International Maritime Organisation

The HKSAR Government participates in IMO activities as an associate member in the name of Hong Kong, China. The Hong Kong maritime industry is consulted on, and kept well informed of, all the issues discussed in the IMO that may affect the HKSAR. In 2005, government officers attended one conference and 18 IMO meetings on various maritime issues in London. These issues related to the standards of training and certification for seafarers, fire protection, bulk carrier safety, radio communications, life-saving appliances, safety of navigation, ballast water management, prevention of marine pollution, casualty statistics and investigation and maritime security.

Port State Control

The department is actively involved in the technical cooperation programmes under the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (PSC) in the Asia-Pacific Region ('Tokyo MOU').

The department also participated in various working groups under the Tokyo MOU in formulating general policies, evaluation of technical cooperation programmes, analysis of detailed statistics and improvement of the computerised information system and database exchange. Hong Kong is currently the leader of the Advisory Group on Technical Cooperation Programmes and the Intersessional Group on Statistics.

In 2005, the department continued to conduct daily Port State Control inspections, including inspections at weekends whenever practicable. PSC officers of the department conducted 495 inspections of ocean-going vessels, amounting to 11.5 per cent of ocean-going vessels visiting Hong Kong. Some 91.1 per cent of these vessels had deficiencies to be rectified.

Maritime Search and Rescue

The Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the Marine Department has the search and rescue responsibility for maritime distress situations occurring within Hong Kong waters and the major part of the South China Sea covering a sea area of about 450 000 square nautical miles.

The centre is manned 24 hours a day by professional staff and is equipped with comprehensive communication equipment and a shore-based Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. It coordinates search and rescue operations in conjunction with other government departments and ships on the high seas. The centre's staff regularly hold maritime safety seminars for fishermen's associations, yacht clubs and the shipping communities in both Hong Kong and Guangdong Province.

During the year, the centre handled 227 cases of vessel emergencies, 62 of which developed into search and rescue operations, including 13 medical evacuations. A total of 330 persons were rescued.

In recognition of its expertise, the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre has been selected as a member of the IMO/International Civil Aviation Organisation Joint Working Group for Search and Rescue.