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02 Jun 2016 / Hong Kong

Towing voyage surveys conducted by non-Government surveyors

The arrangement in conducting towing voyage surveys for issuing port clearance has been adopted by the Marine Department, as described in the following paragraphs.

For issuing port clearance to a non self-propelled vessel leaving Hong Kong to other areas/countries under tow, the tug and tow are required to undergo a towing voyage survey conducted by a non-government surveyor. The purpose of this towing voyage survey is to ensure that the vessel and the towing arrangement are fit for the intended voyage.

With a view to allowing ship owners in choosing non-government professional bodies to survey their vessels, it is decided that towing voyage surveys conducted by Marine Department recognized organizations (http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/surveycs.html) and Authorized Surveyors appointed under the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/ocean/lvs.html) would be accepted for issuing port clearance to vessels under tow leaving Hong Kong.

Taking into account that there are substantial differences in risk levels, competence and technical support requirements in conducting surveys between vessels engaging on short coastal towage and ocean towage, the following acceptance criteria are adopted:

(a) for short distance coastal towing voyages to Mainland ports within Chinese waters extending from Guangxi to Xiamen (including Macau), surveys conducted by either a surveyor of a recognized organization or an “Authorized Surveyor” can be accepted;

(b) for long distance coastal towing voyages to Mainland ports outside (a) above and ocean towing voyages to other countries, only surveys conducted by a surveyor of a recognized organization will be accepted.

To ensure that the survey by these professional bodies can adequately cover the safety of the tug and tow for the intended voyage, the attending surveyor is required to:
(a) complete a declaration with a checklist for voyages prescribed above, or
(b) issue an appropriate recognized organization survey report for voyages prescribed above.

To facilitate the survey for short distance coastal towing voyages, guidance notes are provided at Annex 2. For long distance coastal and ocean towage, surveyors of the recognized organization are required to take into account the guidance provided in IMO circular MSC Circ. 884, and any relevant requirements of the recognized organization in respect of vessels involved in towing.

To apply for port clearance for a towing voyage, the Master of the tug is required to submit a completed application form, together with the declaration or survey report issued by the attending surveyor, to the Licensing and Port Formalities Section of the Marine Department.

(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at [email protected])

Source: Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.68 of 2016

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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