Marine Department - Marine Officer
Marine Officer
Man: Life is short, we should seize the moment to broaden our horizons when we are young. I choose the seafaring career which is uncommon for a female, because it taught me how to be independent. I am even working as a Marine Officer in the Marine Department now.
Him: Working on an ocean-going vessel gave me the opportunity to experience the cultures of different countries. I have been to Gothenburg in Sweden and Bremerhaven in Germany to experience their architecture and cultural heritage. If you enjoy experiencing different cultures through travelling as much as I do, do consider to pursue a seafaring career. You may even have the chance to join the Marine Department as a Marine Officer to put what you have learnt into practice.
The Duties of Marine Officers
Man: As a Marine Officer, my daily duties are all related to the harbor, such as controlling and regulating the marine traffic in Hong Kong waters, planning effective port management policies, enforcing related maritime laws and planning major fairways and port facilities.
Him: We will also provide professional consultation on the planning and development of ports for major infrastructures, and evaluate the impact of such infrastructures on marine traffic and safety. The Marine Department is also responsible for combating marine pollution. We will hold periodical drills to enhance the crisis management capability of the department. In case of marine accidents, we are also responsible for coordinating maritime search and rescue operations.
Man: So a Marine Officer requires knowledge in seamanship, as well as the design and handling characteristics of different types of vessels. We also need to be familiar with the operations of ocean-going vessels and the relevant professional details to ensure safety and the smooth running of the ports.
The Traits of Marine Officers
Man: Marine Officers have to be bold but cautious. For example, in case of marine accidents, we have to make meticulous response, take different environmental factors into consideration and use our experience accumulated in the seafaring industry to make determined decisions.
Him: We are all on the same boat, we need to have good management skills and a spirit of teamwork to lead colleagues to complete different tasks. We also have to keep close contact with the industry and different stakeholders, so qualities such as leadership and self-confidence which contribute to good communication are very important.
The Career Path of Marine Officers
Him: Each Marine Officer is responsible for different duties, so we will be deployed to different sections and to accumulate experience. After accumulating a certain amount of experience and the performance being appraised and affirmed by seniors and the department, as well as fulfilling the promotion requirements set by the government, Assistant Marine Officer may get promoted to Marine Officer, Senior Marine Officer, Principal Marine Officer and even directorate posts.
The Fascinating Seafaring Career
Man: Before joining the Marine Department, I had worked in the seafaring industry for ten years. I have no regrets looking back because I had experienced things that an ordinary person will never have. Our ship once entered the waters near New Guinea, I managed to break free from a motorboat full of masked men. We received a notification afterwards that another ship in the same waters was hijacked by pirates. This was an unforgettable experience. There were a lot of hardships in these ten years of seafaring, but the magnificent sceneries that I have seen, the foreign cultures and faces of different races that I have encountered made it all worth it.
The Mission of Marine Officers
Him: I hope to put my professional knowledge into practice to reduce marine accidents and to build a better harbour for Hong Kong where I was born and raised.
Man: In the near future, I would like to accumulate experience in different units and gradually advance to the senior management. I wish to become the second-ever female Director of Marine.
