XN000022-1992-08-11 — Page 7

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1992

MR TUPPER SAID TWO SEPARATE DOCUMENTS WOULD BE ISSUED BETTER SERVE THE DUAL FUNCTIONS CURRENTLY PERFORMED BY THE LICENCE A VESSEL.

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THE TWO DOCUMENTS ARE REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS WHICH PROVIDE A FORMAL LINK BETWEEN THE VESSEL AND ITS OWNER AND A PERMIT TO OPERATE WHICH WILL BE ISSUED AND RENEWED ONLY AFTER THE VESSEL HAS PASSED PERIODIC SURVEY OR INSPECTION.

MR TUPPER SAID: "THE CATEGORISATION OF LOCAL VESSELS WILL BE SIMPLIFIED FROM 11 TO FIVE CLASSES TO FACILITATE THE APPLICATION OF A COHERENT BODY OF SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.

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"THESE MAJOR STRUCTURAL REFORMS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A NEW LOCAL VESSEL BILL TO BE INTRODUCED WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.'

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OF MORE IMMEDIATE EFFECT, EXISTING REGULATIONS WILL BE AMENDED TO INTRODUCE A NUMBER OF REFORMS ON A "FAST TRACK". THESE INCLUDE:

* THE SIMPLIFICATION OF THE PRESENT QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE;

* THE EXISTING BANDING OF COXSWAINS AND ENGINEERS WILL ALSO BE STREAMLINED FROM 12 CATEGORIES ΤΟ NINE ΤΟ REMOVE INCONSISTENCIES IN THE CURRENT SYSTEM. THE NEW QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD BE OBTAINABLE THROUGH SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF APPROVED TRAINING COURSES RUN BY RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS, OR A COMBINATION OF SUCH COURSES AND EXAMINATIONS BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT;

* TRANSITIONAL

ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR HOLDERS OF EXISTING QUALIFICATIONS TO TRANSFER TO CORRESPONDING RANKS IN THE NEW SCALE;

* STANDARDISATION OF PORT FORMALITIES PROCEDURES AND THE INTRODUCTION OF A PORT DUES PERMIT FOR RIVER TRADE VESSELS;

* THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY RADAR INSTALLATIONS ON

FERRIES OPERATING TO OUTLYING DISTRICTS;

* ABOLITION OF RESTRICTIONS ON OPERATING AREAS FOR FERRIES AND

CARGO LIGHTERS; AND

* FORMAL EXEMPTION OF PLEASURE VESSELS NOT CAPABLE OF FITTING

ENGINES FROM LICENCING PROCEDURES.

"THESE SHORT-TERM MEASURES WILL BE INTRODUCED

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DURING 1993, MR TUPPER SAID.

PROGRESSIVELY

IN JUNE 1991, A PROVISIONAL LOCAL VESSEL ADVISORY COMPRISING PERSONS WELL-VERSED IN ALL MAJOR ASPECTS OF SHIPPING INDUSTRY WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE INPUT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

COMMITTEE THE LOCAL

FOR

THE

FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL THE LOCAL CRAFT REVIEW SECTION THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ON TEL 852 4720.

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