Ships should be adequately manned and maintain a continuous listening watch on VHF radio channel
The Hong Kong Marine Department has issued notice including navigational warnings and related information for the typhoon season.
Owners, agents and charterers are requested to remind their ship masters ofthe need to take precautionary measures during the approach of tropical cyclones. Masters, owners, agents and persons in control of vessels are also remindedof their obligation to comply with any direction issued by the Director of Marineconcerning the safe operation of vessels and the port, or in relation to any matterwhich the Director may give directions under the Laws of Hong Kong.
When a tropical cyclone warning is issued by the Hong Kong Observatory,every vessel which is moored to the following government mooring buoys shall clearanchors and cables and prepare the main propulsion machinery to full powercondition and such vessel shall, if so directed by the Director, leave the mooringbuoy:
”A” mooring : A17, A29, A35, A39, A43
”B” mooring: B2, B3, B4
The master of a ship moored to a government mooring buoy may, at hisdiscretion, drop a bower anchor under foot to lessen the tendency to sheer. Thisshould not impair the efficiency of the mooring, although an anchor should not beused during normal weather conditions.
Masters are reminded that every vessel within the waters of Hong Kongmust maintain a continuous listening watch on the VHF radio channel appropriate tothe VHF sector in which the vessel is located, or another VHF channel as may bespecified by the Vessel Traffic Centre (call sign “MARDEP”). The Centre willbroadcast tropical cyclone information from time to time when the tropical cyclone warning signals have been issued. Masters should also listen to local radio broadcastsfor weather advisory information bulletins. An inadequately manned vessel during the passage of a tropical cyclone notonly places herself at risk but also endangers the port and other vessels. The attentionof masters, owners, agents, and charterers of vessels is therefore drawn to Regulation26(1) of the Shipping and Port Control Regulations, Cap. 313A, which states that:“A ship shall, while within the waters of Hong Kong, have on board atall times such number of crew as is, in the opinion of the Director,qualified and capable of carrying out all duties which may reasonablybe required to ensure the safety of the ship having regard to thecircumstances pertaining thereto.” |
Further information on minimum safe manning levels on ships while in thewaters of Hong Kong can be found in Marine Department website(http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/proc.html).