Hong Kong: implementation dates of six IMO guidelines

The Marine Department of the Government of Hong Kong has issued a note drawing attention to the coming into force of amended legislation regarding the latest IMO guidelines.

To adhere to the latest guidelines from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), such as the IMSBC Code, 1988 Load Lines Protocol, MARPOL Annex I, and SOLAS Chapters II-1, III, and IV, several subsidiary regulations have been modified under the Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance (Cap. 369) and the Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Ordinance (Cap. 413).

These amendments include:

Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Load Line) (Amendment) Regulation 2023 (Cap. 369AD)
Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements, Musters and Training) (Amendment) Regulation 2023 (Cap. 369AY)
Merchant Shipping (Safety) (IMSBC Code) (Amendment) Regulation 2023 (Cap. 369AZ)
Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulation 2023 (Cap. 369BB)
Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Construction and Survey) (Amendment) Regulation 2023 (Cap. 369BD)
Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) (Amendment) Regulation 2023 (Cap. 413A)

Cap. 369AZ will come into effect on December 1, 2023, while the other five regulations will take effect on January 1, 2024.

You can find copies of these regulations on the Marine Department's website at https://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/msnote/msin.html in Annexes 1 to 6.

Shipowners, ship managers, ship operators, masters, classification societies, and shipbuilders are obligated to be aware of and comply with the updated regulations.

This document was issued on October 18, 2023.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):