Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (SEAFARERS) (CERTIFICATION OF OFFICERS) REGULATION - SECT 14

Proceeding to sea with less than the required number of deck or engineer officers

There shall be no contravention of section 13 where, by reason of illness,
absence or other unforeseeable happening, a ship proceeds to sea, other than
on a voyage within river trade limits, manned by 1 less than the required
number of deck officers, or 1 less than the required number of engineer
officers or 1 less than the required number of officers in both departments:
Provided that this section shall not apply unless-

   (a)  all reasonable steps are taken to man the ship as required by this
        Regulation;

   (b)  the Authority is notified of the facts before the ship proceeds and
        such notification is entered in the ship's official log book;

   (c)  the master of the ship is satisfied that it is safe to proceed and
        enters a statement to that effect in the ship's official log book; and

   (d)  the ship does not continue to be so undermanned for a period exceeding
        28 days. (Enacted 1995)