Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act 2014 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Minimum Requirements for Seafarers’ Employment
8. Employment of seafarers
Feedback & supportSubject to subsections (2) and (3), a person must not employ another person as a seafarer on a ship unless that other person has been issued with a medical fitness certificate complying with the prescribed requirements, and which is valid and is not suspended.
seafarer
“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;
A person may continue to employ, as a seafarer on a ship, a person whose medical fitness certificate has expired during the course of a voyage until the earlier of the following:
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;
the first port of call at which it is possible for the seafarer to apply for a medical fitness certificate and to be examined by a qualified medical practitioner;
the end of 3 months starting from the date of expiry of the certificate.
In urgent cases, with the Director’s approval, if a person who is a seafarer —
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;
does not hold a valid medical fitness certificate; but(b)has held a medical fitness certificate for at least 24 months (or in the case of a person below 18 years of age at the date of issue of the certificate, at least 12 months) and that certificate has expired no earlier than one month before the date on which the seafarer joined a ship,a person may employ that person as a seafarer on that ship until the first port of call at which it is possible for an application for a medical fitness certificate in respect of that seafarer to be made and for that seafarer to be examined by a qualified medical practitioner, but in any case not for a period exceeding 3 months.
A person must not employ a person as a seafarer on a ship in a capacity of sea service or in a geographical area precluded by any restriction in that person’s medical fitness certificate.
medical fitness certificate
“medical fitness certificate” means a certificate attesting to a person’s fitness to perform the duties which that person will carry out at sea and which is issued by a qualified medical practitioner (whether or not subject to restrictions or conditions);
A person must not employ a person as a seafarer on a ship in a way that breaches a condition of that person’s medical fitness certificate.
Any person who contravenes subsection (1), (4) or (5) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.