Friday, March 16, 1973
15
WIDER CONTROL OVER "DEAD SHIPS" AND REPAIRS
New Regulations Provide For Heavy Penalty For Offenders
It is now an offence to anchor a dead ship in Hong Kong waters, or to carry out repairs to a vessel of more than 300 net register tons without
the permission of the Director of Marine.
This is provided in the Merchant Shipping (Control of Ports) (Amendment)
Regulations 1973 published in the Gazette today.
The new regulations, however, do not apply to a dead ship or other vessel which is anchored, moored or secured in, or within the precincts of,
a dockyard or a floating dry-dock.
The regulations provide that no repairs should be undertaken on any dead ship without the permission of the Director of Marine.
The Director is empowered to declare a ship to be a dead ship whether
its owners approve or not.
A ship, if it is not to be declared a dead ship, should be capable of being effectively propelled and manoeuvred within a period decided by the Director.
A penalty of $4,000 and six months imprisonment is provided for any
contravention of the Regulations.
A right of appeal to the Governor is provided.
The new regulations were made at the recommendation of the Marine Court of Inquiry investigating the fire on board the "Seawise University" and the Commissioners in the inquiry into the "Jumbo" fire.
Both the Court and the Commissioners recommended that the Director of
Marine be given overall control of operations relating to the repair, renovation
and refitting of shipping in Hong Kong waters.
The amending regulations were made as an interim measure in view of the fact that the enactment of legislation to implement this recommendation and the recruitment and training of the necessary inspectorate staff would require
considerable time.
/16