Merchant Shipping Act 1995

63 Inquiry into fitness or conduct of seaman other than officer

(1) Where a person has, before the date mentioned in section 62(4), required his case to be dealt with by an inquiry under this section the Secretary of State shall cause an inquiry to be held by one or more persons appointed by him.

(2) An inquiry under this section shall be conducted in accordance with rules made under section 65(1) and those rules shall require the persons holding the inquiry to hold it with the assistance of one or more assessors.

(3) The persons holding an inquiry under this section—

(a) may confirm the decision of the Secretary of State and cancel or suspend the certificate accordingly;

(b) may, where the decision was to cancel the certificate, suspend it instead;

(c) may, where the decision was to suspend the certificate, suspend it for a different period;

(d) may, instead of confirming the decision of the Secretary of State, censure the holder of the certificate or take no further action;

(e) may make such order with regard to the costs of the inquiry as they think just; and

(f) shall make a report on the case to the Secretary of State;

and if the certificate is cancelled or suspended it shall be delivered forthwith to the persons holding the inquiry or to the Secretary of State.

(4) Any costs (or in Scotland expenses) which a person is ordered to pay under subsection (3)(e) above may be recovered from him by the Secretary of State.