(a) the Part V of the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance, Cap. 313 and one of its subsidiary regulations, the Shipping and Port Control (Works) Regulation (Cap 313 X),

(b) the Part VIII of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessel) Ordinance, Cap 548 and one of its subsidiary regulations, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels)(Works) Regulation (Cap 548 I) and

(c) the Freight Containers (Safety) Ordinance, Cap 506 and its subsidiary regulations

This section is to ensure that vessels under repair, being broken up, engaged in cargo handling or marine construction in Hong Kong, comply with safety requirements stipulated in the statutes through conducting regular safety inspection on vessels.

2. The MISS deploys 3 motor launches for its staff to carry out spot-check of vessels which are under repair, being broken up, engaged in cargo handling or marine construction operations in the port, floating docks, shipyards, marine construction sites and public cargo working areas, and checking safety conditions of cargo handling equipments and freight containers. In 2010, staff of MISS carried out 8,431 safety inspections by spot-checks on vessels where works were being carried out.

3. In 2010, there were 195 casualties occurred in marine industrial operations as compared to the previous two years at 350 and 221; and there were 6 fatal accidents and 10 serious accidents. Over the three years from 2008 to 2010, the average numbers of fatal and serious accidents are 3 and 31 per year. There is a steady trend of improvement in the total number of marine industrial accident occurrences.

4. In order to further improve the safety of works carried out on vessels, amendments to the controlling safety legislation were proposed by Marine Department in 1996. Subsequently, amendments to the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance (Cap 313) have been enacted in December 1999, which has empowered the Director of Marine to issue codes of practice for the practical guidance on safe working practices for the industry, such as examination of cargo handling lifting gear and equipment. Since 2 January 2007, the subsidiary legislations i.e. the Shipping and Port Control (Works) Regulation (Cap 313 X) and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels)(Works) Regulation (Cap 548 I), [(Works) Regulations], have come into force.

5. For the implementation of the (Works) Regulations, the following activities have been prepared:-

(a) 6 sets of codes of practice for Cap 313 and 7 sets of codes of practice for Cap 548 have been notified in the gazettee for their implementation effective from 2 January 2007.

(b) Introducing the requirements for mandatory safety training of workers engaged in cargo handling and crane operators and works supervisors engaged in works, and general duties on employers and employees, Marine Department has arranged with Maritime Services Training Institute and other training providers to run safety training courses for shipboard cargo handling workers to give them basic knowledge in cargo handling safety and to increase their safety awareness. In Hong Kong, about 41,000 workers have been trained with basic cargo handling safety knowledge, 5,200 with works supervision know-how with safety knowledge and 2,600 with crane operation safety knowledge. These safety training courses in recent years are also available to crewmembers of mainland river trade vessels through several training institutes in Guangdong and Guangxi, China.

(c) Promotion of safe working practices is effected by the publication and distribution of a series of safety pamphlets, safety guides and other publicity materials and also conducting seminars at regular intervals in cooperation with Occupational Safety and Health Council and training institutes. There were 1,063 promotional activities performed and 104 warning letters or safety directions issued to marine industrial operators in 2010.

6. New Initiatives of MISS in 2011-2012 are to revise the Code of Practice on ”Shipboard Container Handling on Local Vessels” and the compilation of a code of practices for working in confined spaces.

7. MISS is staffed with 1 Senior Shipping Safety Officer (as Section Head), 5 Shipping Safety Officers, 7 Assistant Ship Inspectors and 2 clerical staffs.