Merchant Shipping (Certification of Seamen) Act, 1979

Certificates of competency by personnel of certain ships.

3.—(1) The Minister may make regulations requiring ships to which this Act applies to carry such numbers and such categories of personnel as he may specify in the regulations and are the holders of valid certificates of competency duly issued by the Minister under this Act.

(2) For the purpose of giving effect to subsection (1) of this section, the Minister may by regulations—

(a) prescribe standards of competence to be attained by personnel of ships to which this Act applies,

(b) provide for the conduct of examinations (including the charging of fees in relation to such examinations) and, with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, the appointment and remuneration of examiners for such examinations, and

(c) provide for the issue, form and recording of certificates and other documents.

(3) A person who, for the purpose of obtaining for himself or another person a certificate of competency under this Act, makes a statement which he knows to be false, or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £250.