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 |