20.—(1) Every owner of a ship shall be responsible for the assignment of seafarers in the ship in accordance with the Convention, the DSC Code, the HSC Code, the ISPS Code and the WIG Craft Regulations and shall ensure that —
(a)
each seafarer assigned to the ship holds an appropriate certificate in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, the DSC Code, the HSC Code, the ISPS Code and the WIG Craft Regulations;
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(b)
the ship is manned in compliance with the applicable safe manning requirements;
(c)
documentation and data relevant to all seafarers employed on its ships are maintained and readily accessible, and include, without being limited to, documentation and data on their experience, training, medical fitness and competency in assigned duties;
(d)
seafarers, on being assigned to the ship, are familiarised with their specific duties and with all ship arrangements, installations, equipment, procedures and ship characteristics that are relevant to their routine or emergency duties;
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(e)
the ship’s complement can effectively co-ordinate their activities in an emergency situation and in performing functions vital to safety, to security and to the prevention or mitigation of pollution;
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(f)
seafarers assigned to any of its ships have received refresher and updating training as required by the Convention;
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(g)
arrangements are made to provide rest periods for —
(i)
watchkeeping personnel, and those whose duties involve designated safety, security and prevention of pollution duties on board any ship, other than an MLC ship, in accordance with the provisions of section A-VIII/1 of the STCW Code; or
(ii)
seafarers on board any MLC ship in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act 2014;
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(h)
the efficiency of all watchkeeping personnel is not impaired by fatigue, and duties are so organised that the first watch at the commencement of a voyage and subsequent relieving watches are sufficiently rested and otherwise fit for duty;
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(i)
at all times on board its ships, there shall be effective oral communication in accordance with chapter V, regulation 14, paragraphs 3 and 4 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, (SOLAS) as may be amended by the IMO and accepted by the Government;
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(j)
adequate measures are established for the purpose of preventing drug and alcohol abuse; and
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(k)
masters, officers and other personnel assigned specific duties and responsibilities on board its dynamically supported craft, high speed craft, WIG craft, chemical tankers, oil tankers, liquefied gas tankers, passenger ships and ro-ro passenger ships have received appropriate training and instructions to attain the abilities that are appropriate to the capacities in which they are employed and the duties and responsibilities to be undertaken.
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(2) Any owner of a ship who breaches or fails to comply with any of his obligations under paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
(3) In this regulation, “owner of a ship” includes any person such as the manager, or the bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for operation of the ship from the shipowner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over all the duties and responsibilities imposed on the owner of the ship by these Regulations.