rescue issues.
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