17. Recognition of certificates granted by foreign authorities

Every officer on board a ship registered elsewhere, who has received a certificate of competency granted or recognised by the competent authority of the country in which the ship is registered which the Minister is satisfied is of equivalent standard to any certificate of competency issued in pursuance of section 11, shall be deemed to be qualified for the purposes of that section in respect of the ship, provided that the certificate is valid and is of a grade appropriate to his station in the ship or of a higher grade.[16