In force2020 Revised Edition

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Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act 2014 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 6 · Medical Care and Treatment

31. Medical treatment on board ship

Where a ship is not required under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 to carry a qualified medical practitioner on board, the shipowner must make arrangements for ensuring that —

(a)

a ship which is ordinarily capable of reaching qualified medical care and medical facilities within 8 hours must carry on board a seafarer who —

(i)

has completed such training in medical first‑aid as required by the STCW Code and approved by the Director; and

(ii)

is appointed by the shipowner to be in charge of medical first‑aid training and administration of medicine on board the ship; and

(b)

any ship, other than a ship mentioned in paragraph (a), must carry on board a seafarer who —

(i)

has completed such training in medical care as required by the STCW Code and approved by the Director; and

(ii)

is appointed by the shipowner to be in charge of medical care on board the ship.

Terms defined in s 2

Director
Defined · s 2
“Director” means the Director of Marine appointed under section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and includes the Deputy Director of Marine appointed under that Act;
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qualified medical practitioner
Defined · s 2
“qualified medical practitioner” means a person who —(a)is a duly qualified medical practitioner under the Medical Registration Act 1997; or(b)possesses such other qualification as may be approved by the Director;
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seafarer
Defined · s 2
“seafarer” means any person, including the master, who is employed or engaged or works in any capacity on board a ship, but does not include —(a)a pilot;(b)a port worker;(c)a person temporarily employed on the ship during the period it is in port; and(d)a person specified in an Order made by the Authority, with the approval of the Minister, declaring the categories of persons not to be regarded as seafarers;
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ship
Defined · s 2
“ship” has the meaning given by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, but does not include —(a)any vessel which navigates exclusively in inland waters or waters within, or closely adjacent to, sheltered waters or areas where the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations apply;(b)any warship or naval auxiliary;(c)any ship engaged in fishing or in similar pursuits;(d)any ship of traditional build such as dhows and junks;(e)any ship that is intended to be operated without any seafarer on board; and(f)any ship specified in an Order made by the Authority, with the approval of the Minister, declaring the categories of ships to be excluded from the application of this Act;
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shipowner
Defined · s 2
“shipowner”, in relation to a ship, means the owner of the ship, and includes —(a)the registered owner; or(b)in the absence of registration —(i)the person owning the ship; or(ii)any other person (such as the ship manager, agent or bareboat charterer) who has assumed responsibility for the operation of the ship from the owner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over the duties and responsibilities imposed on shipowners in accordance with the Convention, whether or not any other organisation or person fulfils certain of the duties or responsibilities on the shipowner’s behalf;
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STCW Code
Defined · s 2
“STCW Code” means the Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code adopted by the 1995 Conference of Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 and any amendment to the Code that has come into force and has been accepted by the Government;
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