The Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) Regulations 1987

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke the Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) Regulations 1972, as amended, and re-enact them with further amendments. The major changes are:—

(a) British Seamen’s Cards no longer require endorsement after 5 years; they are issued valid for ten years;

(b) British Seamen’s Cards are no longer obligatory for British seafarers;

(c) the precise form of such a Card is not included in the Regulations; instead the Regulations specify the particulars to be included in a Card;

(d) application for seamen’s documents can now be made not only to a superintendent but also to the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen;

(e) the removal of the requirement to list periods of work or standing by, of paid and unpaid leave and of sickness and study leave in discharge books;

(f) the addition of a requirement to include a record of certificates issued under the Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Regulations 1983 in discharge books;

(g) the extension of powers to make certain entries in discharge books to include Principals, or approved deputies, of training establishments approved by the Department of Transport, and the holders themselves;

(h) the inclusion of a requirement to make persons to whom a discharge book is produced return it to the holder as soon as practical;

(i) increase of one in the number of photographs to be submitted if application is made for both a British Seaman’s Card and a discharge book;

(j) masters of non-UK registered vessels may make voyage entries relating to service in those vessels.