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1. Local Vessels Safety Section (LVS) is responsible for the safety inspection of vessels operating within Hong Kong waters & Pearl River Estuary and new vessels under construction, and the formulation and updating of technical standards and legislation for local licensed vessels. Annually, the Section carries out about 5,300 survey visits involving about 3,600 local vessels for the issue of about 4,500 safety certificates of various kinds. These works include about 30 vessels newly constructed together with about 4,800 drawings approval.
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LVS also meets regularly the associations and representatives of the industry to hear their view on the safety issues. Safety handbooks and posters are prepared by the Section to promote the safety awareness to shipowners and operators. Safety precautions and the proper function of the safety appliances are publicized and explained in the safety open days of the industry.
3. The introduction of a new legislation "Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance ("LVO" and "Amendments 2005")" and its subsidiary legislations and rules ( promulgated in 1999 and Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Safety and Survey) Regulation gazette published on 6 October 2006 and subsequent amendments on 29 November 2006 ) are to modernize the control, safety and operation of local vessels. It replace s part of the existing ordinance and regulations governing local vessels. This new legislation has been in force from on 2 January 2007 . The following are some of the customer-focused features relating to safety of local vessels under the LVO:
- establishing a Local Vessels Advisory Committee (LVAC) and Specialist Sub-committees as Statutory Bodies under LVO - The Committee will advise the Director on any matter related to MD's functions on the control of local vessels as well as the safety standards of these vessels.
- re-categorizing present eleven classes of vessels into four main classes, i.e. Class I vessels are those passenger vessels carrying over 12 passengers or floating restaurant, etc; Class II vessels are those vessels either permitted to carry not more than 12 passengers or various types of cargo or work boats, etc; Class III vessels are those fishing vessels, fish carrier or fishing sampans; and Class IV vessels are those vessels possessed or used exclusively for pleasure purpose, etc.
- having more transparent procedures in rationalizing and updating the existing safety requirements currently scattered in various regulations and instructions and to be incorporated in codes of practice i.e. "COP for Safety Standards for Class I, II & III vessels" (PDF) and "COP for Safety Standards for Class IV vessels" (PDF) as required under the new LVO;
- allowing a frame work for authorization of surveys (PDF) to authorized surveyors / organizations or recognized authorities to conduct surveys on low risk local vessels (all vessels except Class I vessels and Class II vessels of those types for the carriage of oil, chemical, noxious liquid substances or dangerous goods) which would give owners more choices on inspection service and flexibility in their operation;
- introducing a new system of tonnage measurement to standardise the method of tonnage measurement for new vessels. The tonnages obtained by the new measurement method will be closer to the international standard and its application is simpler. The new tonnage measurement is stipulated in Chapter IX of "COP for Safety Standards for Class I, II & III vessels" and Annex 8 of "COP for Safety Standards for Class IV vessels".
4. The introduction of a new legislation "Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution) Regulation ("PAPR")" (PDF) which is a subsidiary Regulation of Chapter 413 "Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Ordinance" gazette published on 6 July 2007 and subsequent Commencement Notice (PDF) on 25 April 2008 ). The PAPR imposes restrictions on the emissions from ships of harmful substances such as ozone depleting substances, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds and sulphur oxide. It also seeks to control the quality of fuel oil used on board and regulates shipboard incineration. To ensure compliance, survey and certification will be required for regulated ships of 400 gross tonnage or above. Marine Department Notice No. 46 of 2008 (PDF) gives more information. The commencement date of this new legislation "PAPR" is on 1 June 2008. The following are some of the customer-focused features relating to prevention of air pollution of local vessels under the PAPR:
- Guidance on Management and Handling of Ozone Depleting Substances to be posted on board,
- For local vessels of 400 gross tonnage or above, bunker delivery notes shall be kept on board for at least six months.
- Irrespective of the gross tonnage, a local vessel using heavy grade fuel oil for combustion purposes is required to obtain sample of the fuel oil delivered to the vessel.
- Incinerators other than IMO approved type are strictly prohibited to operate in Hong Kong.
- Diesel engines of over 130 kW output power installed on local vessels and not for emergency purposes shall comply with the NOx emission requirements as per PAPR Reg. 27.
- Some major marine engine manufacturers?Websites (PDF) direct to engine data sheet to show the exhaust emission standard.
5. LVS’s service
statistics (see "Pamphlet" - Annual Statistical
Tables of Marine Department) of recent years are available
for reference. |
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