1. The Marine Industrial Safety Section (MISS) is the enforcing agency for
    1. the Part V of the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance (Cap. 313) and its subsidiary regulations, the Shipping and Port Control (Works) Regulation (Cap. 313 X) ;
    2. the Part VIII of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessel) Ordinance (Cap. 548) and its subsidiary regulations, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels)(Works) Regulation (Cap. 548 I) ;
    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).
    This section is to ensure that vessels under repair, being broken up, engaged in cargo handling or marine construction in the waters of Hong Kong, comply with safety requirements stipulated in the statutes through conducting marine industrial safety inspection on vessels.
  2. MISS deploys 3 motor launches for its staff to carry out the daily spot-check of vessels which are under repair, being broken up, engaged in cargo handling or marine construction operations in the port, floating docks, shipyards, marine construction sites and public cargo working areas, and checking safety conditions of cargo handling equipment and freight containers. Whenever necessary, warning letters, safety directions or even prosecutions will be served to the marine industrial operators.
  3. In the past, fatal and serious marine industrial accidents occurred every year. Each stakeholder should work together, pay more attentions and make greater efforts to minimize it.
  4. This section published a series of safety pamphlets, safety guides and other publicity materials and also conducted safety seminars in cooperation with Occupational Safety and Health Council, Labour Department and some main contractors for the promotion of marine industrial safety. Moreover, this section also compiled various codes of practice under the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance (Cap. 313) and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (Cap. 548) for the industry to download, including 7 sets issued in accordance with (Cap. 313) and 8 sets issued in accordance with (Cap. 548) .
  5. Marine Department has arranged with Maritime Services Training Institute and other training providers to run safety training courses for shipboard cargo handling workers and works supervisors and shipboard crane operators engaged in works. The relevant safety training courses can be available to the crewmembers of mainland river trade vessels through three recognised training institutes in the mainland.
  6. As to the requirements of the section 3A of the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Carriage of Cargoes and Oil Fuel) Regulation (Cap. 369 AV) which has been effective in July 2016, MISS deploys staff from time to time to randomly inspect the shipment records in relation to the packed containers, and check the verified gross mass (VGM) for containers carrying cargo to ensure compliance of regulation.
  7. MISS will continue to enhance its service quality. Apart from routine inspections, this section will also perform target-orientated inspections. For marine construction works, joint safety inspections with Labour Department will be kept going. In addition, MISS will actively participate in the relevant safety promotional events and meetings. Through these safety promotion activities, improvement of safety awareness and culture of the industry is anticipated.
  8. MISS is currently staffed with 1 Senior Shipping Safety Officer (as Section Head), 3 Shipping Safety Officers, 1 Surveyor of Ships, 1 Ship Inspector, 7 Assistant Ship Inspectors and 2 clerical staffs.