Federal government proposes legal modifications to assist in green maritime fuel bunkering operations
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The Government released in the Gazette today (October 2) 6 pieces of subsidiary legislation to modify Schedule 3 to the Pilotage Ordinance (Cap. 84) and 5 pieces of subsidiary legislation under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115), the Dangerous Goods Ordinance (Cap. 295), the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance (Cap. 313) and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (Cap. 548) to guarantee that port centers, consisting of anchorages, and associated plans can satisfy the growing need for green maritime fuel bunkering services amidst the international pattern towards maritime decarbonisation.
The 5 pieces of subsidiary legislation to be changed are:
(a) Immigration (Anchorages and Landing Places) (Amendment) Order (Cap. 115C);
(b) Dangerous Goods (Shipping) (Amendment) Regulation 2012 (Cap. 295F);
(c) Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) Regulation (Cap. 313A);
(d) Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) (Amendment) Regulation (Cap. 548F); and
(e) Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation (Cap. 548J).
A representative for the Transport and Logistics Bureau stated, “Amid the global transition towards green shipping, the international maritime industry is accelerating the adoption of green maritime fuels to achieve maritime decarbonisation. The proposed legislative amendments will rearrange anchorages to provide additional sea room, which will increase significantly from 645 hectares to 2 877 hectares, to facilitate green maritime fuel bunkering operations. In addition, a more trade-friendly fee structure will be introduced for Government Mooring Buoys (GMBs). The amendments will offer greater convenience to vessels visiting Hong Kong for green maritime fuel bunkering in future, further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a green maritime fuel bunkering centre.”
Utilizing green maritime fuels is the most reliable method to attain maritime decarbonisation. The Transport and Logistics Bureau promoted the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering (the Action Plan) in November 2024, setting out 5 methods and 10 steps to establish Hong Kong into a green maritime fuel bunkering centre. Amongst them, the Action Plan proposes optimising the port design to assist in the mooring of green maritime fuel bunkering barges, thus boosting the functional versatility of green maritime fuel bunkering.
The proposed legal changes cover the optimisation of the design of anchorages and port centers. These consist of developing 7 brand-new anchorages, changing the borders of 8 anchorages, transforming 3 harmful items anchorages or service anchorages into multipurpose anchorages, reversing 2 existing anchorages, formalising 2 existing suggested Traffic Separation Schemes (TSSs) into regional statutory TSSs, and presenting a more trade-friendly charge structure for GMBs. These steps will guarantee that the Hong Kong Port has adequate sea space to satisfy the need for green maritime fuel bunkering services. The Government proposes to rescind a hazardous items anchorage and a designated bunkering location situated near domestic locations and to make matching changes to other anchorages and designated bunkering locations to reduce possible effects on close-by neighborhoods.
The Panel on Economic Development of the Legislative Council, the Pilotage Advisory Committee, the Port Operations Committee, the Local Vessels Advisory Committee, the High Speed Craft Consultative Committee, and the Dangerous Goods Standing Committee have actually been spoken with on the legal propositions. Pertinent District Councils (consisting of Tsuen Wan, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing, Tai Po, Tuen Mun, Sai Kung, and Islands District Councils), appropriate Rural Committees in the Islands District, and anglers’s agents have actually likewise been sought advice from. All celebrations supported the propositions or raised no objection.
The proposed modification guidelines will be sent to the Legislative Council on October 7 for unfavorable vetting.