### Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance 《商船(本地船隻)條例》

53. Detained vessels may only be moved as permitted, etc.
(1) A local vessel the subject of a detention order—
(a) shall be moved as directed in writing by the Director;
(b) shall not be otherwise moved except in accordance with the permission in writing of the Director.
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable—
(a) on conviction on indictment to a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for 4 years; and
(b) on summary conviction to a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years.

54. Revocation of detention orders, etc.
(1) The Director may revoke a detention order at any time.
(2) The Director shall, upon the request in writing of the owner of a local vessel, his agent or the coxswain, revoke a detention order of which that vessel is the subject if the Director is satisfied that the action referred to in section 52(5)(g) specified in the order has been carried out.
(3) Where the period referred to in section 52(5)(h) specified in a detention order expires without the Director being satisfied that the action referred to in section 52(5)(g) specified in that order has been carried out, then section 56 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to and in relation to the vessel as if it were an abandoned vessel.

55. Beaching, etc. of local vessel
(1) Where a local vessel—
(a) is on fire;
(b) has suffered damage by fire, explosion or collision; or
(c) is disabled, stranded or out of control because of damage, bad weather or mechanical failure,
the Director may, if he has reasonable grounds to believe that any of the circumstances specified in subsection (2) prevail, direct the owner of the vessel, his agent or the coxswain—
(i) to beach the vessel;
(ii) to take the vessel outside the limits of a port; or
(iii) to take such other action as the Director thinks fit.
(2) The circumstances for the purpose of subsection (1) are that the vessel—
(a) is, or is likely to become, a danger to life to other vessels, aircraft or navigation;
(b) is causing, or is likely to cause, pollution of the waters of Hong Kong;
(c) is causing, or is likely to cause, damage to port facilities or other property.
(3) If without reasonable excuse any direction given under subsection (1) is not complied with, the owner of the vessel, his agent or the coxswain to whom the direction is given commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 and to imprisonment for 1 year.

### Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance 《商船(本地船隻)條例》

57. Duty to report collisions, etc.
(1) Where, within the waters of Hong Kong or elsewhere—
(a) a local vessel is involved in a collision with another vessel, a port facility or other property;
(b) a local vessel sinks or becomes stranded or disabled;
(c) a person is killed or seriously injured on board a local vessel as a result of an accident;
(d) an explosion or fire occurs on board a local vessel;
(e) damage is caused by a local vessel to a port facility or other property; or
(f) a person, cargo or equipment is lost overboard from a local vessel,
the owner of the vessel, his agent or the coxswain shall report the occurrence forthwith to the Director orally, by means of signals, or in writing and shall furnish to the Director in writing full particulars thereof within 24 hours after the occurrence.
(2) The owner of a local vessel, his agent or the coxswain who—
(a) without reasonable excuse fails to comply with subsection (1); or
(b) makes a report or furnishes any particulars under subsection (1) which he knows to be false in any material particular,
commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 3.
(3) For the purpose of subsection (1)(c), a person shall be deemed to be seriously injured if he is admitted to a hospital immediately after he sustains the injury for observation or treatment.

58. Duty to report fires on local vessel
(1) Where—
(a) a fire occurs on board a local vessel within the waters of Hong Kong; or
(b) a local vessel which is on fire arrives within the waters of Hong Kong,
the owner of the vessel, his agent or the coxswain shall report such occurrence or arrival forthwith to the Director of Fire Services.
(2) The Director of Fire Services and any member of the Fire Services Department of or above the rank of Principal Fireman may, at any time of day or night, board any local vessel in the waters of Hong Kong for the purpose of extinguishing a fire on board the vessel whether or not the fire has been reported to the Director of Fire Services, and may take with him such persons as may be necessary to assist him for such purpose.
(3) The owner of a local vessel, his agent or the coxswain who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 3.

### Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance 《商船(本地船隻)條例》

59. Compliance by owner, agent or coxswain
Where by or under this Ordinance—
(a) any obligation or duty is placed on the owner of a local vessel, his agent or the coxswain of a local vessel;
(b) any direction is given to the owner of a local vessel, his agent or the coxswain of a local vessel; or
(c) the owner of a local vessel, his agent or the coxswain of a local vessel is required to comply with any requirement,
it shall, except where it is otherwise expressly provided, be sufficient if such obligation or duty, direction or requirement is met or complied with either by the owner of the vessel, his agent or the coxswain of the vessel.