Regulation 27 Surrender of seamen’s documents
If it appears to a superintendent, a proper officer, a police officer or the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen—
that the holder of a seaman’s document was not entitled to apply for it at the time it was issued to him; or
that the person having possession of a seaman’s document is not the holder thereof;
the person (including the holder) having possession of that document shall, on demand made by a superintendent, a proper officer, a police officer, or the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen (as the case may be) surrender it to him.
Upon the recommendation of a shore-based disciplinary committee that the holder of a discharge book who was employed under a crew agreement, approved by the Secretary of State, to which the National Maritime Board agreement on disciplinary procedures applied and which required him to comply with the Code of Conduct, is no longer entitled to be the holder (consequent upon the commission by him of one of the breaches of the Code specified in paragraph 9 thereof) the holder shall, on demand made by the Secretary of State, surrender the discharge book to him for a temporary period or permanently according to his demand.
Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of this regulation shall be guilty of an offence.