>Press Releases Home > Publications and press releases > Press Releases HK qualifies for tough US QUALSHIP 21 scheme Hong Kong has for the first time qualified for the US Coast Guard's tough QUALSHIP 21 scheme. Thirteen other flag states have also been granted eligibility for the scheme, which aims to eliminate substandard shipping by providing owners who maintain quality operations with incentives. The scheme became effective on January 1, 2001. A Marine Department spokesman said today (July 21) that the US Coast Guard recognised Hong Kong as a quality flag under the scheme because its ships visiting US ports had performed excellently in port inspections in the past three years. "A vessel may not be registered with a flag state that has a detention ratio greater than or equal to 1%, determined on a three-year rolling average, and the flag state must have at least 10 distinct arrivals in each of the past three years," the spokesman said. "In addition, the flag state must have submitted its Self-Assessment of Flag State Performance to the International Maritime Organisation and also it must have provided a copy to the US Coast Guard." Incentives for all quality vessels include a QUALSHIP 21 certificate and vessel names are posted on US Port State Control (PSC) website. "With the certificate, a quality freight ship will be subject to fewer PSC inspections for a period of two years. Future initiatives will include reduced port fees," the spokesman said. An article about the scheme and other local maritime stories are available in the 17th issue of Hong Kong Maritime News to be published in late July. The publication is accessible through the Marine Department's website at www.mardep.gov.hk. Ends/Wednesday, July 21, 2004
		2009 | Important notices | Privacy Policy Last revision date : 11 November 2011