Marine Industrial Safety - Marine Department

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Services Areas - <Brief and Updates>

Marine Industrial Safety Section (MISS) of Marine Department is the enforcing agency for;--
1. the Part V of the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance, Cap. 313 and one of its subsidiary regulations, i.e. the Shipping and Port Control (Works) Regulation, which are mainly for the purposes of regulating and controlling solely the ocean-going vessels when they are in the Port of Hong Kong;
2. the Part VIII of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance, Cap 548 and one of its subsidiary regulations, i.e. the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels)(Works) Regulation, which are mainly for the purposes of regulating and controlling the local vessels (also the river trade vessels from Mainland and Macao) including safety issues in the waters of Hong Kong;
3. the Freight Containers (Safety) Ordinance, Cap 506, and its four subsidiary regulations. ; and
4. Section 3A of the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Carriage of Cargoes and Oil Fuel) Regulation, Cap. 369AV .
The core activities of the Section are:-
1. For (Works) Regulations, under Cap 313 and Cap 548
  - Monitoring the works being carried out on board all vessels which are under repair, being broken up, engaged in cargo handling or marine construction operations, so as to ensure their compliance with safety requirements stipulated in the statutes through safety inspections on vessels; and issuing "Repair Permit" as a safety control means on ship repairing and ship-breaking;
  - Approving and Monitoring mandatory safety training courses;
2. For Freight Container (Safety) Ordinance, Cap 506
  - Promoting, approval and monitoring the safe construction and use of freight containers;
3. For Section 3A of Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Carriage of Cargoes and Oil Fuel) Regulation, Cap. 369AV
  - Monitoring the verification of container mass through audits and random inspection;
4. For all of the above
  - Promoting safe working practices through publications and seminars;
  - Conducting offence investigation into marine industrial accidents and instituting follow-up actions;
  - Updating and revising legislation, codes of practices and safety standards;

Services Information

"Air Test Certificate" required for works carried out on vessels (where no signs of the presence of any dangerous goods in the confined space or enclosed space)

"The Code of Practice – Working in Confined Space" launched in October 2013 suggests a safe system of work to be applied to safely manage the ‘works' carried out in confined space (or enclosed space) on vessels. The system demands the space atmosphere to be tested and the risks to be assessed by qualified persons (Competent Persons or Approved Persons).

In confined space which has no signs of the presence of any dangerous goods (which can be in the form of gas, vapour, fluid or solid), the air test and the risk assessment can be conducted by a Competent Person. The requirement to be a recognized Competent Person can be found in the above-mentioned code or by clicking here to browse into a list of the Competent Persons who have indicated their interest to provide air test and risk assessment service to the industry.

[Competent Persons having the interest to provide their service to the industry and wishing to make known to the public via the website of Marine Department can complete the application form and forward it to Marine Industrial Safety Section of Marine Department.]

For details, please refer to "The Code of Practice – Working in Confined Space" at the links below.

"Gas-Free Certificate" or "Air Test Certificate" required for works in confined space (or enclosed space) onboard vessels

"The Code of Practice – Working in Confined Space" launched in October 2013 suggests a safe system of work to be applied to safely manage the "works" carried out in confined space (or enclosed space) on vessels. The system demands the space atmosphere to be tested and the risks to be assessed by qualified persons (Competent Persons or Approved Persons).

In confined space which has no signs of the presence of any dangerous goods (which can be in the form of gas, vapour, fluid or solid), the air test and the risk assessment can be conducted by a Competent Person. The requirement to be a recognized Competent Person can be found in the above-mentioned code or by clicking here to browse into a list of the Competent Persons who have indicated their interest to provide air test and risk assessment service to the industry.

[Competent Persons having the interest to provide their service to the industry and wishing to make known to the public via the website of Marine Department can complete the application form and forward it to Marine Industrial Safety Section of Marine Department.]

"Gas Free Certificate" required for works carried out on vessels (where there are signs of the presence of fossil fuel or other dangerous goods in the confined space or enclosed space)

Where the space shows sign of presence of fossil fuel or other dangerous goods, the space atmosphere has to be tested and risk assessed by an Approved Person. In particular, when "hot work" is required to carry out in an atmosphere possibly containing flammable gas, a "Gas-Free Certificate"(click here to see the form) has to be obtained prior the work being carried out.

"Gas-Free Certificate" shall be in a specified form and has to be issued by a person (Approved Person) approved by the Director of Marine under Section 4 of the Dangerous Goods (Shipping) Regulation 2012, Chapter 295F of the Laws of HKSAR. You may click here to browse into the page listing the Approved Persons.

[For candidates wishing to be an Approved Person, please click here for details of application and relevant requirements. Written application can be forwarded to the Marine Department, Marine Industrial Safety Section, Room 2315, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong. Telephone enquiry can be made to (852) 2852 4472.]

For details, please refer to "The Code of Practice – Working in Confined Space" at the links below.

Downloadable Forms

Publications ( Marine Industrial Safety )

Marine Industrial Accident Statistics

Contact Us

Enquiries or requests for information on matters relating to marine industrial safety or the law enforcement aspects of marine industrial accidents can be addressed to the Senior Shipping Safety Officer at the following address:

Marine Industrial Safety Section, Room 2315, 23/F., Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
Telephone (852) 2852 4477; Fax (852) 2543 7209

Enquiries or requests for information on matters relating to safety investigation into marine industrial accidents can be addressed to the Senior Surveyor of Ships/Marine Accident Investigation at the following address:

Marine Accident Investigation Section, Room 2103, 21/F., Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
Telephone (852) 2852 4496; Fax (852) 2543 0805