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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
These regulations set out health and medical safety standards for Australian ships, requiring ship owners and masters to carry tiered medical supplies and equipment, ensure crew fitness (especially under‑18s who need annual fitness certificates), and follow drug and poison storage standards. They also govern fees for medical exams, mandate medical personnel for long voyages, and appoint Medical Inspectors of Seamen. The rules scale requirements by voyage length, ship type and number of persons on board.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Navigation (Health) Regulations.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
STATUTORY RULES.
1962. No. 72.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVIGATION ACT 1912-1961.*
I, THE ADMINISTRATOR of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Navigation Act 1912-1961.
Dated this twenty-first day of August, 1962.
DALLAS BROOKS
Administrator.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Minister of State for Shipping and Transport.
NAVIGATION (HEALTH) REGULATIONS.
Citation.
Repeal.
Interpretation.
(a) a reference to the British Pharmacopoeia, other than a reference to the British Pharmacopoeia published in a particular year or a reference to the British Pharmacopoeia followed by a reference to a particular year, shall be read as a reference to the edition of the book of that name published under the direction of the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom in the year 1953, as affected by the additions or amendments contained in the 1955 Addendum to that book;
(b) a reference to the British Pharmacopoeia published in a particular year, or to the British Pharmacopoeia followed by a reference to a particular year, shall be read as a reference to the edition of the book of that name published under the direction of the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom in that year;
(c) a reference to the British Pharmaceutical Codex shall be read as a reference to the edition of the book of that name published by direction of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in the year 1949;
(d) a reference to the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary shall be read as a reference to the latest edition for the time being of the book of that name published by the Pharmaceutical
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 21st August, 1962.
10631/60.—Price 1s. 3d. 9/24.5.1962.
Association of Australia or, if that edition has been added to or amended, that edition as affected by the additions or amendments; and
(e) a reference to the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide shall be read as a reference to the latest edition for the time being of the book of that name published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London, or, if that edition has been added to or amended, that edition as affected by the additions or amendments.
Prescribed fees for medical examinations.
4.—(1.) For the purpose of sub-section (2.) of section 123 of the Navigation Act 1912-1961, the prescribed fee payable by a person at whose request an examination referred to in that sub-section is made is—
(a) where the examination is made at a time when the Mercantile Marine Office is open for general business—Ten shillings;
(b) where the examination is made at a time when the Mercantile Marine Office is not open for general business—One pound ten shillings; and
(c) subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, for each mile or part of a mile necessarily travelled by a Medical Inspector of Seamen for the purpose of making the examination and returning to his surgery after making the examination—Two shillings and sixpence.
(2.) The fee prescribed by paragraph (c) of the last preceding sub-regulation is not payable in respect of an examination made by a Medical Inspector of Seamen who is an officer or employee within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1922-1960.
(3.) The fees prescribed by this regulation are payable to the superintendent at the port at which the examination is made.
(4.) For the purposes of sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation, “the Mercantile Marine Office” means—
(a) in relation to an examination made at a port at which a Mercantile Marine Office has been established under section 13 of the Navigation Act 1912-1961—that Mercantile Marine Office; and
(b) in relation to an examination made at a port at which a Mercantile Marine Office has not been so established—the office of the Collector at that port.
Medical examination of masters, seamen and apprentices.
(a) medically examine the master, or any seaman or apprentice, employed in the ship, or any person proposing to engage in employment as a master or seaman, or to become an apprentice, in the ship; and
(b) give to the superintendent a report of the examination in accordance with Form 1 in the First Schedule to these Regulations.
Certificate of fitness of persons under age of eighteen years.
6.—(1.) Where a Medical Inspector of Seamen has medically examined a person under the age of eighteen years in accordance with the last preceding regulation and the Medical Inspector of Seamen is satisfied that the person examined is medically fit for employment in the ship as a seaman or apprentice, as the case may be, he shall, if requested by the person, issue to the person a certificate of fitness in accordance with Form 2 in the First Schedule to these Regulations.
(2.) A certificate of fitness issued under the last preceding sub-regulation remains in force for a period of twelve months but may be renewed by a Medical Inspector of Seamen, in each case after a further medical examination of the holder of the certificate by that Medical Inspector of Seamen, for successive periods of twelve months.
(3.) A renewal of a certificate of fitness shall be effected by an indorsement on the certificate in accordance with the form of indorsement specified on Form 2 in the First Schedule to these Regulations.
(4.) An indorsement of a renewal of a certificate of fitness shall be made before the expiration of the certificate, or of the last renewal, as the case may be, and the renewal shall take effect upon the expiration of the certificate or of that last renewal.
(5.) A person shall not engage or re-engage a person under the age of eighteen years as a seaman, or take an apprentice under that age to sea, unless the person to be engaged or re-engaged, or the apprentice, is the holder of a certificate of fitness that is in force issued by a Medical Inspector of Seamen under sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation.
Medicines, &c., to be carried on ships.
