Hong Kong Marine Department issued a shipping note informing of ten pieces of amended and two pieces of new Hong Kong legislation, which implements the latest technical requirements in relation to the construction and survey of ships and the fire safety requirements of ships stipulated in Chapter II-1 and II-2 of SOLAS.
To implement the latest requirements of SOLAS adopted by the IMO, the following subsidiary regulations have been made under the Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance (Cap.369):
-Coming into force from 27th February 2019:
(1) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Passenger Ship Construction) (Ships Built Before 1 September 1984) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2018 (Amendment) Regulation 2019 (Cap. 369AL);
-Coming into force from 1 March 2019:
(2) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Cargo Ship Construction and Survey) (Ships Built before 1 September 1984) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 (Cap.369R);
(3) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Cargo Ship Construction and Survey) (Ships Built on or after 1 September 1984) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 (Cap.369S);
(4) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Survey) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 (Cap.369T);
(5) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Fire Protection) (Ships Built before 25 May 1980)(Amendment) Regulation 2018 (Cap.369W);
(6) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Fire Appliances) (Ships Built on or after 25 May 1980 but before 1 September 1984) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 (Cap.369X);
(7) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Fire Protection) (Ships Built on or after 1 September 1984) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 (Cap.369Y);
(8) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Passenger Ship Construction) (Ships Built before 1 September 1984) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 (Cap.369AL);
(9) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) (Ships Built on or after 1 September 1984) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 (Cap.369AM);
(10) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Subdivision and Damage Stability of Cargo Ships) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2018 (Cap. 369AT);
(11) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Construction and Survey) Regulation (Cap. 369BD); and
(12) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Fire-fighting Appliances and Fire Protection) Regulation (Cap.369BE).
Shipowners, Ship Managers, Ship Operators, Masters, Classification Societies and Shipbuilders are required to take note and comply with the requirements of these new and amended regulations
