| (Cap 369 section 107) [19 May 1989] (L.N. 138 of 1989) Cap 369L reg 1 Citation These regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Automatic Pilot and Testing of Steering Gear) Regulations. (Enacted 1989) Cap 369L reg 2 Interpretation In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires- "appropriate authority" (有关主管当局), in relation to special rules, means any person empowered by law to make those special rules; "automatic pilot" (自动驾驶仪) means a device for automatically operating the steering gear to steer the ship but does not include any wind-operated self-steering equipment connected to the tiller or rudder of a sailing craft; "Hong Kong ship" (香港船舶) has the same meaning as in section 107(4) of the Ordinance; "officer of the watch" (值班高级船员) means the person in charge of the navigational watch; "qualified helmsman"(合格舵手), in relation to a ship, means a person trained or sufficiently experienced to steer that type of ship; "restricted visibility" (有限能见度) means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or other similar cause; "steering gear control system" (舵机控制系统) means the equipment by which orders are transmitted from the navigating bridge to the steering gear power units, and comprises transmitters, receivers, hydraulic control pumps and their associated motors, motor controllers, pipes and cables; "steering gear power unit" (舵机动力机组) means- (a) in the case of electric steering gear, an electric motor and its associated electrical equipment; (b) in the case of electro-hydraulic steering gear, an electric motor, its associated electrical equipment and connected pump; and (c) in the case of other hydraulic steering gear, a driving engine and connected pump;"Superintendent" (总监) means the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office; (44 of 1995 s. 143) "surveyor of ships" (验船师) means a person appointed under section 5 of the Ordinance to be a Government surveyor or under section 724 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (1894 c. 60 U.K.)# to be a surveyor of ships. (Enacted 1989. 44 of 1995 s. 143)___________________________________________________________________ Note: # Please also see following- (a) in relation to the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, Part 3 of Schedule 5 to Cap 415 and s. 1 of Schedule 2 to Cap 508; (b) in relation to the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1979, s. 117 of Cap 281, s. 103 of Cap 415 and s. 142 of Cap 478. Cap 369L reg 3 Application Subject to section 3 of the Ordinance, these regulations apply to and in relation to- (a) Hong Kong ships; and (b) other ships while they are within the waters of Hong Kong, except in respect of the requirements of regulation 6(8):Provided that nothing in these regulations relating to the use of an automatic pilot shall override special rules made by an appropriate authority for roadsteads, harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected with the high seas and navigable by sea-going ships. (Enacted 1989) Cap 369L reg 4 Use of the automatic pilot (1) The master shall ensure that an automatic pilot, where fitted, shall not be used in areas of high traffic density, in conditions of restricted visibility or in any other hazardous navigational situation unless it is possible to establish manual control of the ship's steering within 30 seconds. (2) Before entering any area of high traffic density, and whenever visibility is likely to become restricted or some other hazardous navigational situation is likely to arise, the master shall arrange, where practicable, for the officer of the watch to have available without delay the services of a qualified helmsman who shall be ready at all times to take over the manual steering. (3) The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa shall be made by, or under the supervision of, the officer of the watch, or, if there is no such officer, the master. (4) The master shall ensure that the manual steering gear is tested- (a) after continuous use of the automatic pilot for 24 hours; and (b) before entering any areas where navigation demands special caution. (Enacted 1989) Cap 369L reg 5 Operation of steering gear In areas where navigation demands special caution, the master shall ensure that the ship shall have more than one steering gear power unit in operation when such units are available and capable of simultaneous operation. (Enacted 1989) Cap 369L reg 6 Steering gear-testing and drills (1) The master shall, within 12 hours before departure of the ship, cause the steering gear to be checked and tested so as to ensure that it is working satisfactorily: Provided that in the case of ships regularly making more than one voyage a week to or from the same port a check and test of the steering gear need only be made once in that week unless a part of the steering gear or its control system has been dismantled or changed since the last test. |
