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REPLIES OF THE GOVERNMENTS
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A new Bill which is already before the Legislature only constitutes a new drafting of the rules in force and some amendments included in it do not come into the question here.
The provisions of the above-mentioned Decree relate to certificates of masters, navigating officers, chief engineers and engineer officers. A distinction, however, is drawn between certificates for engagement in distant trade and those for short distance trade. Coastal trading and fishing are governed by special rules which allow persons holding lower-grade certificates to become masters.
on
In accordance with the suggestions of the Thirteenth Session of the International Labour Conference the question of the minimum requirement of professional capacity in the case of masters and officers in the mercantile marine, the Polish Government communicates the following views in reply to the Questionnaire prepared by the said Conference :
1. The Draft Convention should require certificates of professional capacity for persons engaged as:
(a) masters,
(b) navigating officers,
(c) chief engineers,
(d) engineer officers in charge of a watch.
RUMANIA
1. In the opinion of the Rumanian Government, the International Labour Conference should adopt a Draft Convention specifying that national laws or regulations are to require certificates of professional capacity for employment as master, officer or engineer.
SOUTH AFRICA
The South African Government has communicated the following general statement with reference to all the four maritime Questionnaires :
As the conditions of employment on the tugs, dredgers and other harbour craft under the control of the Railways and Harbours Administration in the Union are governed by staff regulations framed under statutory authority, it is not possible in their case to consider the feasibility of introducing any divergent measures.
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QUESTION 1
The South African owned shipping which might properly come within the scope of the enquiries of the International Labour Office is at present represented by two foreign-going cargo steamers owned by the Railway and Harbours Admi- nistration and a number of locally registered coasters, whalers and fishing vessels. In so far as these vessels are concerned, owing to the paucity of Union owned shipping and the conse- quent small number of seamen affected, it is considered that the time has not yet arrived for the Union Government to undertake the responsibility of associating itself with inter- national action such as that contemplated in the Questionnaires. In regard to the protection of seamen, in cases of sickness and injury on duty, it may be stated that the proposed Merchant Shipping Bill contemplates elaborate provision,
The determination of the professional qualification of shipmasters and navigating and engineer officers in Union ports is provided for in the Merchant Shipping (Certificates of Competency) Act, 1925.
SPAIN
As
1. It is considered indispensable that a Draft Convention should be adopted specifying that national laws or regulations are to require certificates of professional capacity for employ- ment as master, navigating officer and engineer officer. was pointed out during the preliminary examination by the Conference of the points to be included in the Questionnaire, experience shows that a vessel, however well built, equipped, navigated and staffed, can be exposed to serious dangers from the fact that the staff of another vessel does not possess suffi- cient professional capacity.
The importance of the problem and the necessity of adopting a solution which would have legal efficacy and value corres- ponding to those of a Draft Convention lead to the conclusion that this form of decision is the more suitable.
SWEDEN
1. It might perhaps be questioned whether this subject is within the competence of the International Labour Conference. However, practical reasons can be invoked and it would there- fore not seem desirable to oppose international regulation by the body in question of the matter in issue here. So far as masters and officers in the Swedish mercantile marine are concerned, there are already in existence provisions giving all guarantees as to their professional capacity.
رح