Shipping agents

(1) Every vessel registered in IMMARBE shall have at all times a shipping agent in Belize appointed by the shipowner. (2) Only, (i) an attorney-at-law who holds a current practising certificate issued in accordance with section 11 of the Legal Profession Act, Cap. 320; (ii) an accountant who possesses a current practising in accordance with section 9 of the Accountancy Profession Act, Cap. 305; (iii) a company registered under the Companies Act, Cap. 250 which is a licensed bank or a financial institution within the meaning of the Banks and Financial Institutions Act, Cap. 263; or (iv) a person designated for the purpose by the Minister, may act as a shipping 31 (3) The Minister shall, after consultation with such persons and interest groups as he may consider appropriate, prescribe qualifications for persons who may be designated as shipping agents under paragraph (iv) of subsection (2) of this section. (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, the Minister may, after consultation with such persons and interest groups as he may consider appropriate, disqualify any person or company from acting or continuing to act as a shipping agent if he is satisfied that such person or company is engaged in undesirable or unscrupulous activities or is otherwise not a fit and proper person or company to act as a (5) Every formal application submitted to IMMARBE shall be signed by the shipping agent of the vessel as well as by the owner or his duly authorised representative. (6) Persons who were shipping agents prior to 20th May, 1996, may continue to be shipping agents after that date notwithstanding that they do not possess the qualifications of shipping agents specified in this section and a vessel registered in IMMARBE may continue to employ such shipping agents.