ENG-1991 — Page 291

TRANSPORT

240

=

By international agreement, the Marine Department is the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordinator for the area of the South China Sea north of latitude 10°N and west of longitude 120°E, excluding the immediate coastal waters of neighbouring states. The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre is manned continuously and monitors the various emergency communications channels. A full search and rescue mission can be activated and run by fully-trained staff. Suitably equipped search and rescue vessels and aircraft are available and additional assistance can be obtained from other rescue co-ordination centres in the region. Radio communications equipment costing $20 million has been ordered for the centre to facilitate full implementation of the new Global Maritime Distress and Safety System by April 1992.

Hong Kong is a prominent centre for shipowning, ship financing and ship management activities. Most local shipowners and connected businesses are represented by the Hong Kong Shipowners' Association, whose members control a significant percentage of the world's tonnage. At the end of 1991, the association members' fleet stood at 1233 ocean-going vessels totalling 68.7 million deadweight tonnes or 38.1 million gross registered tonnage, of which 145 vessels representing 11.8 per cent of the gross registered tonnage were registered in Hong Kong. The association is either a member of, or works closely with, all significant international maritime bodies to contribute and share in major developments concerning merchant shipping worldwide.

Statutory surveys of all Hong Kong-registered vessels are undertaken worldwide by Marine Department surveyors or authorised classification societies for the issue of certificates in accordance with international conventions relating to maritime safety, pollution prevention and crew accommodation promulgated by the International Maritime Organisation and the International Labour Organisation. United Kingdom and foreign ships visiting Hong Kong are also surveyed by Marine Department surveyors on request by their administrations.

During 1991, a total of 1069 ships visiting the port of Hong Kong were subject to inspection to enforce international conventions, namely the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. This represented about five per cent of the ocean-going ships (which exclude river-trade coastal ships) estimated to have visited Hong Kong during the same period. Of these, about 10 per cent required deficiencies to be made good before the ship could sail from Hong Kong.

A plan-approval and survey service is also provided for local shipping, including one of the world's largest fleets of high-technology fast passenger boats, (dynamically-supported craft comprising jetfoils, hydrofoils, side-wall hovercraft and catamarans). Vessels plying within the waters of Hong Kong need to be licensed under the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance and these too are inspected and issued with certificates. A major review of the procedures and requirements for the certification of local craft is under way with the intention of developing a rationalised approach to the safety and control of the many disparate types of craft operating in Hong Kong. A free inspection and advice service is operated to promote safe working practices in ship repairing, ship-breaking and cargo handling afloat.

The Examination Section of the Marine Department conducts a wide range of examinations for persons requiring certificates of competency for service on vessels of all