On‑board complaint procedures
s 55
Open ↗55.—(1) A shipowner must ensure that there are on board the shipowner’s ship appropriate procedures to allow seafarers to make a complaint against any person in connection with any possible breach of any provision under this Act or other relevant written law. (2) The procedures mentioned in subsection (1) include —(a) a right to lodge a complaint directly with the master of the ship; (b) a right to be represented or accompanied; and (c) adequate safeguards to ensure that the rights of the seafarers are not prejudiced by the making of complaints. (3) On the receipt of a complaint, the master must investigate the complaint. (4) If a seafarer is not satisfied with the action taken by the master as a result of the master’s investigation, or by the master’s failure to take any action, the seafarer may state his or her dissatisfaction to the master and indicate that he or she wishes to lodge a complaint to the Director or if the ship is not in Singapore, to a port State authority. (5) On being notified of the seafarer’s dissatisfaction under subsection (4), the master must make adequate arrangements to enable the seafarer to lodge a complaint as soon as the service of the ship permits. (6) The Director must, on receiving the complaint mentioned in subsection (4), investigate the complaint. (7) A master of a ship who, without reasonable cause, fails to comply with this section, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.