The Merchant Shipping (Inland Waterway and Limited Coastal Operations) (Boatmasters’ Qualifications and Hours of Work) Regulations 2006

Rhine navigation licences

20.—(1) A person holding a Rhine navigation licence may not serve as master of any vessel in waters of any category unless he is medically fit to perform normal duties.

(2) If the holder of a Rhine navigation licence becomes aware that he is suffering from a relevant medical condition, which he has not previously disclosed, he must forthwith notify the Secretary of State in writing of the fact.

(3) If the Secretary of State becomes aware that the holder of a Rhine navigation licence may be suffering from a relevant medical condition he may require that person—

(a) to undergo, at his own expense, an examination by a registered medical practitioner for the purpose of determining whether he is fit to perform normal duties, and

(b) to authorise that medical practitioner to provide the Secretary of State with a report of the result of that examination.

(4) If the Secretary of State is satisfied (whether by virtue of a report received from a registered medical practitioner under paragraph (3) or otherwise) that the holder of a Rhine navigation licence is suffering from a relevant medical condition he may suspend the licence in so far as it authorises its holder to serve as master of a vessel in United Kingdom waters.

(5) Where the Secretary of State has suspended a licence under paragraph (4) but is satisfied that the person is fit to undertake the normal duties of a holder of a boatmaster’s licence (with or without an endorsement) of any class, he may issue him with a boatmaster’s licence of that class.

(6) If the holder of a Rhine navigation licence fails to comply with a requirement made under paragraph (3), the Secretary of State may suspend the licence in so far as it authorises its holder to serve as master of a vessel in United Kingdom waters until such time as the holder complies with the requirement.

(7) A person holding a Rhine navigation licence who wishes to obtain a supplementary licence authorising him to serve as master of a vessel in waters where (if he were the holder of a boatmaster’s licence) a relevant local knowledge endorsement would be required must apply to the Secretary of State and such an application—

(a) must be in such form and contain, or be accompanied by, such particulars and documents as the Secretary of State may specify, and

(b) must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

(8) The Secretary of State may not issue a supplementary licence to a person applying pursuant to paragraph (7) (“the applicant”) unless the applicant satisfies him that he has the practical skills and underpinning knowledge specified in section 11 of paragraph 19 of Part 1 of Schedule 4 (syllabus for a relevant local knowledge endorsement) and for the purpose of assessing whether the applicant has those practical skills and that underpinning knowledge paragraphs 7 to 18 of Part 1 of Schedule 4 shall apply, but as if the reference to the candidate were a reference to the applicant.