Issue No. 8 March 2002 DawnDawn ofof newnew eraera forfor MarineMarine DepartmentDepartment The opening of the up- strategic locations for prompt identification of ships. graded Vessel Traffic “Its superb computing power enables simultaneous Centre (VTC) and Maritime Rescue tracking of 4,000 moving and 1,000 stationary targets as Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) at the same premises marks the dawn of a new era for the Marine Department in port traffic management as well as search and rescue services. The two centres, both situated on the 5th floor of the Outer Pier of Macau Ferry Terminal in Central, is expected to boost communication and co-operation between VTC and MRCC in dealing with maritime emergency situations. Officially opening both centres on February 1, Hong ▲ Secretary for Economic Services Ms Sandra Lee, Hong Kong Kong Port and Maritime Board (PMB) Chairman Sir Port and Maritime Board chairman Sir Gordon Wu (middle) Gordon Wu said the investment in establishing the new and Director of Marine Tsui Shung-yiu officially open the VTC premises for the two centres was worthwhile as it saved and MRCC resources as well as strengthened responses to marine well as displaying of traffic information on an electronic emergencies. chart.” “This increases the efficiency of the port and the A new Digital Selective Calling system together with a effectiveness in saving lives from accidents at sea,” he said, search and rescue planning software have been installed to adding that the enhanced services are expected to contribute enhance the MRCC operations. to securing Hong Kong's position as a leading shipping centre He also thanked colleagues and logistics hub in the region. in the Electrical and Mechanical Sir Gordon also praised MRCC’s officers for their vigilance Services Department, and dedication in saving lives. Architectural Services Secretary for Economic Services Ms Sandra Lee and Department, Information Director of Marine Tsui Shung-yiu also co-officiated at the Technology Services ceremony. Department, Holland Institute of Director of Marine Tsui Shung-yiu, who also spoke at the ▲ Marine officials explain Traffic Technology B.V. and ceremony, said: “In addition to the radar and VHF direction how MRCC works to Pacific Century Cyber Works for finders, the new Vessel Traffic Services system had been Secretary for Economic their assistance in upgrading the incorporated with Automatic Identification System Services Ms Sandra Lee centres. receivers and closed-circuit televisions mounted at I N S I D E Consular Assistance Hong Kong Shipping Korean Register of Hong Kong port’s 22 for Hong Kong 66 Register reaches 77 Shipping to service 1111 total cargo flagged ships new record 14 Hong Kong registered throughput records million GT ships 2% hike in 2001 Special Edition with 4 more pages of news and photographs Page 2 Consular Assistance for Hong Kong flagged ships The joint assistance provided by ▲ Ms Zhang Xin, Director, Consular Department of the the Marine Department and the Office of the Commissioner Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Republic of China in Hong HKSAR to owners and operators of Hong Kong provides a great deal of consular assistance for Kong registered vessels who face Hong Kong flagged ships. problems in other jurisdictions has given General Manager of the Shipping Registry and the local register a big boost. Seafarers’ Branch So Ping- The consular assistance from PRC chi works closely with her embassies worldwide to Hong Kong flagged ships is described as the greatest benefit derived from the “one-country, two systems” principle. “The attractiveness of the Hong Kong Shipping Register has been further enhanced by the responsive and reliable consular assistance provided together with the package for ship registration in Hong Kong,” said the General Manager accept three violent African stowaways. allegations by other stevedores that the of the Shipping Registry and Seafarers’ And in December 2001, another Hong deaths were caused by the ship crew’s Branch (SRSB) So Ping-chi. Kong registered vessel, when carrying out orders to the two deceased persons to For example, in November 2001, the a stowaway search after completion of carry out the stowaway search. crew of a Hong Kong registered bulk cargo loading at a port in Western Africa, After the local PRC embassies' carrier discovered three stowaways on discovered two dead stevedores inside a intervention, the two cases were board their ship while en route to the port cargo hold. eventually solved in a satisfactory of Antwerp after loading cargo in Africa. Local police prevented the ship from manner. Although the vessel faced a very tight sailing and confiscated the master and the schedule, the port authority refused to crew’s licences and documents following Page 3 More Chinese shipowners to consider Hong Kong Shipping Register The Marine Department has “We have three such liaison meetings received positive feedback from per year, rotating between