Tag: Hong Kong

Need for speed reductions in restricted visibility As the fog season is approaching, the Director of Marine, Mr Francis Liu, reminded all masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels to make significant speed reductions in restricted visibility.Speaking at the opening of the 2012 Navigational Safety Seminar at the Hong Kong Space Museum this afternoon (January 11), Mr Liu cautioned that in these days of erratic climate change, it is not surprising if mists or fogs appear out of season. Consequently, navigators should post extra lookouts even when moving at low speed.Mr Liu said, "In order to ensure the safety of lives at sea in a range of different weather conditions experienced during the year in Hong Kong, vessel owners, operators and responsible personnel on board must take adequate safety precautions and have in place contingency measures for every intended voyage."Over the past few years, serious or fatal marine accidents involving various types of vessels have occurred at different locations in Hong Kong and in nearby waters. Investigations into the causes of these accidents reveal that most of them can be attributed to inadequate safety preparations or contingency measures before and after the commencement of the voyage concerned.Mr Liu also took the ...

Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Information Note Hong Kong Marine Department issues Merchant Shipping Information Note regarding Clarification Regarding the Application Dates Contained in Regulation B-3 of the BWM Convention as follows:This Note advises the clarification of IMO on the application schedule of the D-2 standard with regard to ships described in Regulation B-3 of the Ballast Water Management Convention.1.In July 2011, at its 62nd session, IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) further clarified the application schedule of the D-2 standard with regard to ships described in Regulation B-3 of the BWM Convention, and agreed to add new explanatory text relevant to ships described in Regulation B-3.4 to Circular BWM.2/Circ.29 and to disseminatethe expanded circular as BWM.2/Circ.29/Rev.1.2. The Circular BWM.2/Circ.29/Rev.1 dated 26 September 2011 can be found on Marine Department Website at "http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/msnote/msin.html" and is attached to this MSIN.3. Shipowners, ship managers, operators and classification societies are advised to follow the clarification when applying the relevant provisions of Regulation B-3 of BWM Convention.Source: Hong Kong Marine Department

After dispute between two Middle East companies A Hong Kong-owned cargo ship has been detained in New Zealand's eastern North Island port of Napier after becoming embroiled in a dispute between two Middle East companies, the Dominion-Post newspaper reported Wednesday.The 16,860-tonne Sheng Mu was boarded and "arrested" by a bailiff on December 5 under an order from the High Court at Auckland.Operated by Hong Kong-based Fenwick Shipping Services, the vessel arrived in Napier on January 2 and discharged fertilizer.It was due to leave for the port of Tauranga Tuesday, said the report.Fenwick's Australian director, Chris Rabbidge, told the newspaper his company was "an innocent party in a dispute between a couple of Middle Eastern companies who moved cargo on this ship a while ago."Rabbidge said the arrest was "entirely unwarranted and, we contend, illegal"."It is part of a dispute between Tradelines LLC, Dubai, (which is) part of the Saif Al Ghurair Group, and Golden Waves FZC, of the United Arab Emirates," he was quoted as saying."Fenwick Shipping of Hong Kong, as manager of the Sheng Mu, urges both parties to settle their dispute without involving an innocent third party and for Tradelines to honor their commitments to the owners."Auckland High ...

Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Information Note The Hong Kong Marine Department issues Note regarding Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 and its Protocol 1988 as follows:The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted Resolutions MSC.308(88) and MSC.309(88) to amend SOLAS.The amendments will enter into force on 1 July 2012.These amendments involve the following chapters of SOLAS:Resolution MSC.308(88)II-1/41 Main source of electrical power and lighting systemsII-2/1 Application of amendmentsII-2/3 The new International Code for Application of Fire TestProcedures, 2010 (2010 FTP Code)II-2/7.4.1.3 Fixed fire detection and fire alarm system in enclosed spaces containing incineratorsV/18.9 Annual testing of Automatic Identification System (AIS)V/23 Pilot transfer equipment and arrangementsAppendix CertificatesResolution MSC.309(88)Appendix CertificatesThe details of these amendments can be found on the website of Marine Department. Shipowners, ship managers, ship operators, masters and classification societies of Hong Kong registered ships are reminded to take note of these amendments and act accordingly.Source: Hong Kong Marine Department

