# The Merchant Shipping (Section 63 Inquiries) Rules 1997, Article 6: Holding of the inquiry


(1) At the time and the place appointed for holding the inquiry the person appointed may proceed with the inquiry in the absence of the certificate holder upon whom the notice of the inquiry was served, any other party, or any person who has applied to become a party, or any of them:
provided that where the certificate holder concerned has been served with the notice of inquiry by post the person appointed shall not proceed with the inquiry in his absence unless satisfied that the certificate holder has been served in accordance with the requirements of rules 4(1) and (2).
(2) Any other person, not being the certificate holder concerned, may, with the leave of the person appointed, become a party to the inquiry.
(3) The inquiry shall be held in public except to the extent to which the person appointed is satisfied that in the interests of justice, or for other good and sufficient reason in the public interest, any part of the evidence or any argument relating thereto should be heard in private.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/347/article/6 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-section-63-inquiries-rules-1997/article-6
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.