Boatmasters’ licences: validity periods and re-validation
26.—(1) A boatmaster’s licence is valid for a period of 5 years commencing on the date it is issued.
(2) An endorsement of a boatmaster’s licence is valid for the same period as the licence on which it is endorsed.
(3) A holder of a boatmaster’s licence may before or within twelve months of the date on which the licence expires, apply to the Secretary of State for the licence and any endorsements to be re-validated.
(4) An application for re-validation of a boatmaster’s licence or an endorsement of a licence must—
(a)be in such form and contain, or be accompanied by, such particulars and documents as may be specified by the Secretary of State, and
(b)must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(5) The Secretary of State must not revalidate a licence or endorsement unless satisfied that the applicant—
(a)has completed in an appropriate deck capacity during the period of 5 years ending on the date the applicant applies for revalidation the number of days service in respect of the category of licence and endorsements specified by the Secretary of State, and
(b)in the case of a relevant local knowledge endorsement, has the practical skills and knowledge of the local navigational requirements necessary for the waters to which the endorsement applies specified by the Secretary of State.
(6) The Secretary of State may require the applicant to provide evidence of the practical skills and knowledge (or any part of those skills or that knowledge) required in respect of the relevant class of licence or endorsement.
(7) Where the Secretary of State revalidates a boatmaster’s licence, the revalidated licence is valid for a period of 5 years commencing on the date on which the revalidation is granted.
(8) An endorsement previously held, other than one specified by the Secretary of State, shall be revalidated automatically upon the Secretary of State revalidating the boatmaster’s licence on which it was previously endorsed.