Dear Members,
Coxswains and engine operators (collectively referred to as “operators”) are responsible for operating local vessels whose work is essential for maritime safety. To ensure that operators are qualified to perform the duties concerned, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Certification and Licensing) Regulation (Cap. 548D) requires all local vessel operators to hold local CoCs. Local CoCs are issued by the Director of Marine.
Currently, applicants for local CoCs are not required to undergo any medical examination unless they are applying for a coxswain certificate1 . Once issued, a local CoC will remain valid until the holder reaches the age of 65.
When a holder of local CoC reaches the age of 65, he may apply to the Director of Marine for an extension of its validity period for three years. The validity period of a local CoC will be one year once the holder turns 71. Holders of local CoC (including coxswains and engine operators) are required to notify the Director of Marine as soon as possible if they suffer from any physical or other disabilities which render them incapable of performing their duties on board a vessel.
To enhance maritime safety, the Marine Department (“MD”) revise the eligibility criteria for applying for or revalidating local CoCs by introducing a medical fitness certificate requirement to ensure that holders of local CoCs are physically fit to operate vessels. To ensure maritime safety while balancing the operational needs of the industry, the medical fitness certificate requirement will follow a two-tier system: Tier 1 covers all new applicants for the issuance of any level of local CoCs and applicants for revalidation of their CoCs; Tier 2 only covers persons operating specific categories of vessels such as those carrying passengers (i.e. Class I vessels) and those carrying dangerous goods (i.e. Class II vessels) (collectively referred to as “high-risk vessels”).
Tier 1 - All new and revalidation applications for local CoCs
All applicants for issuance of new local CoCs and revalidation of existing local CoCs are required to submit to MD a medical fitness certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner recognised by MD (“recognised medical practitioner”) together with the application form. Once a local CoC is issued or revalidated, the holder is not required to undergo another medical assessment during its validity period (except for persons operating high-risk vessels). In other words, holders of local CoCs who wish to revalidate their certificates after reaching the age of 65 will have to undergo a medical assessment every three years. After reaching the age of 71, a holder must undergo and pass a medical assessment every year in order to revalidate his/her certificate.
Tier 2 - Persons operating high-risk vessels
Considering the relatively higher maritime safety risks associated with operation of high-risk vessels, persons operating high-risk vessels are required to undergo a medical assessment once every five years to ensure that their physical condition is suitable for operating the relevant vessels. MD will specify an additional condition in the Operating Licence of highrisk vessels, stating that operators must possess a valid medical fitness certificate. If the conditions attached to an Operating Licence are breached, both the shipowner and the coxswain concerned shall commit an offence.
To ensure that medical practitioners responsible for conducting medical assessments fully understand the shipboard duties of local crew, MD has been inviting registered medical practitioners to register as recognised medical practitioners through various medical groups and professional associations, as well as medical service providers, etc., since December last year to provide medical assessment services and issue medical fitness certificates to applicants/holders of CoCs. MD will provide recognised medical practitioners with relevant information on the general duties and physical requirements of local crew. As of May 2025, 86 registered medical practitioners have registered as recognised medical practitioners. MD will continue to encourage registered medical practitioners to sign up and maintain an updated list of recognised medical practitioners on its website for the industry’s reference.
MD will amend the “Examination Rules for Local Certificates of Competency” and the “Examination Rules for Pleasure Vessel Operator Certificate of Competency” to update the qualifications for applying for and revalidating local CoCs by introducing the requirement to provide a medical fitness certificate; and include relevant terms when issuing or revalidating the Operating Licences of high-risk vessels to enforce the Tier 2 medical fitness certificate requirement on high-risk vessels. MD will implement the new arrangement in June 2025 and inform the public of the relevant measures through Marine Department Notices.
船隻操作員的身體狀況對確保香港水域使用者的安全十分重要。即使在風險相對較低的遮敝水域，對船長在緊急情況下仍有特殊的要求，以保障船上人員安全。
現時，對於申請本地合格證明書申請人士的健康要求，只限於通過海事處主考人員“目測”及醫療專業人員進行的視力測驗。本地合格證明書發出後其有效期至年屆65歲時期滿，在有效期內不需進行健康檢查或評估。在65歲期滿時只需進行視力測驗以延展其本地合格證明書。如年齡少於71歲，每次申請延展3年。如71歲或以上，則每次申請可延展1年。另外，獲准載客超過100人的第I類則船隻船長的僱主，必須為船長安排定期體格檢驗。
為確保船隻掌管人個人適合其需負責的工作，同時考慮與海上工作相關的特殊風險，體格檢驗是這個過程中的關鍵要素，本處聘請了醫療顧問和專家，制定了一套適合本地合格證明書申請人／持有人的醫療評估準則和有關標準。包括，健康評估表和健康評估指引分別列載於附件，以協助認可醫生對本地合格證明書申請人／持有人的健康狀況就是否適合操作船隻進行評估。而在釐訂健康標準時採用了以風險為本的方法，確保本地船員的健康狀況適合履行其職責。
有關制度最先會在兩個目標群組施行，第一組涉及所有新申請簽發任何級別本地合格證明書和申請為其合格證明書續期的人士。第二組屬主管高風險船隻（即包括：載客船隻；及石油／氣體運輸船）操作的船長及輪機操作員，須定期進行健康檢查。
第一目標群組
當申請新的本地合格證明書或為已持有的本地合格證明書續期時，申請人須提交由海事處認可醫生簽發的健康證明書。
如申請被接納，會獲簽發本地合格證明書或為其證明書續期，有關持證人在證明書的有效期間內不再需要進行健康檢查，但需操作高風險船隻人士除外。而已遞交的健康證明書的有效日期會登記在海事處的系統內，並能經網上電子證書核證系統查核本地合格證明書時顯示。
第二目標群組
所有操作高風險船隻人士（即的船長及輪機操作員）須每隔五年獲取健康證明書。
高風險船隻的運作牌照上將附加條件以執行健康要求，牌照的附加條件會列明操作高風險船隻人士須持有有效的健康證明書及該證明書須向海事處提交作記錄。海事處會通知高風險船隻的船東有關的運作牌照上附加條件的安排。海事處會在日常和特別巡邏時對高風險船隻上人士檢查健康證明書以監察執行情況。
本處因應去年十月已完成的健康評估試行結果，並根據參與者的意見，優化整體健康評估表使流程更暢順。
目前已有76位獲承認的註册醫生登記在方案的認可醫生名單內為申請人提供服務。當方案會在2025年5月6日舉行的經濟發展事務委員會中對本地合格證明書申請人／持有人實施健康證明要求徵詢委員意見，之後，便可作推廣，預計在2025年6月16日提供健康證明書要求便開始實施，而有關的健康證明要求將會在修訂後的考試規則反映，屆時亦會出版海事處佈告通知公眾。
本處亦編製了宣傳單張供貴公司員工閱覽。
為使新要求能順利實施，如需本處派代表到貴會就方案再作簡介及向會員解答疑問，可與本人聯絡安排。
鑑於認可醫生名單的76位醫生中不清楚有沒有貴會會員常用的醫生，為方便貴會會員們，如貴會會員常用的醫生能提供服務，可給我他們的聯絡電郵，以便本處邀請他們參與本計劃。
如有任何問題歡迎與我聯絡。
List of RRMP.pdf
Medical Assessment Form (MD 818).pdf
健康評估 - 宣傳單張.pdf
附件 -Medical Assessment Form.pdf
附件 -健康評估指引.pdf
Yours sincerely,
Lawrence Chow
Chairman
