4.—(1) The Ministers may from time to time invite applications and where they do so the following provisions of this paragraph shall apply.
(2) Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Scheme, an application must be lodged with the Ministers on or before the appropriate closing date in order to be considered for approval.
(3) In this Scheme “the appropriate closing date” means such date as the Ministers may from time to time determine.
(4) The Ministers shall publish in such manner as they consider appropriate a notice inviting applications and specifying the appropriate closing date.
(5) An application made in pursuance of a notice published under sub-paragraph (4) shall be in writing, shall be made in such form and manner, shall include such information and undertakings and shall be delivered to such address as the Ministers may specify in the notice or from time to time require.
(6) An applicant shall furnish all such further information relating to the application as the Ministers may specify in the notice or from time to time require.
(7) An application shall be in respect of one vessel only and shall include a bid stating the amount of grant for which the applicant offers to–
(a)decommission the vessel,
(b)surrender all licences and claims to licences in respect of the vessel in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 9(1)(a), and
(c)remove the vessel from the register.
(8) No more than one application in pursuance of a notice published under sub paragraph (4) may be made in respect of any vessel.
(9) Where an application in respect of a vessel has been approved by the Ministers under paragraph 6, no further application may be made in respect of that vessel.