>Organization, Functions and Services Home > About us Organization, Functions and Services Functions The Port of Hong Kong is unusual in that it does not have a port authority to provide all the port infrastructure and control it. Most of the port facilities are privately owned and operated, with minimal interference from government. The Marine Department, headed by the Director of Marine, is responsible for all navigational matters in Hong Kong and the safety standards of all classes and types of vessels. Our stated mission is "We are One in Promoting Excellence in Marine Services". The functions we perform are, briefly, to facilitate the safe and expeditious movement of ships, cargoes and passengers within Hong Kong waters; ensure compliance with international and local safety and marine environmental protection standards in respect of ships registered and licensed in Hong Kong and using Hong Kong waters; administer the Hong Kong Shipping Register and develop policies, standards and legislation in line with international conventions; ensure compliance with international and local requirements on the competency of seafarers for ships registered and licensed in Hong Kong and using its waters, and to regulate the registration and employment of Hong Kong seafarers; co-ordinate maritime search and rescue operations within Hong Kong international area of responsibility and ensure compliance with international convention; combat oil pollution in Hong Kong waters, collect vessel-generated refuse and scavenge floating refuse in specified areas of Hong Kong waters; and provide and maintain in the most cost-effective manner the number of government vessels that departments need to conduct their business. Services and Organization The Marine department is staffed by well-qualified and experienced professional and technical officers. We provide a wide spectrum of services which can be broadly classified into five areas, each of which is headed by an Assistant Director: Planning and Services - strategic planning for port development, passenger terminals, pollution control, public cargo handling facilities, buoys and navigational aids, hydrographic services Port Control - port operations, navigational safety, marine emergencies, search and rescue co-ordination, licensing and control of local craft Multi-lateral Policy - marine accident investigation, and the development of policies, standards and legislation Shipping - the Hong Kong Shipping Register, enforcement of ship safety standards, marine industrial safety, surveys of foreign-going ships and local craft, examination, certification and discipline of seafarers Government Fleet - design, procurement, operation, crewing and maintenance of government vessels. A centralised administration, human resource management, and finance and accounting support to the operational divisions is provided by the Administration Branch in the departmental headquarters. *The following charts are in PDF (Portable Document Format). Please download and install the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print them. To ensure the efficiency in carrying out the various services, we maintain close consultation with shipping and commercial interests in the port through a number of advisory committees. We are also represented in Europe by the Marine Adviser in London Office, who maintains close liaison with the International Maritime Organization and other related bodies. Our department is undergoing various organizational and administrative changes led by our new Mission statement. In early 1995, we published the revised performance pledge which sets higher performance standards than the original ones made back in 1993. We became one of the departments under the Code of Access to Information on 11 December 1995. Contacts Business Hours : 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. (For Non 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. operating units, and section specific addresses, please send your enquiry to mdenquiry@mardep.gov.hk.) You can, however, write or call the contact persons, whose names, voice telephone numbers and fax numbers will appear under the relevant topics and also in the master telephone list. If you have any comments on this site, which are absolutely welcome, please e-mail mdenquiry@mardep.gov.hk. Address: Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
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