Section 21: Grant „of masters‟, serangs‟, engineers‟ and engine-drivers‟ certificates of competency.

(1) The State Government or such officer as it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, shall grant to every person who is reported by the examiners to possess the prescribed qualifications, a certificate of competency to the effec t that he is competent to act as a first-class master, second-class master or scrang, or as an engineer, first-class engine- driver or second-class engine-driver, as the case may be, on board an inland 1 [mechanically propelled vessel]:

Provided nevertheless that, before granting a certificate of competency under this Act, the authority empowered to grant such certificate may, if it considers the report of the examiners regarding any applicant for such certificate to be defective, or has reason to believe tha t such report has been unduly made, require a further examination or a re -examination of the applicant.

(2) Every certificate granted under this section shall be in the prescribed form.