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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1993
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EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE SAFETY AT SEA
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TAKES A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT OVERSEAS REGISTERED OCEAN-GOING VESSELS VISITING HONG KONG COMPLY WITH THE SAFETY STANDARDS SFT OUT IX VARTOUS INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
THE MEASURES INCLUDE:
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ENSURING THAT ALL VESSELS CALLING ON HONG KONG HOLD VALID SAFETY CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE STATE OF REGISTRY (FLAG STATE);
INSPECTING OCEAN-GOING VESSELS IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED IN THE VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS (PORT STATE CONTROL). PARTICULAR ATTENTION 18 GIVEN TO PASSENGER VESSELS AND OLDER SHIPS WITH A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS; AND
CONDUCTING SPECIFIC INSPECTIONS ON VESSELS WHICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO MARINE DEPARTMENT AS HAVING SAFETY PROBLEMS.
IF ANY VESSEL IS FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY DEFICIENT, OR NOT TO HAVE VALID CERTIFICATES, ACTION WILL BE TAKEN REQUIRING THE OWNER AND OPERATOR TO RECTIFY THESE DEFICIENCIES BEFORE THE VESSEL IS ALLOWED TO LEAVE HONG KONG, MRS CHAN SAID.
SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE AIM BEHIND THESE MEASURES WAS NOT SIMPLY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS, BUT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF SHIPS AND CREWS, TO PROTECT THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, AND ΤΟ INDUCE A GREATER SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AMONG OWNERS, OPERATORS AND FLAG STATES.
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'INTERNATIONALLY, THERE ARE MOVES FOR PORT STATE CONTROL что TARGET FLAG STATES WHOSE SHIPS HAVE A HISTORY OF BEING SUB-STANDARD, SO AS TO RID THE SEAS OF SUCH VESSELS. SHE ADDED.
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MRS CHAN SAID MARINE DEPARTMENT
ACCIDENT OCCURRING WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS.
INVESTIGATED EVERY MAJOR
THE FLAG STATE AND THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION WILL BE ADVISED OF THE FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION.
THIS WILL INCLUDE CASES IN WHICH THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY UNAUTHORISED ALTERATIONS TO VESSELS WHICH CONTRAVENE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, OR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THESE STANDARDS.
ALTERATIONS. TO OVERSEAS REGISTERED SHIPS ARF NOT COVERED IN HONG KONG LAW.
HOWEVER, MRS CHAN SAID IF THE ALTERATIONS MATERIALLY CONTRAVENE PROVISIONS COVERED BY ANY RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL MARITIME MARINE DEPARTMENT COULD REQUIRE THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS THE DEFICIENCIES.
TO
CONVENTION,
RECTIFY
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