Explanatory note

These Regulations require United Kingdom ships of 1,000 GRT or over, other than pleasure craft or fishing vessels, which go to sea beyond the Near Continental trading area and which carry a crew, the majority of whom are domiciled in the United Kingdom, to carry a qualified and certificated ship's cook, and prescribe requirements for the qualification and certification of ships' cooks. The detailed requirements are specified by the Secretary of State in a Merchant Shipping Notice, which may be amended from time to time, and is obtainable from the Department of Trade Marine Library, Sunley House, 90 High Holborn, London WC1 and from any Department of Trade Marine Office. Existing certificates of competency as ship's cook will be recognised as valid certificates under the Regulations. The Secretary of State may specify that certificates issued by countries outside the United Kingdom may be treated as equivalent to certificates of competency under these Regulations.

It is an offence under section 43(5) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 to make a false statement to obtain a certificate of competency; under section 45 of that Act for a ship to go to sea undermanned; and under section 46(1) of that Act for an unqualified person to go to sea as qualified. The penalties for all these offences were increased by section 43 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979 and Parts IV and V of Schedule 6 to that Act. In the case of an offence under section 43(5) there is a maximum fine of £1,000 on summary conviction, under section 45 and section 46(1) there is a fine on conviction on indictment and a maximum fine of £1,000 on summary conviction.