(1)Without prejudice to the generality of any other power to make regulations, the Minister may make regulations modifying in such manner as he thinks proper the provisions of this Act in their application in relation to persons who are or have been employed on board any ship, vessel or aircraft.
(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, regulations thereunder may in particular provide—
(a)for the insurance under this Act of persons who are, or have at any time after 4th July 1948 been, employed on board ships, vessels or aircraft, notwithstanding that they do not fulfil the conditions of section 1 of this Act;
(b)for excepting from insurance by virtue of the said section 1, or from liability to pay contributions as insured persons, any persons employed as aforesaid who neither are domiciled nor have a place of residence in the United Kingdom ;
(c)for requiring payment of employers' contributions in respect of persons employed as aforesaid, whether or not they are insured persons or employed persons ;
(d)for the taking of evidence, for the purpose of any claim to benefit—
(i)in any country which is, or which at the date when regulations with respect to that country were first made under this section or section 58 of the Act of 1946 was, part of Her Majesty's dominions, before a judge or magistrate or by a superintendent within the meaning of the [1894 c. 60.] Merchant Shipping Act 1894;
(ii)in any other country, by a British consular officer;
(e)for enabling persons employed on board ships, vessels or aircraft to authorise the payment of the whole or any part of any benefit to which they are or may become entitled to such of their dependants as may be prescribed.
(3)The contribution, if any, payable by an employer—
(a)by way of a contribution under section 3(b) of this Act in respect of a person employed on board a ship or vessel for any week for which that person is by virtue of this section excepted from liability to pay contributions as an insured person; or
(b)by way of graduated contribution in respect of the remuneration of a person employed as aforesaid in respect of which that person is by virtue of this section excepted from liability to pay such a contribution as an employed person; or
(c)by virtue of this section in respect of a person employed as aforesaid who is not an employed person,
shall not be taken into account for the purpose of estimating the contributions to be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament, and shall be administered and applied in such manner and for such purposes as may be prescribed.