# The Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) Regulations 1987, Regulation 8: Validity of British Seamen’s Cards


(1) A British Seaman’s Card issued pursuant to the Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) Regulations 1972 shall be valid—
(a) until the end of the period of 5 years from the date of issue; and
(b) if it has been endorsed in accordance with paragraph (2) below, until the end of a further period of 5 years from the end of the period referred to in (a) above;
provided that, if at the end of either of such periods, the holder is not present in the United Kingdom, his British Seaman’s Card shall remain valid until he first returns to the United Kingdom or the expiry of a further 12 months from the date of expiry, whichever is the sooner.
(2) If an application is made for endorsement under paragraph (1)(b) above not less than 4 years and 9 months and not more than 6 years after the date of issue of the British Seaman’s Card to which it relates, and the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen or the superintendent to whom the application is made is satisfied—
(i) that the person making the application is the holder of the British Seaman’s Card; and
(ii) that the British Seaman’s Card was (or would be) valid at the end of the period of 5 years from the date of its issue;
he shall endorse the British Seaman’s Card with a statement that it shall be valid until the end of the period referred to in paragraph (1)(b) above.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1987/408/regulation/8 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-seamens-documents-regulations-1987/regulation-8
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.