Hong Kong Ordinances

MERCHANT SHIPPING (SAFETY) ORDINANCE - SECT 33

Certificates of Convention ships not registered in Hong Kong

(Past version on 30/06/1997).

Convention ships of other countries

(1) The Director may, at the request of the government of a country to which
the Convention applies, issue in respect of a ship registered in that country
any certificate the issue of which in respect of ships registered in Hong Kong
is authorized under this Part if he is satisfied that it is proper for him to
do so; and a certificate issued in pursuance of such a request and containing
a statement that it has been so issued shall have effect for the purposes of
this Part as if it had been issued by that government and not by the Director.

(2) A Government surveyor, for the purpose of verifying-

   (a)  that there is in force in respect of a Convention ship not registered
        in Hong Kong an accepted Convention certificate; or

   (b)  that the condition of the hull, equipment and machinery of any such
        Convention ship corresponds substantially with the particulars shown
        in such a certificate; or

   (c)  except where such a certificate states that the ship is wholly exempt
        from the provisions of the Convention relating to radio installations
        and shipborne navigational equipment, that the number, grades and
        qualifications of radio officers or operators on board correspond with
        those shown in the certificate; or (Amended 6 of 2000 s. 11)

   (d)  that any conditions on which such a certificate, being the equivalent
        of an exemption certificate, is issued are complied with, shall have
        all the powers conferred by section 115.

(3) Where there is attached to an accepted Convention certificate in respect
of a Convention passenger ship not registered in Hong Kong a memorandum which-

   (a)  has been issued by or under the authority of the government of the
        country in which the ship is registered; and

   (b)  modifies for the purpose of any particular voyage, in view of the
        number of persons carried on that voyage, the particulars stated in
        the certificate with respect to life-saving appliances, the
        certificate shall have effect for the purpose of that voyage as if it
        were modified in accordance with the memorandum.

(4) Where an accepted Convention certificate is produced in respect of a
Convention passenger ship not registered in Hong Kong-

   (a)  the ship, unless it is plying on a non-international voyage, shall not
        be required to be surveyed under this Ordinance by a Government
        surveyor except for the purpose of determining the number of
        passengers that it is fit to carry; (Amended 5 of 1993 s. 5)

   (b)  on receipt of any declaration of survey for the purpose aforesaid, the
        Director shall issue a certificate containing only the statement of
        the particulars relating to the number of passengers the ship is fit
        to carry; and a certificate so issued shall have effect as a
        passenger certificate.

(5) Where there is produced in respect of any such passenger ship as aforesaid
an accepted Convention certificate, and also a certificate issued by or under
the authority of the government of the country in which the ship is registered
showing the number of passengers that the ship is fit to carry, and the
Director is satisfied that that number has been determined substantially in
the same manner as in the case of a passenger  ship registered in Hong Kong,
he may if he thinks fit dispense with any survey of the ship for the purpose
of determining the number of passengers that it is fit to carry and direct
that the last-mentioned certificate shall have effect as a
passenger certificate.