XN000022-1995-12-29 — Page 17

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Regulations on seafarers' welfare published

As part of an exercise to localise certain United Kingdom enactments relating to seafarers which apply to Hong Kong, the Government today (Friday) published in the Gazette another 10 sets of regulations made under the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance.

To provide a comprehensive body of laws relating to seafarers, 28 sets of regulations or rules relating to the health, safety and welfare of seafarers, and the mercantile marine industry, have been prepared under the principal ordinance.

For administrative convenience, the 28 regulations or rules, have been divided into three batches for tabling to the Legislative Council. The first batch of regulations was gazetted last Friday (December 22).

The 10 regulations or rules gazetted today are:

The Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) (Certification of Officers) Regulation provides details for the issue of certificates of competency/licences/exemptions and the related matters arising thereupon. Officers must be in possession of proper certificates/licences when serving on board Hong Kong ships while officers of those river-trade dynamically supported passenger ships are, in addition, required to hold valid Type Rating Certificates. Manning requirements of various categories of ships and relaxation in certain cases are also prescribed therein.

The Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) (Tankers-Officers and Ratings) Regulation provides that only officers and ratings who are qualified in accordance with the regulation, or are trained under supervision or whose certificates of competency or of service are endorsed with a dangerous cargo endorsement, may perform duties in connection with the cargo and cargo equipment of any tanker to which the Regulation applies. Necessary qualification in relation to training and service requirements are also provided.

It stipulates that it is an offence for the employer or the master to permit an unqualified officer to perform duties in connection with the cargo and cargo equipment of tankers.