Merchant Shipping Act 1970

PART I Additional Provisions

Regulations relating to crew agreements

1 (1) The Board of Trade may make regulations prescribing the procedure to be followed in connection with the making of crew agreements between persons employed in fishing vessels and persons employing them and prescribing the places where such crew agreements are to be made or where an agreement with any person may be added to those contained in such a crew agreement.

(2) Regulations under this paragraph may make a contravention of any provision thereof an offence punishable on summary conviction with a fine not exceeding £50 or such less amount as may be specified in the regulations.

Offences

2 (1) For the purpose of maintaining discipline on board fishing vessels and ensuring the safe and efficient operation of such vessels the Board of Trade may by regulations specify any misconduct on board of or in relation to a fishing vessel which, but for section 95(1)(a) of this Act, would be an offence under section 29, 30 or 31 thereof, and provide for its being an offence punishable on summary conviction with a fine not exceeding £100 or such less amount as may be specified in the regulations.

(2) Regulations under this paragraph may apply section 32 of this Act with such modifications as may be required to substitute in it for the reference to section 29, 30(b) and 30(c) of this Act a reference to the corresponding provisions of the regulations.

(3) Regulations under this paragraph may make different provision for different descriptions of fishing vessel or fishing vessels of the same description in different circumstances.

(4) No regulations shall be made under this paragraph unless a draft thereof has been laid before Parliament and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Production of certificates and other documents of qualification

3 Any person serving or engaged to serve in a fishing vessel and holding any certificate or other document which is evidence that he is qualified for the purposes of section 43 of this Act shall on demand produce it to any person who is a British sea-fishery officer for the purposes of the Sea Fisheries Acts (within the meaning of the [1968 c. 77.] Sea Fisheries Act 1968); and if he fails to do so without reasonable cause he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £20.

Hours of work

4 (1) The Board of Trade may make regulations prescribing maximum periods of duty and minimum periods of rest for seamen employed in fishing vessels, and such regulations may make different provision for different descriptions of fishing vessels or seamen employed in them or for fishing vessels and seamen of the same description in different circumstances.

(2) If any provision of regulations made under this paragraph is contravened in the case of any seaman employed in a fishing vessel the persons employing him and the master shall each be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.

Reports of and inquiries into injuries

5 (1) Where the master or a member of the crew of a fishing vessel is injured during a voyage, an inquiry into the cause and nature of the injury may be held by a superintendent or proper officer.

(2) The superintendent or proper officer holding an inquiry under this section shall for the purposes of the inquiry have the powers conferred on an inspector by section 729 of the [1894 c. 60.] Merchant Snipping Act 1894 and shall make a report of his findings to the Board of Trade.