Merchant Shipping Act 1970

22 Complaints about provisions or water

(1) If three or more seamen employed in a ship registered in the United Kingdom consider that the provisions or water provided for the seamen employed in that ship are not in accordance with regulations made under section 21 of this Act (whether because of bad quality, unfitness for use or deficiency in quantity) they may complain to the master, who shall investigate the complaint.

(2) If the seamen are dissatisfied with the action taken by the master as a result of his investigation or by his failure to take any action they may state their dissatisfaction to him and may claim to complain to a superintendent or proper officer; and thereupon the master shall make adequate arrangements to enable the seamen to do so as soon as the service of the ship permits.

(3) The superintendent or proper officer to whom a complaint has been made under this section shall investigate the complaint and may examine the provisions or water or cause them to be examined.

(4) If the master fails without reasonable cause to comply with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £20, and if he has been notified in writing by the person making an examination under subsection (3) of this section that any provisions or water are found to be unfit for use or not of the quality required by the regulations, then.—

(a) if they are not replaced within a reasonable time the master or owner shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100 unless he proves that the failure to replace them was not due to his neglect or default; and

(b) if the master, without reasonable cause, permits them to be used he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.