ENG-2009 — Page 327

Transport 259

Investigation reports of all serious accidents are posted on the department's website and copies are made available to the public on request to promote maritime safety.

Depending on the seriousness of the accident and public interest, a public inquiry by a Marine Court may be ordered by the Chief Executive. In the case of an accident involving a licensed pilot, a Board of Investigation may be ordered by the Director of Marine. In 2009, the MAISSPB investigated 12 serious accidents.

Seafarers

The Marine Department's Shipping Registry and Seafarers Branch supervises the registration, employment, competence, discipline, health, safety and welfare of Hong Kong seafarers, as well as seafarers working on board Hong Kong-registered ships. During the year, some 24 500 seafarers of different nationalities served on board Hong Kong-registered ocean-going ships. About 1 500 officers and ratings served on high-speed passenger vessels plying within the Pearl River Delta Region.

The Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme, launched in July 2004, was very successful in attracting local graduates to join the maritime profession to meet the manpower demand of the maritime industry in Hong Kong. The scheme provides financial incentives to attract local graduates to take up sea-going cadetship training. By year-end, 121 cadets had joined the training scheme. The sharp increase in applicants for the related programmes in training institutes and universities in the past two years reflects young people's interest in the profession.

Participation in International Shipping Activities

International Maritime Organisation

The Hong Kong Government, under the name 'Hong Kong, China', is an associate member of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and has a permanent representative in London. The Hong Kong maritime industry is consulted on, and kept well informed about, all issues discussed at IMO meetings that may affect Hong Kong. In 2009, Hong Kong Government officials attended a total of 23 IMO meetings. Topics discussed included enhancing maritime safety and security, measures to reduce marine pollution, matters related to maritime laws, seafarers' training and certification of standards, facilitation of international maritime traffic, and other maritime matters.

In May 2009, Hong Kong hosted an IMO International Conference on the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. The conference, the first ever held in Asia by the IMO, was attended by representatives from 64 IMO member States and a number of inter-governmental organisations and non-governmental organisations. The conference adopted the 'Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009'.