Professional Documents
Culture Documents
of the
Seafarers and Local Vessels' Crew
Section Page
I. Introduction 2
Annex
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SECTION I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Maritime Services Training Board (MSTB), formerly known as the Merchant
Navy Training Board, was set up in January 1998 under the Vocational Training Council
Ordinance. The Training Board is responsible for assessing the manpower and training needs
of the merchant navy and related sectors in the Maritime Services Industry, and for making
recommendations for the development of training facilities with a view to bringing about
sufficient trained manpower to meet the manpower training needs of the maritime services
industry. The HKSAR Go vernment appoints prominent people in the maritime industry, and
representatives from trade unions, Government departments and tertiary institutions as Training
Board members. The membership of the Training Board and its terms of reference are given in
Annexes 1 and 2.
1.2 In pursuance of its terms of reference, the MSTB conducted a survey in the
beginning of 2004 with the assistance of the Marine Department and the Census and Statistics
Department. The main purpose is to collect the latest manpower data of seafarers in the
ocean-going, river trade and local vessel sectors.
Scope of Survey
2 ferry companies.
Survey Method
1.4 Two weeks before the survey started, questionnaires and explanatory notes were
sent to the selected shipping companies of ocean-going sector. At the same time, separate sets
of questionnaires were sent to the river trade ferry companies and to participants of the local
vessel sector.
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1.5 During the survey period, staff members of the Census and Statistics Department
and the Marine Department visited the surveyed companies by prior appointment. They
collected the completed questio nnaires or assisted some of these companies in completing
them.
1.6 The completed questionnaires were carefully checked and if necessary, verified
with the respondents. The data were then processed by the Census and Statistics Department.
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SECTION II
Ocean-Going Sector
Response
2.1 42 shipping companies in the ocean-going sector had responded to the manpower
survey. The other establishments either were closed, moved or did not employ any seafarers.
Nature of Business
Nature of Business
Shipowner 12
Ship Management 24
42
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Number and Type of Ocean-going Vessels
2.3 The 42 shipping firms surveyed operated 694 ocean-going ships. The distribution
by type and forecast for 2005 and 2006 are as follows:
Passenger Ships 5 6 6
2.4 The distribution of these ships by flag and forecast for 2005 and 2006 are as
follows:
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Number of Posts for Seafarers Onboard Ocean-going
Vessels under Hong Kong Ownership or Management
2.5 The 42 companies have provided information on the number of posts onboard
ships under their ownership and/or management. Tabulations of the information are as follows:
Total Hong
Kong % of All Total NPR % of All
Officers Officers Officers Officers
Total Hong
Kong % of All Total NPR % of All
Ratings Ratings Ratings Ratings
Total Hong
Kong % of All Total NPR % of All
Seafarers Seafarers Seafarers Seafarers
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Ocean-going Manpower Demand Forecast
2.6 The 42 companies provided forecast on their demand for Hong Kong officers and
ratings in 2005 and 2006 as summarised in the following table:
Officer Rating
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Training Requirements of Ocean-going Seafarers
2.8 The training requirements of the ocean- going seafarers as reported by the
respondents are listed as follows:
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Table 2.11 No. of Active Ocean-going Ratings
Requiring Certificates/Endorsements Training of
the 42 Companies Surveyed
2.9 The ageing and diminishing number of Hong Kong ocean-going seafarers is a
cause for concern for the maritime industry. Various studies (A Study on the Manpower
Demand for Ex-seafarers of the Port and Maritime Industry in Hong Kong published by The
Hong Kong Polytechnic University in June 2001 and the Study to Strengthen Hong Kong's Role
as an International Maritime Centre published by the Hong Kong Port and Maritime Board in
January 2003) stressed the need for local seagoing cadet officers. It may argue that even
though there are convenient substitutes to local seafarers such as those from aboard or from the
Mainland China, it will be for the long-term interest for Hong Kong to maintain a number of
local seafarers.
2.10 Through the effort of the business community, the education and training sector
and the Government, the Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme has been implemented in 2004.
Given the changing economic climate and higher public awareness of Hong Kong's status in the
international maritime scene, the Scheme will help to replenish the fast disappearing number of
local seafarers in the long run.
