UK. Shipping company fined for employing Master with ticket
At Ipswich Magistrates Court today, Svitzer UK Ltd pleaded guilty for employing a Master without a valid certificate of competence.The skipper forgot to re-new his certificate as a Master which he is required to do every five years and continued to sail as Master without a certificate from 2005 to 2009. The company failed to notice that their employee no longer had a current certificate. In fining the company 3,000 and 4,000 in costs the magistrates stated: The problem existed before Svitzers took over the company. They were extremely disappointed by the lack of due diligence and that it took two years for them to become aware of it. David Lee, Enforcement Branch of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: Although it is the responsibility of all seafarers to renew their qualifications on the due date, all companies should ensure that they only employ properly qualified staff at all times.
Source: BYM Marine & Maritime News