Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act 2014 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 7 · Health and Safety Protection and Accident Prevention
46. Investigation into occupational accidents, injuries and diseases on board ships
Feedback & supportWhere the Director becomes aware of any occupational accident, injury or disease arising from service on board any ship, the Director may appoint an inspector to investigate the cause and circumstances of the occupational accident, injury or disease.
Director
“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;
The Director or an inspector appointed by the Director under subsection (1) may, for the purposes of an investigation under this section —
inspector
“inspector” means a person who —(a)is a surveyor of ships; or(b)is appointed in writing by the Director to be an inspector for the purposes of this Act;
board any ship;
inspect any ship;
summon any person before the Director or inspector and require the person to answer questions;
require any person to furnish a sworn statement relating to the cause or circumstances of the occupational accident, injury or disease; and
require the production of any book, logbook, certificate, register, document or other information relating to any ship or persons on board the ship.
Except with the Director’s permission, a person must not, unless necessary for the prevention of any accident or for the safe navigation of a ship —
ship
“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;
alter, replace, remove or add to any machinery, equipment or article which may have contributed to the cause of any occupational accident, injury or disease; or
modify the scene of the occupational accident or injury or the place where the occupational disease occurred.