Hong Kong Ordinances

MERCHANT SHIPPING (SAFETY) ORDINANCE - SECT 48

Compliance with load line regulations

Ships registered in Hong Kong

(1) Subject to any exemption conferred by or under this Ordinance, no ship
registered in Hong Kong shall proceed or attempt to proceed to sea unless-

   (a)  the ship has been surveyed in accordance with the load line
        regulations;

   (b)  the ship is marked with a deck-line and with load lines in accordance
        with those regulations;

   (c)  the ship complies with the condition of assignment; and

   (d)  the information required by those regulations to be provided for the
        guidance of the master of the ship has been so provided.

(2) If any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea in contravention of
subsection (1), the owner or master of the ship commits an offence and is
liable to a fine of $10000.

(3) Any ship which in contravention of subsection (1) attempts to proceed to
sea without being surveyed and marked as mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b)
of that subsection may be detained until it has been so surveyed and marked.

(4) Any such ship as is mentioned in subsection (1) which does not comply with
the conditions of assignment shall be deemed to be unsafe for the purposes of
section 67.