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SECTION III
3.1 A total of 43 passenger vessels were owned and/or operated by the 2 ferry
companies at the time of survey. The numbers and types of these ferries and the forecast for
2005 and 2006 are listed below:
Jetfoils 15 15 15
Others 8 8 8
43 45 45
3.2 The two ferry companies reported that 973 seafarers were employed onboard, as
follows:
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Age Distribution of River Trade Officers
3.3 The distribution of the river trade seafarers by age is tabulated below:
Officers Ratings
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Training Requirements of River Trade Officers
3.5 The training requirements of the Hong Kong river trade seafarers as reported by
the respondents are listed as follows:
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SECTION IV
4.1 39 local vessel operators were randomly selected and surveyed. The survey
reveals that these companies owned and/or operated 193 local vessels. The distribution and
forecast of these vessels by type are listed as follows:
Forecast
Present Forecast Number Number of
Number of of Local Vessels Local Vessels
Local Vessels in 2005 in 2006
Ferries 30 30 30
Tug Boats 47 50 56
Motor Boats 17 17 17
Barge/Lighters 39 39 39
Others 60 61 62
193 197 204
4.2 A total of 781 seafarers were employed by the 39 companies surveyed. Their
distribution and forecast by post is given in the following table:
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Table 4.2 Distribution and Forecast of Local Vessels' Crews
of the 39 Companies Surveyed
Assistant Coxswain 53 54 55
Assistant Engineer 41 42 43
4.3 The distribution of the 781 local vessels' crew by age is tabulated below:
Age No. %
Under 30 28 3.59%
31 - 50 429 54.93%
4.4 Training requirements of local vessels' crew as reported by the respondents are
listed as follows:
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Table 4.4 No. of Hong Kong Local Vessels' Crew
Requiring Certificates/Endorsements Training of
the 39 Companies Surveyed
Number
Basic Radar Operator (Local Craft) 70
VHF (Restricted Operator) 42
Medical First Aid 85
Fire-fighting (Local Craft) 77
Personal Survival Techniques (Local Craft) 80
Crowd Management, Passenger Safety and Familiarisation Training 51
Tanker Familiarisation 60
Basis Maritime English 11
Prep. Course for Local Master (60T) Exam. 16
Prep. Course for Local Master (300T) Exam. 31
Prep. Course for Local Engineer (Up to 150HP) Exam. 12
Prep. Course for Local Engineer (Over 150HP) Exam. 28
Oil Carrier Safety (Local Waters) Training 46
Basic Safety Training for Local Vessels Crews 81
Total Headcount 690
4.4 Formal training for the local vessel sector has been minimal hitherto. The
Training Board had set up a Task Force on Training of Local Vessels' Crew in November 2002
to look into enhancing the training of crews in this sector. Since then, the Task Force has
advised on the development and endorsed relevant courses.
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Annex 1 to
2004 Manpower Survey Report of the Seafarers and Local Vessels' Crew
1. To determine the manpower demand of the industry, including the collection and
analysis of relevant manpower and student/trainee statistics and information on
socio-economic, technological and labour market developments.
2. To assess and review whether the manpower supply for the industry matches with the
manpower demand.
4. To advise the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) and training &
development centres on the direction and strategic development of their programmes in
the relevant disciplines.
6. To prescribe job specifications for the principal jobs in the industry defining the skills,
knowledge and training required.
7. To advise on training programmes for the principal jobs in the industry specifying the
time a trainee needs to spend on each skill elements.
8. To tender advice in respect of skill assessments, trade tests and certification for
in-service workers, apprentices and trainees, for the purpose of ascertaining that the
specified skill standards have been attained.
9. To advise on the conduct of skill competitions in key trades in the industry for the
promotion of vocational education and training as well as participation in international
competitions.
10. To liaise with relevant bodies on matters pertaining to the development and promotion of
vocational education and training in the industry, including employers, employers’
associations, trade unions, professional institutions, training and educational institutions
and government departments.
12. To advise on the publicity relating to the activities of the Training Board and relevant
vocational education and training programmes of the VTC.
13. To submit to the Council an annual report on the Training Board’s work and its
recommendations on the strategies for programmes in the relevant disciplines.
14. To undertake any other functions delegated by the Council in accordance with Section 7
of the Vocational Training Council Ordinance.
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Annex 2 to
2004 Manpower Survey Report of the Seafarers and Local Vessels' Crew
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