3
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1978
LAW ON THIRD PARTY INSURANCE FOR PLEASURE
CRAFT EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 1
******
THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) ORDINANCE 1978 WHICH REQUIRES OWNERS OF PLEASURE CRAFT TO TAKE OUT THIRD PARTY INSURANCE COVERING DEATH AND PERSONAL INJURY WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, NEXT YEAR.
THE AMENDED LEGISLATION STIPULATES THAT OWNERS OF PLEASURE CRAFT ARE REQUIRED TO INSURE THE IR VESSELS AGAINST THIRD PARTY RISKS UP TO $600,000. IT IS UP TO OWNERS TO OBTAIN HIGHER
INSURANCE COVER IF THEY SO WISH.
IN ADDITION, PLEASURE VESSEL LICENCES WILL ONLY BE ISSUED OR RENEWED ON THE PRODUCTION OF A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE.
UNDER THE LAW, ANYONE USING A PLEASURE CRAFT WITHOUT THE INSURANCE WILL BE COMMITTING AN OFFENCE AND IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $10,000 AND 12 MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.
ALSO COMING INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, ARE THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (PLEASURE VESSELS)(AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1978. THE NEW REGULATIONS CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING MAIN POINTS:
*
*
A LICENCE DISC WILL BE ISSUED IN RESPECT OF A LICENSED PLEASURE VESSEL, WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE DISPLAYED ON THE VESSEL. IN ADDITION A LICENCE BOOK WILL BE ISSUED FOR EACH CRAFT-
THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE IS EMPOWERED TO SPECIFY THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO MAY BE CARRIED ON A PLEASURE VESSEL. ADDITIONALLY HE MAY REQUIRE THE LICENSED OWNER OF A PLEASURE VESSEL TO DELIVER THAT VESSEL ANYWHERE FOR INSPECTION AND SURVEY-
* SMALL PLEASURE VESSELS, WHICH ARE NORMALLY CARRIED ON BOARD
OR ATTACHED TO ANOTHER VESSEL WILL, PROVIDING IT DOES NOT EXCEED FOUR METRES IN LENGTH AND HAVE AN ENGINE NOT EXCEEDING 10 HORSEPOWER, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, BE INCLUDED IN THE LICENCE OF THE PARENT VESSEL-
*
*
ON THE TRANSFER OF FULL OWNERSHIP, NEW OWNERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE OVER EXISTING LICENCES UNTIL THEIR EXPIRY BUT ARE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE SUCH LICENCES FOR ENDORSEMENT AND
THE EXISTING REGULATIONS MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO USE
AN UNLICENSED PLEASURE VESSEL. THE NEW REGULATIONS EXTEND THE PROVISION TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO POSSESS AN UNLICENSED PLEASURE VESSEL IN HONG KONG WATERS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID THE AMENDMENTS HAD BEEN MADE WITH INTERESTS AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IN MIND. +THE PROVISION FOR THE TRANSFER OF LICENCES AND SMALL PLEASURE CRAFT CARRIED BY PARENT VESSELS SHOULD BE WELCOMED BY THE OWNERS OF PLEASURE CRAFT,+ HE SAID.
14