Responsibilities of the owner and master
18.—(1) This regulation applies where a vessel has been certified in accordance with regulation 12(6) (issue of a relevant certificate).
(2) The owner and master of each vessel to which this regulation applies must ensure that—
(a)the vessel and its equipment is maintained so that the vessel in all respects remains fit to operate without danger to the vessel or persons on board;
(b)any change of circumstances of a type mentioned in regulation 15(1)(a) to (e), (g) and (i) (validity of a certificate) must be reported to the Certifying Authority which issued the certificate at the earliest opportunity and in any event before the vessel undertakes any further voyage;
(c)any incident of a type referred to under regulation 19(3) concerning the vessel is reported in accordance with regulation 19 (incident reporting).
(3) Where paragraph (2)(b) applies the Certifying Authority must—
(a)give written approval for the vessel to continue operating under the certificate, or
(b)advise the owner and master of the vessel in writing about any corrective action that must be taken before the vessel undertakes any further voyage.
(4) Any corrective action undertaken in respect of the vessel must be in accordance with the advice provided by the Certifying Authority.