Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act, 1952

Issue for cargo ships of radio certificates and exemption certificates.

23.—(1) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in respect of a ship registered in the State, not being a passenger steamer, is satisfied that the ship complies with the radio rules and rules for direction-finders applicable to the ship and to such international voyages as she is to be engaged on, he shall, on the application of the owner, issue in respect of the ship a certificate (in this Act referred to as a radio certificate) showing that the ship complies with such of the requirements of the Safety Convention relating to radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony and direction-finders as are applicable as aforesaid.

(2) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in respect of any such ship as aforesaid, is satisfied that the ship is exempt, by virtue of any exercise by him of a power in that behalf conferred on him by this Act or conferred on him by the rules in question, from any of the requirements of the radio rules or rules for direction-finders applicable to the ship and to such international voyages as she is to be engaged on and that she complies with the rest of the requirements of the radio rules and rules for direction-finders, he shall, on the application of the owner, issue in respect of the ship—

(a) an exemption certificate stating which of the requirements of the Safety Convention relating to radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony and direction-finders, being requirements applicable as aforesaid, the ship is exempt from and that the exemption is conditional on the ship plying only on the voyages and complying with the other conditions (if any) specified in the certificate, and

(b) a certificate (in this Act referred to as a qualified radio certificate) showing that the ship complies with the rest of those requirements.

(3) Where any ship registered in the State is wholly exempt from the requirements of the radio rules and the rules for direction-finders, the Minister shall on the application of the owner issue an exemption certificate stating that the ship is wholly exempt from the requirements of the Safety Convention relating to radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony and direction-finders and specifying the voyages on which, and conditions (if any) on which, the ship is so exempt.