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Transport
Maritime and Aviation Training Fund
The maritime and aviation sectors receive government support in manpower development via a $100 million Maritime and Aviation Training Fund. The fund aims at building up a diversified and competitive pool of professionals and technical personnel by supporting scholarships, training and promotion initiatives. Since its launch in 2014, the fund's annual internship scheme has opened up more than 910 maritime and aviation internship opportunities for young people. An overseas exchange sponsorship scheme, launched in 2015 in partnership with four local universities, provides selected students with overseas exposure and maritime knowledge by supporting one semester of their maritime-related courses at overseas universities. About 30 undergraduates were taking part in the scheme as at end-2016.
Hong Kong Shipping Register
The Hong Kong Shipping Register, administered by the Marine Department, ranked fourth in the world in 2016, registering ships of more than 107.7 million gross tonnage in total. To ensure the registered ships' compliance with international standards, the department conducts a pre- registration quality control assessment on the ships before they join the register and implements a Flag State Quality Control System. The Port State Control detention rate of Hong Kong-registered ships is well below the world average, putting the Hong Kong flag among the top performance flags in the white list under the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Paris MoU of Port State Control. Hong Kong also holds the United States Coast Guard's 'Qualship 21' status.
Marine Accident Investigations
The Marine Department's Marine Accident Investigation and Shipping Security Policy Branch. investigates all serious ship accidents in Hong Kong waters. The purpose of an investigation is to determine the circumstances and possible causes of an accident and to recommend preventive measures against recurrences. In 2016, the branch investigated 22 serious accidents. To enhance public awareness of maritime safety, investigation reports of all serious accidents are published on the department's website.
The Chief Executive may order a public inquiry by a Marine Court or a Commission of Inquiry into a serious accident. For accidents involving licensed pilots, a Board of Investigation may be ordered by the Director of Marine.
Seafarers
The Marine Department's Shipping Registry and Seafarers Branch supervises the registration, employment, competence, discipline, health, safety and welfare of Hong Kong seafarers and of seafarers working on board Hong Kong-registered ships. In 2016, 51,073 seafarers of different nationalities served on board Hong Kong-registered seagoing ships and 1,275 officers and ratings served on high-speed ferries plying the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region.
The Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme aims at attracting local youngsters to join the maritime profession in Hong Kong by providing financial incentives to take up seagoing cadetship training. In 2016, the scheme signed up 59 cadets.
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