XN000022-1992-12-02 — Page 26

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1992

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THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF VESSELS

NAVIGATION AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

THE TRANSPORTATION OF DANGEROUS GOODS

CARGO-HANDLING AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF VESSELS, MR MILLER SAID: "OUR DUTY OF CARE IS TO ENSURE THAT VESSELS IN HONG KONG WATERS OR ON THE HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER ARE CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS, LOCAL LEGISLATION AND COMMON PRUDENCE.

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"PORT STATE CONTROL AND HIGH SPEED FERRIES ARE USEFUL EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE THE MARINE DEPARTMENT'S APPROACH TO THIS AREA.

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THE INTENTION OF PORT STATE CONTROL IS TO ACT AS A BACKSTOP PROTECTING THE LIVES OF SHIP CREWS AND THE SAFETY OF THE PORT AND THE ENVIRONMENT, TO PREVENT OWNERS AND OPERATORS, AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES AND INSURANCE COMPANIES ALLOWING THE CONDITION OF A SHIP TO SLIP BELOW SAFE LIMITS.

"IT CANNOT BE, NOR SHOULD IT BE, A SUBSTITUTE FOR RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT BY OWNERS AND OPERATORS.

"IN HONG KONG WE TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY CAREFULLY. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF SHIPS CALLING, WE ARE OBLIGED TO DO A DEGREE OF TARGETING. THIS YEAR HAS SEEN SOME INTERESTING RESULTS.

"ON THE CARGO SIDE, THREE RUST-BUCKETS LEFT THE PORT HEADING FOR THE SCRAP YARDS, AFTER A FOURTH, A BULKER, WAS ARRESTED AND DECLARED LAID-UP PENDING THE OWNER CARRYING OUT SUBSTANTIAL REPAIRS. HE GAVE IN AFTER A MONTH AND SOLD THE VESSEL FOR SCRAP, SAID MR MILLER.

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HE STRESSED THAT HONG KONG CHECKED ITS OWN FLAG VESSELS WITH PARTICULAR CARE.

MR MILLER SAID: "HONG KONG IS THE CENTRE OF WHAT IS PROBABLY THE WORLD'S BIGGEST HIGH-SPEED FERRY OPERATION, COMPRISING HYDROFOILS, SIDE-WALL HOVERCRAFT AND CATAMARANS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.

"WE ARE PIONEERS IN THE FIELD AND WE HAVE HAD OUR SHARE OF ACCIDENTS. EACH ONE HAS BEEN ANALYSED WITH SCRUPULOUS CARE AND THE RESULTS SHARED WITH OWNERS, OPERATORS, BUILDERS AND THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION."

AS A RESULT, HONG KONG IS PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN RE-WRITING THE INTERNATIONAL RULE BOOK IN THIS AREA.

THE GOVERNMENT'S

"THE EMPHASIS,

DUTY OF CARE LIES WITH PREVENTION NOT CURE, WITH SAFE CODES OF CONSTRUCTION AND SAFE OPERATION. THE ONUS TO ENSURE PROPER MAINTENANCE AND SAFE PRACTICE LIES WITH THE OPERATORS. THERE CAN BE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THIS."

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