XN000022-1981-10-09 — Page 5

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1981

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MERCHANT SHIPPING (PLEASURE VESSELS) AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 1981

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A REMINDER THAT NEW REGULATIONS RELATING TO PLEASURE VESSELS WILL COME INTO FORCE ON OCTOBER 17 WAS ISSUED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TODAY.

THE NEW REGULATIONS ARE MADE IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY AND IMPROVED CONTROL AT SEA AND TO COMBAT THE CONTINUING THREAT POSED BY THE USE OF HIGH SPEED CRAFT TO BRING IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.

THESE REGULATIONS ARE APPLICABLE TO ALL PLEASURE VESSELS FITTED WITH OR DESIGNED TO CARRY ENGINES, POSSESSED OR USED EITHER IN OR OUT OF THE WATER, BUT DO NOT APPLY TO CRAFT THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN LAUNCHED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THEY ARE PART OF THE MEASURES INTRODUCED UNDER THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1981, ENACTED IN MID-JULY AFTER APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND ARE INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT PLEASURE VESSELS ARE PROPERLY LICENSED AND OPERATED, ARE INSURED AGAINST THIRD PARTY RISKS AND ARE MORE EASILY IDENTIFIABLE.

CHANGES MADE UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS ARE:

(A) LICENCE NUMBERS MUST BE PAINTED OR PERMANENTLY

AFFIXED AS NEAR AS PRACTICABLE AMID SHIPS ON EACH SIDE OF THE PLEASURE VESSEL, IN A COLOUR WHICH CLEARLY CONTRASTS WITH THAT OF THE SIDE ON WHICH THEY ARE PAINTED OR PERMANENTLY AFFIXED. EACH NUMBER MUST BE AT LEAST 300 MM IN HEIGHT WITH EACH OF ITS COMPONENTS AT LEAST 40 MM BROAD AND, EXCEPT FOR THE NUMBER +1+, TOTALLY 170 MM IN WIDTH. THE PENALTY FOR FAILING TO DISPLAY PROPERLY THE NUMBER HAS BEEN INCREASED.

(B) CHANGES OF ADDRESS, OF PARTICULARS OF THE VESSEL

AND OF OWNERSHIP, CHARTERING AND REMOVAL MUST BE REPORTED WITHIN THREE DAYS, INSTEAD OF SEVEN DAYS AS WAS THE CASE IN THE PAST.

(C) OTHER PENALTY INCREASES INCLUDE:

(D)

FAILURE TO REPORT CHANGES RELATING TO PLEASURE VESSELS OR IN THE OWNERSHIP OR CHARTERING OF THEM-

USING THE VESSEL WITHOUT HAVING ON BOARD THE HOLDER OF A CAL CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE TO ACT AS MASTER AND ENGINEER OR WITHOUT THE OWNER'S CONSENT AND

PERMITTING A PLEASURE CRAFT TO BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES, INCLUDING HIRE OR CARRIAGE OF FARE-PAYING PASSENGERS.

AN UNLICENSED VESSEL, WHETHER IN OR OUT OF THE WATER, MAY BE SEIZED AND HELD UNTIL IT IS LICENSED OR ITS RELEASE ORDERED BY A MAGISTRATE. THE OWNER WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY REMOVAL AND STORAGE CHARGES. ANY VESSEL NOT RECLAIMED WITHIN THREE MONTHS WILL BE DISPOSED OF.

/THE SPOKESMAN