Merchant Shipping Act 1995 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4 · Crew Matters
77. Continued or concerted disobedience, neglect of duty, etc.
Feedback & supportIf a seaman employed on a ship —
seaman
“seaman” includes every person employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship on the business of the ship, other than —(a)the master of the ship;(b)a pilot; or(c)a person temporarily employed on the ship in port;
persistently and wilfully neglects his or her duty;
persistently and wilfully disobeys lawful commands; or
combines with other seamen employed on the ship —
to disobey lawful commands which are required to be obeyed at a time while the ship is at sea;
to neglect any duty which is required to be discharged at such time; or
to impede, at such a time, the progress of a voyage or the navigation of the ship,the seaman shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
For the purposes of this section, a ship is treated as being at sea at any time when it is not securely moored in a safe berth.
ship
“ship” means any kind of vessel used in navigation by water, however propelled or moved and includes —(a)a barge, lighter or other floating vessel;(b)an air-cushion vehicle, or other similar craft, used wholly or primarily in navigation by water; and(c)an off-shore industry mobile unit;