The Merchant Shipping (Section 52 Inquiries) Rules 1982

2.—(1) In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires:

“the Act of 1970” means the Merchant Shipping Act 1970;

“allegation” means an allegation by the Secretary of State that an officer's fitness or conduct falls within section 52(1)(a) to (c) of the Act of 1970;

“officer” means an officer qualified for the purposes of section 43 of the Act of 1970(1) and includes a master, skipper, mate, second hand, deck officer, marine engineer officer, radio officer and doctor;

“person appointed” means the person or persons appointed by the Secretary of State to hold a section 52 inquiry;

“a section 52 inquiry” means an inquiry into the fitness or conduct of an officer under section 52 of the Act of 1970(2) .

(2) Any period of time specified in these Rules by reference to days shall be exclusive of the first day and inclusive of the last day unless the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or any day appointed by law to be a bank holiday in that part of the United Kingdom where the inquiry is to be held, in which case the time shall be reckoned exclusively of that day also.

(1)

Section 43 was amended by section 37(2) and (3) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979 (c. 39).

(2)

Section 52(3) was amended by section 37(4) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979.