Guangdong more Chinese shipowners and shipping province, Hong Kong and Shanghai,” said company representatives that they will MD’s Chief Assistant Registrar Chan consider registering their ships with the Ming-yau. Hong Kong Shipping Register (HKSR). The next meeting is scheduled to be A Department delegation headed by held in Shenzhen in March this year with Director of Marine Tsui Shung-yiu a Shenzhen liaison group. received the good news during a Hong Besides obtaining shipowners’ Kong-Shanghai liaison meeting that was feedback on improving the HKSR’s held on board “Zhou Zhuang Fang” in ▲ Director of Marine Tsui Shung-yiu speaks services, the Marine Department also put Zhou Zhuang, Shanghai on December 6, at the Hong Kong-Shanghai liaison out a message that it will not compromise meeting in Shanghai 2001. (The barge-like building was on safety and quality of the Hong Kong specially built for the APEC meeting last Shipping Register. year.) ▲ Mr Tsui giving his And Mr Tsui conducted the session on viewpoint at the the same chair in which President Jiang meeting Zemin was seated during the APEC meeting. Other participants at the Hong Kong- Shanghai liaison meeting included Chinese shipowners, shipping company representatives and members of the China Maritime Safety Administration and the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration. ▲ Participants at the Hong Kong-Shanghai Liaison Meeting ▲ The interior of the barge-like building in Zhou Zhuang where the Hong Kong-Shanghai Liaison Meeting took place on December 6, 2001 Page 4 Ship registration made easier with one-stop shop service The Marine Department has option to apply for their ship station licence Seafarers’ Branch (SRSB) is the major officially opened a one-stop shop directly from OFTA instead of going service provider in the Department for service to process all ship registration through the one-stop shop, said MD’s shipowners, all offices under the SRSB, related applications at the third floor of the Chief Assistant Registrar Chan Ming-yau. namely the Shipping Registry, the Harbour Building from January 30. The one-stop shop service was Mercantile Marine Office and the Instead of having to apply for ship established in response to clients’ Seafarers' Certification Section, have now registration at the Harbour Building in comments that they were inconvenienced been grouped together as one single Central and ship station licence from the when making applications for trading office. Telecommunications Authority (OFTA)’s certificates from various sections of the About 30 guests from 25 organisations office in Wan Chai as in the past, Marine Department and other including the media, shipping companies shipowners could now make all necessary Government departments that were and solicitor firms attended a simple applications at one point. remote from the Shipping Registry. opening ceremony of the ‘one-stop-shop’ However, shipowners still had the As the Shipping Registry and office on January 30. ▲ Deputy Marine Director Tsang Man-ching (from left), Director of Marine Tsui ▲ So Ping-chi speaks at the opening Shung-yiu and Assistant Director of Marine K.M.Varghese officially open the Hong Kong Shipping Register’s one-stop shop. Watching on is General Manager of the Shipping Registry and Seafarers’ Branch So Ping-chi ▲ Some of the attendees at the Hong Kong Shipping Register’s one-stop shop opening ceremony Page 5 More co-operation on port management for HKSAR and Guangdong The Marine Department (MD) and operations and maintain navigation safety Voluntary safety training courses were the Guangdong Maritime Safety and security in the waters of both places, introduced last year to cargo handling Administration (GDMSA) have agreed to ” Mr Tsang said. personnel on board river trade and co-ordinate more recognised training Other members of the Hong Kong licensed vessels pending the courses in Hong Kong and Guangdong delegation included the Assistant Director implementation of mandatory safety to improve, among others, standards of of Marine Lee Ka-mo; the General training in about a year’s time. shipboard container handling safety. Manager of the Local Vessel Safety The meeting was also briefed on the This was confirmed by the Deputy Branch Lee Kwok-fai; the General proposed draft of the “Codes of Practice Director of Marine Tsang Man-ching, who Manager of the Shipping Registry and for Strength Calculation, Test and led a Hong Kong delegation to attend the Seafarers’ Branch So Ping-chi and the Examination of Derrick Cranes on Local seventh regular meeting between MD and Senior Marine Officer of Harbour Patrol Vessels”. Participants exchanged views GDMSA in Guangzhou between February Services Summy Chu Wah-sau. on crew training, certification system of 6-7, 2002. The Guangdong delegation was coastal, river trade and licensed vessels, Describing the meeting as ‘constructive headed by the Director General of co-operation arrangement on the and cordial’, Mr Tsang said both sides GDMSA Wang Xiang Tao.