Hong Kong Ordinances

MERCHANT SHIPPING (SEAFARERS) ORDINANCE - SECT 74

Certificates of competency for seafarers other than officers

(1) The Authority shall cause examinations to be conducted in respect of
persons in the mercantile marine who wish to obtain certificates of competency
as seafarers, other than officers, of the prescribed classes, and shall
appoint examiners for that purpose and notify the appointments in the Gazette.

(2) The Authority may make rules prescribing or providing for-

   (a)  classes of seafarers, other than officers, for the purposes of
        subsection (1);

   (b)  the standards of competency to be attained and other conditions to be
        satisfied (subject to any exceptions allowed by or under the rules) by
        candidates for any examination conducted under subsection (1);

   (c)  the procedure for and the method of conducting any such examinations;

   (d)  the subjects to be taken at any such examination or the manner in
        which those subjects are to be specified;

   (e)  forms in relation to any such examination;

   (f)  the method of granting certificates of competency and copies of such
        certificates;

   (g)  the recognition of other qualifications as equivalent to certificates
        of competency issued by the Authority;

   (h)  the power of the Authority to grant exemptions from the application of
        the rules in respect of any case or class of case;

   (i)  the suspension and cancellation of certificates;

   (j)  issuing copies of any lost, defaced or destroyed certificates; and

   (k)  the power of the Authority to refuse to accept an application for any
        examination conducted under subsection (1) unless evidence is first
        produced which satisfies him as to the experience and ability of the
        person concerned.

(3) Rules made under subsection (2) in respect of the grant of certificates of
competency as A.B. shall direct that no such certificate shall be granted to
any person unless-

   (a)  he has reached such minimum age;

   (b)  he has performed such qualifying service at sea; and

   (c)  he has passed such examination, as are prescribed in those rules.
        (Enacted 1995)