The Shipping Legislation (Electronic Certificates and Electronic Log-books) (Amendment) Bill 2023 will be published in the Gazette this Friday (June 2) to amend seven pieces of shipping legislation, namely Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance (Cap. 369), Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Ordinance (Cap. 413), Merchant Shipping (Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution) Ordinance (Cap. 414), Merchant Shipping (Registration) Ordinance (Cap. 415), Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance (Cap. 478), Merchant Shipping (Security of Ships and Port Facilities) Ordinance (Cap. 582) and Bunker Oil Pollution (Liability and Compensation) Ordinance (Cap. 605), to facilitate the use of electronic certificates/licences/permits (collectively referred to as e-certs) and electronic log-books (e-logbooks) for Hong Kong-registered ships which are ocean-going vessels under the Hong Kong Shipping Register and seafarers.
The use of e-certs and e-logbooks for Hong Kong-registered ships and seafarers was announced in the Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address, with a view to enhancing the efficiency of marine services and reducing the workload of seafarers, which is also in line with the trend of digitalisation in the maritime sector.
A spokesman for the Transport and Logistics Bureau today (May 31) said, "As an international shipping centre, Hong Kong has been implementing measures on various fronts to strengthen marine and shipping services. The current legislative amendments will further improve the services of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry, which is the fourth largest register in the world in terms of gross tonnage, by providing a higher degree of convenience to shipowners in applying for and receiving certificates and facilitating the recording of vessels activities by seafarers."
The Panel on Economic Development of the Legislative Council (LegCo), the Hong Kong Fleet Operation Advisory Committee and the Seafarers' Advisory Board of the Marine Department have been consulted. Members supported the proposal.
The Bill will be introduced into the LegCo on June 7.
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