Control of Emission from Vessels in Hong Kong Waters

 

Amendments to the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance (Cap. 313) and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (Cap. 548) to enhance the control of dark smoke emission from vessels have been gazetted on 18 July 2014 and come into immediate effect.

The details are set out as follows:-

Shipping and Port Control Ordinance (Cap. 313)

Pursuant to the amended Section 50 of Cap. 313, it is an offence for any vessel in the waters of Hong Kong to emit dark smoke which is as dark as, or darker than, Shade 2 on the Ringelmann Chart for 3 minutes or more continuously at any one time. In case of contravention, the owner of the vessel, his agent and the master each commits an offence and is liable to a fine of HK$25,000 for a first conviction, and to a fine of HK$50,000 for any subsequent conviction.

Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (Cap. 548)

Pursuant to the amended Section 51 of Cap. 548, it is an offence for any local vessel in the waters of Hong Kong to emit dark smoke which is as dark as, or darker than, Shade 2 on the Ringelmann Chart for 3 minutes or more continuously at any one time. In case of contravention, the owner of the vessel, his agent and the coxswain each commits an offence and is liable to a fine of HK$10,000 for a first conviction, and to a fine of HK$25,000 for any subsequent conviction.

If an authorized officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting that the provision for dark smoke emission has been contravened in relation to a local vessel, the officer may direct the owner or coxswain of the vessel, to deliver the vessel, within the time and at the place specified in the direction, to the Director of Marine for ascertaining whether dark smoke emits from the vessel. A person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with the aforementioned direction commits an offence and is liable to a fine of HK$5,000.

Masters/coxswains, owners, agents and operators are required to observe the new requirements and to exercise due diligence to maintain the engine and fuel system onboard their vessels in good conditions so as to avoid excessive dark smoke emission.
 

Source: Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.92 of 2014

GAC Hong Kong at [email protected]