7.—(1.) The medicines, medical and surgical stores and appliances and anti-scorbutics and the instructions for dispensing and using medicines, medical and surgical stores and appliances with which a ship to which sub-section (1.) of section 125 of the Navigation Act 1912-1961 applies is required by that sub-section to be provided are the medicines, medical and surgical stores and appliances and anti-scorbutics and instructions specified—
(a) in the case of a ship on a passage between two consecutive ports that exceeds six hundred and fifty nautical miles, being a ship carrying or certified to carry as a full complement of passengers and crew one hundred or more persons—in the Second Schedule to these Regulations;
(b) in the case of a ship (other than a limited coast-trade ship of not more than fifty tons gross registered tonnage) on a passage between two consecutive ports that exceeds six hundred and fifty nautical miles, being a ship carrying or certified to carry as a full complement of passengers and crew more than ten but less than one hundred persons—in the Third Schedule to these Regulations;
(c) in the case of a ship (other than a limited coast-trade ship of not more than fifty tons gross registered tonnage)—
(i) on a passage between two consecutive ports that exceeds six hundred and fifty nautical miles, being a ship carrying or certified to carry as a full complement of passengers and crew not more than ten persons; or
(ii) on a passage between two consecutive ports that does not exceed six hundred and fifty nautical miles, being a ship carrying or certified to carry as a full complement of passengers and crew more than ten persons—
in the Fourth Schedule to these Regulations;
(d) in the case of a ship (other than a limited coast-trade ship of not more than fifty tons gross registered tonnage) on a passage between two consecutive ports that does not exceed six hundred and fifty nautical miles, being a ship carrying or certified to carry as a full complement of passengers and crew not more than ten persons—in the Fifth Schedule to these Regulations; and
(e) in the case of a limited coast-trade ship of not more than fifty tons gross registered tonnage—
(i) if the ship, being a ship of more than fifteen tons gross registered tonnage, is on a passage between two consecutive ports that is of more than twenty-four hours’ duration or is trading to ports and places where there is no resident medical practitioner available—in the Fifth Schedule to these Regulations; and
(ii) in any other case—in Part I. of the Fifth Schedule to these Regulations.
(2.) Where a ship is required in pursuance of the Second or Third Schedule to these Regulations to be provided with a disinfectant, the disinfectant shall comply with the requirements specified in the Sixth Schedule to these Regulations.
(3.) The standards of composition and purity of an article specified in a Schedule to these Regulations shall, unless the contrary intention appears in that Schedule, be those constituted by the description of that article contained—
(a) in the case of an article the name of which is followed by the words “British Pharmaceutical Codex”—in the British Pharmaceutical Codex;
(b) in the case of an article the name of which is followed by the words “Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary”—in the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary;
(c) in the case of an article the name of which is followed by the words “British Pharmacopoeia” and a reference to a particular year—in the edition of the British Pharmacopoeia published in that year; and
(d) in any other case—
(i) if the article is described in the British Pharmacopoeia—in the British Pharmacopoeia;
(ii) if the article is not described in the British Pharmacopoeia but is described in the British Pharmaceutical Codex—in the British Pharmaceutical Codex; or
(iii) if the article is not described in the British Pharmacopoeia or in the British Pharmaceutical Codex but is described in the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary—in the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary.
Certificate of recovery of seaman from illness or injury.
Distances beyond which certain ships to carry medical practitioners.
Distances beyond which certain ships to carry first aid attendants.
Authorities authorized to issue certificates to first aid attendants.
(a) St. John’s Ambulance Association;
(b) St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association;
(c) St. Patrick’s Ambulance Association;
(d) British Red Cross Society;
(e) London County Council;
(f) Glamorgan County Council;
(g) Leith Technical College; and
(h) A Medical Officer of one of Her Majesty’s Ships.
THE SCHEDULES
FIRST SCHEDULE.
Form 1. Reg. 5.
Commonwealth of Australia.
Navigation Act 1912-19 .
No.............
REPORT OF MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SEAMEN.
Application No......... Date of Application....................
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:490.5pt; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr style="height:17.7pt"><td colspan="2" style="width:257pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:middle"><p class="Style121" style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle169" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Name </span><span class="FontStyle195" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">of Person.</span></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="width:50pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p class="Style121" style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle195" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Age.</span></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="width:63.5pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p class="Style121" style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle195" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Rank</span><br><span class="FontStyle195" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">or</span><br><span class="FontStyle195" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Rating.</span></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="width:104pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p class="Style121" style="text-align:center; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle195" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Name of Ship.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:18.25pt"><td style="width:104pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:middle"><p class="Style121" style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle195" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Surname.</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p class="Style121" style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle195" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Christian Names (in full).</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:46.05pt"><td style="width:104pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Style25" style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Style25" style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:50pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Style25" style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:63.5pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Style25" style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:104pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Style25" style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2"><span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
First Schedule—continued.
Form 1—continued.
I have examined the above-named person in pursuance of regulation 5 of the Navigation (Health) Regulations and I report as follows:—
History......
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.