The weighing equipment operator in Hong Kong who is interested in obtaining Marine Department"s approval shall submit the required application materials as follows:-
Application Materials Required
- Completed application form of weighing equipment approval. The application form can be downloaded here;
- Copy of Hong Kong Business Registration Certificate of weighing equipment operator;
- Photos of the weighing equipment which will be used for weighing service; and
- Calibration proof of weighing equipment from the calibration done not more than 12 months (including tolerance report). The testing weight applied should be gradually increased to 50,000 kg. The proof should be issued by Registered Professional Engineer (Mechanical or Marine and Naval Architecture discipline).
Calibration of Weighing Equipment
- Calibration of weighing equipment has to be carried out in the presence of Registered Professional Engineer.
- Standard or certified weights have to be used in the calibration. Measurement should be taken for comparison at intervals of 2,000 kg till the approved weighing capacity is reached.
- When calibration has exceeded half the approved weighing capacity and the calibration result is favourable (weight deviation of all measurements not more than +/- 50 kg), the equipment can be used to prove the weight of any load falls in the calibrated range. Such load can be used as proved weight for using in the remaining calibration.
- Photos of the calibration process to be taken and submit together with the calibration report to Marine Department. (Photos needed – 1 shot each of the weighing equipment with the standard weights whilst calibrating at 24,000 kg and 48,000 kg)
- Any calibration result in doubt, Marine Department has the right to request the calibration to be re-done at requirement specified.
Fee
The entire application, approval, result publication and compliance inspection are free of charge.
Submission
Please submit the application materials to the following address:
Marine Industrial Safety Section
Marine Department
Room 2315, 23/F, Harbour Building
38 Pier Road, Central
Hong Kong
Any fraudulent or concealed reporting on the information of weighing equipment with intention to obtain approval is an offence. Marine Department will initiate prosecution and revoke the approval once confirmed.
Application Result
The processing time depends on the circumstances of individual applications and the number of applications received at a particular time. If necessary, inspection on the weighing equipment and relevant weighing records will be performed to ensure its normal operation. If the application is successful, the company name of the applicant, address and the details of weighing equipment such as maker, model, serial number, type, etc. will be published in the Marine Department"s webpage for public access.
Issuance of Weighing Reports
Once the gross mass of a laden container is verified, the weighing equipment operator should issue immediately a Weighing Report to the service requestor (or his representative). Sample of the Weighing Report can be found at here. The Weighing Report should include information of:
- Name of weighing equipment operator (company),
- Approval number of weighing equipment,
- Address of weighing equipment,
- Date of weighing performed,
- Container number,
- Seal number,
- Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of the container,
- Name of equipment operator, and
- Signature of equipment operating staff or company chop.
The VGM figure on the Weighing Report should be provable by corresponding weighing slips printed out from the printer directly connected to the weighing equipment. Weighing slips capable providing above-mentioned information can be taken as an acceptable Weighing Report. However, weighing report of either format should be used and the weighing equipment approval number should only appear on the adopted Weighing Report. Weighing reports and weighing slips should be kept for at least one year and immediate available for inspection upon requested. They can be stored electronically in a computer.
Maintenance of approval
Annual Calibration
The weighing equipment operator is required to schedule at least one calibration for the approved weighing equipment within 12 months from the previous calibration. The calibration proof shall be issued by Registered Professional Engineer (Mechanical or Marine and Naval Architecture discipline). Weighing equipment operator is required arrange the calibration to be done promptly on or before the expiry date of the approval. The validity of approval can be found in the list of approved weighing equipment posted in the website of Marine Department. Any weighing beyond the expiry of approval will not be recognized.
Once the calibration is done, weighing equipment operator should inform Marine Department via email (or fax) and the calibration proof (issued by Registered Professional Engineer) is submitted together with the photos of the calibration process (via email or post) no later than 7 calendar days. Any late calibration or submission could render the withdrawal of approval.
Marine Department must be informed immediately of following:
- Discontinuation of service.
- Relocation of weighing equipment
(Re-calibration of weighing equipment after relocation is required.) - Replacement of critical components of weighing equipment (e.g. weight measuring and indication device)
(Re-application for approval is required.) - Severe damage of weighing equipment
(Re-calibration of weighing equipment after repair is required.) - Change of weighing equipment operator
(Re-application for approval is required.)
Report channel:
Email: vgm@mardep.gov.hk
Fax: 2543 7209