20.—(1) This regulation applies where an Assigning Authority determines that—
(a)the condition of a United Kingdom ship or its equipment does not correspond substantially with the requirements applicable to it under Annex I and in relation to which a Convention certificate has been issued in respect of that ship, or
(b)a ship is not fit to proceed to sea without presenting an unreasonable threat of harm to human life or the marine environment.
(2) In the circumstances described in paragraph (1), the Assigning Authority must—
(a)advise the owner or master of the corrective action which in the opinion of the Assigning Authority is required to be taken, and
(b)where an International Load Line Certificate has been issued in respect of the ship and is still valid, notify the Assigning Authority that issued the certificate—
(i)that the Assigning Authority has so advised the owner or master as the case may be, and
(ii)if that corrective action is not taken.
(3) Where a Convention certificate has been issued in respect of the ship and is still valid, the Assigning Authority may suspend the validity of the certificate until the corrective action has been taken.
(4) Where the Assigning Authority suspends the validity of a certificate issued in respect of a ship, it must immediately give notice in writing of such suspension—
(a)to the owner of the ship, and
(b)where the ship is in a port outside the United Kingdom, to the appropriate maritime authorities of the country in which the port is situated.
(5) Where the owner of the ship is given notice of suspension, that owner must notify the master of the ship in question of the suspension.
(6) The requirement that the notification referred to in paragraph (4) should be in writing is satisfied where the text of a notification is—
(a)transmitted by electronic means,
(b)received in legible form, and
(c)capable of being used for subsequent reference.