Tag: Hong Kong

Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Information Note The Hong Kong Marine Department issues Merchant Shipping Information Note regarding Guidelines for the Control and Management of ships' biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species as follows:This Note draws attention of the Shipowners, Ship Managers, Operators and Masters to the Guidelines, adopted by MEPC 62 in July 2011, for the control and management of ships' biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species.1. In July 2011, at its 62nd session, IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adopted the "2011 Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships' Biofouling to Minimize the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species" by resolution MEPC.207(62). The main purpose of these Guidelines is to provide a globally consistent approach to the management of biofouling, which identifies as an important means of transferring invasive aquatic species that may pose threats to the environment, human health, property and resources.2. The Guidelines as annexed to IMO resolution MEPC. 207(62) can be found on Marine Department Website at "http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/msnote/msin.html" attached to this MSIN.3. Shipowners, Ship Managers, Operators and Masters are advised to note the Guidelines.Source: Hong Kong Marine Department

Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Information Note The Hong Kong Marine Department issues Merchant Shipping Information Note regarding Guidelines for the Implementation of the Hong Kong International Convection for the Safe and Enviromentally Sound Recycling of Ships as follows:This Note informs that MEPC of IMO at its 62nd session has adopted guidelines aiming to develop the inventory of hazardous materials present on board and the ship-specific ship recycling plan in accordance with Regulation 5 and 9 of the Convention respectively.1. In 2009, IMO adopted "The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009" ("HK Convention"), which aimed at ensuring that both new and existing ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment.2. In July 2011, at its 62nd session, IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adopted the following guidelines as required by the Hong Kong Convention:a. Resolution MEPC.196(62) -- "2011 Guidelines for the Development of the Ship Recycling Plan" ; andb. Resolution MEPC.197(62) -- "2011 Guidelines for the Development of theInventory of Hazardous Materials".3. The main purpose of these Guidelines is to provide with recommendations for ...

Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Information Note The Hong Kong Marine Department issues Merchant Shipping Information Note regarding Guidelines for Inspection of Antifouling Systems on ships as follows:This Note advises that IMO has adopted the "2011 Guidelines for Inspection of Anti-fouling Systems on Ships".1. The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) at its 62nd session in July 2011 adopted, by resolution MEPC.208(62), the "2011 Guidelines for Inspection of Anti-fouling Systems on Ships", and revoked the previous guidelines adopted by resolution MEPC.105(49).2. The resolution MEPC.208(62) can be found as an attachment to this Note on the webpage of Marine Department (http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/msnote/msin.html).3. Shipowners, Ship Managers, Ship Operators, Masters and Classification Societies of Hong Kong registered ships are advised to note the information contained in the Guidelines.Source: Hong Kong Marine Department

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Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Information Note The Marine Department of Hong Kong issues Merchant Shipping Note regarding Issuance of the revised form of supplement to the Internatioal Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) Certificate as follows:This Note advises that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued a circular (MEPC.1/Circ.757) informing the revised form of Supplement to the IAPP Certificate with respect to the revised MARPOL Annex VI shall be issued in line with the provisions of MSC-MEPC.5/Circ.6.1. IMO issued a circular MEPC.1/Circ.718 in April 2010 providing a revised form of Supplement to the IAPP certificate and urged the use of the revised form at the earliest possible opportunity when issuing the Supplement in accordance with the revised MARPOL Annex VI as adopted by resolution MEPC.176(58) that entered into force on 1 July 2010.2. The IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) at its 61st session in October 2010 adopted, by resolution MEPC.194(61), the amendments to Appendix I of the revised MARPOL Annex VI (the revised form of Supplement to the IAPP Certificate) and the said amendments shall enter into force on 1 February 2012.3. In view of the adoption of the resolution MEPC.194(61), the MEPC at its 62nd session in July 2011 approved a ...

Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Information Note The Marine Department of Hong Kong issues Merchant Shipping Note regarding Special Requirements for the use or carriage of oils in the Antarctic Area as follows:This Note advises that a new Chapter 9 to MARPOL Annex I - "Special requirements for the use or carriage of oils in the Antarctic Area" enters into force internationally on 1 August 2011.1. On 26 March 2010, Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization had adopted, by Resolutions MEPC.189(60), a new Chapter 9 -- "Special requirements for the use or carriage of oils in the Antarctic Area" to MARPOL Annex I. The amendment comes into force on 1 August 2011.2. The resolution MEPC.189(60) can be found as attachment to this Note on the webpage of Marine Department ( http://www.mardep.gov.hk ).3. All parties concerned are advised to note the information provided in the document and act accordingly.Source: Hong Kong Marine Department

The fire resulted in serious injury of a mechanic and damage to the engine room The Marine Department of Hong Kong issues Merchant Shippinh Information Note regarding Engine room fire cause by improper oil filter maintenance as follows:A fire broke out in the engine room of a Hong Kong registered ship while she was en route from China to India. The fire resulted in serious injury of a mechanic and damage to the engine room. The fire was caused by improper maintenance of the oil filter for the generator engine.This Notes draws the attention of the shore management and shipboard staff to ensure proper maintenance of ship's machinery and lessons learnt from this incident.The Incident1. A fire broke out in the engine room of a Hong Kong registered ship while en routing from China to India. A mechanic suffered serious injury and the accident caused damage to the engine room.2. The investigation into the accident revealed that the fire was caused by improper maintenance of the lubricating oil filter for the generator engine.The third engineer did not use the maker's tool and also did not follow the maker's instruction to bleed off the air from the lubricating oil filter after ...

Hong Kong-registered ships visiting US ports performed excellently in PSC The quality of ships flying the Hong Kong flag has been further confirmed as Hong Kong was among the six flag administrations added this year to the Qualship 21 programme.The Qualship 21 programme, or the Quality Shipping for the 21st Century programme in full, is an initiative that has been implemented by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) since 2001.A flag state qualifies for Qualship 21 status after its ships have attained a USCG Port State Control (PSC) three years' rolling average detention ratio of less than 1.0 per cent, with at least 10 distinct arrivals each year. In addition, the flag state shall have undergone the International Maritime Organization's Voluntary Member State Audit Scheme (VMSAS) with effective implementation of corrective actions.The Qualship 21 programme aims to eliminate the operation of substandard ships by providing incentives to owners who maintain quality operations. Ships qualified under the programme are subject to fewer PSC inspections by the USCG while in US waters.A Marine Department spokesman said on August 1 that the USCG recognised Hong Kong as a quality flag under the programme because Hong Kong-registered ships visiting US ports had performed excellently ...

Amendments will come into force on 1 January 2012 Hong Kong Marine Department issues Merchant Shipping Information Note regarding Amendments to the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972.This Note refers to Shipowners, Ship Managers, Ship Operator, Masters, Classification Societies and Terminal OperatorsThe purpose of this Note is to advise the parties concerned of the amendments to the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972 that will enter into force internationally on 1 January 2012.1. On 3 December 2010, the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at its 88th session adopted the resolution MSC.310(88) to amend CSC 1972. The amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2012.2. The amendments involve the following annexes of CSC:I Regulations for the Testing, Inspection, Approval and Maintenance of ContainersII Structural Safety Requirements and TestsIII Control and Verification (this annex is newly added)3. The details of these amendments can be found on the website of Marine Department (http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/msnote/msin.html) as attachment to this Note. Shipowners, ship managers, ship operators, masters, classification societies of Hong Kong registered ships andterminal operators are required to note the amendments and act accordingly.Source: Hong Kong Marine Department

The rope killed two workmen at the berth. Hong Kong Marine Department issues Merchant Shipping Information Note regarding Fatal accident involving parting of mooring rope during vessel's berthing. This Note refers to all Shipowners, Ship Managers, Ship Operators, Masters, Officers and crew on board Hong Kong registered ships.During berthing of a Hong Kong registered container vessel in Kobe, Japan, a mooring rope on board the vessel parted and killed two workmen at the berth.This Note draws theattention of the shipowners, ship managers, ship operators, Masters, officers and crew on board Hong Kong registered ships on the important lessons learnt from this accident.The Incident1. During berthing of a Hong Kong registered ship at a container terminal in Kobe, Japan, a mooring rope on board the vessel parted. Snapping of the rope hit and killed two workmen engaged in the mooring operation.2. The Japan Transport Safety Board conducted the investigation into the accident and the report can be found at http://www.mlit.go.jp/jtsb/marrep.html. The findings of the investigation are:a) While the vessel was berthing, the pilot was actually in command of the vessel and under the pilot's advice, the Master and the Chief Officer at the bridge were directing the Second Officer and the ...