Fixed Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems Hong Kong Marine Department issues Merchant Shipping Information Note. The purpose of this Note is to promulgate IMO resolution MSC.311(88) on the amendments to the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code). The amendments will enter into force on 1 July 2012.At its 88th session in December 2010, the Maritime Safety Committee of theInternational Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted resolution MSC.311(88) to amend the FSS Code.The amendments, which will enter into force on 1 July 2012, modify the requirements of the Fixed Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems under chapter 9 of the FSS Code.The details of these amendments can be found as annex to this Note for ready reference. Shipowners, ship managers, ship operators, ship masters, classification societies and shipbuilders of Hong Kong registered ships are required to note the amendments and act accordingly.Source: Hong Kong Marine Department

Mariners should avoid the nternational Financial Centre on Hong Kong Island The Hong Kong Marine Department issued a notice reminding mariners that the New Year pyrotechnic display will occur off the International Financial Centre on Hong Kong Island at around midnight on New Year's Eve.Numerous spectator boats are expected to be in and around the Central Fairway.Mariners should avoid the vicinity. For more information, click here.Source: Hong Kong Marine Department

With effect from 19 December 2011 The Hong Kong Marine Department issued a notice stating that, for a period of approximately six months, dredging operations will be carried out at the Western Dangerous Goods Anchorage and the adjacent Quarantine & Immigration Anchorage. Mariners should give the work vessels a wide berth.For more information, click hereSource: Hong Kong Marine Department

To test responses in combating oil pollution in Hong Kong waters A joint annual anti-oil pollution exercise, codenamed Oilex 2011, was held last week off Tai Wan To, Lamma Island, to test responses in combating oil pollution in Hong Kong waters.Under the Maritime Oil Spill Response Plan, the Marine Department co-ordinated the exercise, in which other government departments including the Auxiliary Medical Services, Civil Aid Service, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government Flying Service and Hong Kong Police Force as well as oil companies took part.During the exercise, response groups contained a mock oil spill from a beached product tanker carrying 5,200 tonnes of fuel oil which posed threats to the cooling water intakes of Lamma Power Station, Hung Shing Yeh and Lo So Shing beaches, and Sham Wan in the south of Lamma Island, which is a nesting site for Green Turtles.In the wake of the "spillage", the oil combat teams set up a ring of floating barrier booms around the tanker while the shipowner's salvage teams plugged an underwater gash of the tanker. A second defence line of barrier booms was also rigged on the power station's cooling water intakes and on the shorelines near the stranded tanker. ...

Says Wilhelmsen Ships Service China General Manager Shipowners in China and Hong Kong are increasingly adopting international standards for safety systems, as they develop their global operations, according to Chan Chang Hae, General Manager, Product & Technical Services, Wilhelmsen Ships Service. There is still a gap in the understanding of what is required to be fully safety compliant in some sectors of the Asian shipowning community. But as their business is growing globally, so are their efforts to keep up to date with international standards."There are more and more stringent rules and regulations being introduced through the IMO and other regulatory bodies governing safety on board vessels. Shipowners realize that they need to be aware and prepare their vessels in order to be compliant," he added.WSS has been active in informing owners about the 'pipeline' of regulations and providing 'on-the-ground' technical support through the company's network of offices across China.WSS China now offers safety services, Unitor marine products, Unitor and Nalfleet marine chemicals, maritime logistics and ships agency to customers in China and around the world. WSS have five offices in China: Shanghai, Beijing, Qingdao, Dalian and Ningbo. The company's products and services are delivered to 37 ports in China."Our ...

Incident in Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter The initial findings of an investigation by the Marine Department into an incident inside the Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter this morning (October 21) involving the high-speed catamaran First Ferry IX have revealed that the ferry strayed outside the navigational fairway into a mooring area.Initial reports received showed that the First Ferry IX, which has a length of 28.84 metres, was carrying 140 passengers and four crew members and departed from Cheung Chau for Central at 5.10am.The vessel struck a mooring dolphin inside Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter at 5.15am, causing significant casualties onboard.In the incident, 76 people were injured and sent to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals and St John Hospital, comprising 49 males and 27 females, aged from 19 to 82.The ferry sustained significant damage to its starboard bow.The Marine Department investigation showed that a light beacon nearest to the mooring dolphin was lit and functioning properly in accordance with the nautical chart.The investigation into the incident will pay special attention to the speed of the First Ferry IX at the time of the collision.Source: Hong Kong Marine Department