Merchant Shipping (Registration) (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulation 2024

On January 15, 2025, the Merchant Shipping (Registration) (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (the ‘Amendment Regulation’) passed in the Legislative Council, modifying the Merchant Shipping (Registration) Ordinance (the ‘MRO’) and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (the ‘MSO’) to enable the Block Registration Incentive Scheme ("‘BRIS’") within the Hong Kong Shipping Registry. These legislative changes establish a formal framework for the refund of designated registration fees and annual tonnage charges to ships meeting specified eligibility criteria.

The Amendment Regulation introduces the Block Registration Incentive Scheme, a program designed to incentivize ship registration within the Hong Kong Shipping Registry. The BRIS provides a refund mechanism for eligible vessels registered during a pre-defined period, with the overarching aim of bolstering the competitiveness of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry and attracting a greater number of vessel registrations.

Furthermore, the amendments incorporate provisions to harmonize the legislation with the recent government-wide transition to a five-day workweek, ensuring operational consistency and administrative practicality. These adjustments encompass miscellaneous revisions to reflect the updated service schedule and associated administrative processes. The implementation of the BRIS is anticipated to result in an increase in the total number of registered ships and, consequently, generate increased revenue for the Hong Kong Shipping Registry.

The Amendment Regulation will come into operation on February 14, 2025.