THE Hong Kong Shipping Register has passed the eight million gross tonne mark with the addition of a 28,892 gross tonne container ship.
The 195-metre Trade Sol was built in Germany last year and is owned by Trade Sol Shipping.
Nine other ships, with a total of 80,240 gross tonnes, are in the process of joining the register.
''This shows our aim of setting up a quality register is supported by local and overseas shipowners who will not trade off quality by a lowering of safety and environmental standards,'' Marine Director Allan Pyrke said.
The register, administered by the Marine Department, has 600 ships of 8,012,072 gross tonnes, 1.5 million tonnes more than when it was set up in December 1990. Of these, 224 are ocean-going vessels.
Mr Pyrke said Hong Kong was committed to maintaining a high-quality register with no compromise on safety, pollution prevention and other requirements in International Maritime Organisation and International Labour Organisation conventions.
