Navigation (Sight Tests for Apprentices) Regulations

Legislation au C1964L00036 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Select Document

NAVIGATION (SIGHT TESTS FOR APPRENTICES) REGULATIONS.

Statutory Rules 1964, No. 36.(b)

Citation.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Navigation (Sight Tests for Apprentices) Regulations.

Definitions.

2. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“candidate” means a candidate for the sight test prescribed by these Regulations;

“the Examiner” means a person appointed to conduct examinations under the Navigation (Examination of Masters and Mates) Regulations;

“the Principal Examiner” means the person for the time being holding or performing the duties of the office of the Commonwealth Principal Examiner of Masters and Mates.

Sight test for apprentices.

3. For the purpose of paragraph (c) of sub-section (1.) of section 35 of the Navigation Act 1912-1961, the prescribed sight test consists of a form vision test and a colour vision test conducted in accordance with these Regulations.

Candidate not to use artificial aid to vision during test.

4. A candidate shall not use glasses, spectacles, contact lenses or any other artificial aid to vision during the sight test.

Candidate to be tested in form vision test before colour vision test.

5. A candidate shall be tested in the form vision test before he is tested in the colour vision test.

Form vision test.

6.—(1.) The form vision test shall be conducted in accordance with this regulation.

(2.) The test shall be conducted on Snellen’s principle by means of sheets of letters.

(3.) Each sheet shall contain seven lines, and the fifth, sixth and seventh lines of each sheet shall contain letters of sizes that subtend an angle of five minutes of arc at distances of ten metres, seven and one-half metres and five metres, respectively.

(b) Made under the Navigation Act 1912-1961 on 6 March, 1964; notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 6 March, 1964.

(4.) The sheets shall be hung on a wall at a height between five and six feet from the floor, and an electric light shall be so placed and screened that it falls directly on two lines of the letters on each sheet when that sheet is exposed.

(5.) The Examiner shall ensure that there are no glaring lights or bright objects in the candidate’s field of vision.

(6.) The Examiner shall cause the candidate to be placed at a distance of sixteen feet from, and directly in front of, the sheets.

(7.) The Examiner shall cause three sheets to be exposed, one at a time, to the candidate and shall ask him to read aloud the letters in each line of each sheet.

(8.) The candidate shall—

(a) when reading from the first sheet—use only one eye;

(b) when reading from the second sheet—use only his other eye; and

(9.) Where a candidate reads correctly from two of the sheets but fails to read correctly from the remaining sheet, the Examiner shall cause a fourth sheet to be exposed to the candidate and shall ask him to read aloud the letters in each line of that sheet in whichever manner specified in the last preceding sub-regulation was applicable in relation to the sheet from which he failed to read correctly.

(10.) The Examiner shall not expose more than four sheets to a candidate and shall not expose the same sheet to a candidate more than once.

(11.) A candidate shall be deemed to read correctly from a sheet if—

(a) where he uses only his better eye—he is able to read correctly from the sheet all the letters down to and including the sixth line and not less than four of the seven letters in the seventh line;

(b) where he uses only his other eye—he is able to read correctly from the sheet all the letters down to and including the fifth line and not less than five of the six letters in the sixth line; and

(c) where he uses both eyes together—he is able to read correctly from the sheet all the letters down to and including the sixth line and not less than six of the seven letters in the seventh line.

(12.) A candidate shall be deemed to have passed the form vision test if—

(a) he is able to read correctly from the first, second and third sheets exposed to him; or

(b) he is able to read correctly from two of those sheets and is able to read correctly from the fourth sheet exposed to him.

Further test of candidate who fails to pass form vision test.

7. A candidate who fails to pass the form vision test may be tested again at intervals of not less than three months.

Candidate to pass form vision test before attempting colour vision test.

8.—(1.) Subject to the next suceeding sub-regulation, where a candidate fails to pass the form vision test, the Examiner shall not test him by the colour vision test.

(2.) Where a candidate fails to pass the form vision test but, at that test, is able, when using both eyes together, to read correctly from one of the sheets all the letters down to and including the fifth line, not less than five of the six letters in the sixth line and not less than four of the seven letters in the seventh line, the Examiner shall, at the request of the candidate, test him by the colour vision test.

Colour vision test.

9.—(1.) The colour vision test shall be conducted in accordance with this regulation.

(2.) The test shall be held in a room from which all daylight has been excluded.

(3.) The test shall be conducted by means of a special lantern and mirror provided for the purposes of the test.

(4.) The Examiner shall cause the lantern to be placed directly in front of the mirror so that the portion of the lantern nearest the mirror is ten feet from the mirror.

(5.) The Examiner shall cause the candidate to be placed on the left of the lantern so that the candidate is able to see clearly the lights from the lantern reflected in the mirror.

(6.) The Examiner shall explain to the candidate the nature and colours of the lights shown by the lantern.

(7.) The Examiner shall then show the candidate a series of lights through the large aperture in the lantern and not less than thirty-six pairs of lights through the two small apertures of the lantern and shall ask him to name the colour of each light shown through the large aperture and the colours, from left to right, of each pair of lights shown through the small apertures.

(8.) If the candidate makes mistakes in naming the colours of the lights at the beginning of the test—

(a) the Examiner shall cause the candidate to remain in a wholly or partly darkened room for not less than fifteen minutes; and

(b) at the expiration of that period, the Examiner shall again test the candidate by the colour vision test in accordance with the preceding provisions of this regulation.

When candidate shall be deemed to have passed the colour vision test.

10.—(1.) A candidate shall be deemed to have passed the colour vision test if—

(a) he does not make a mistake in naming the colours of the lights; or

(b) the only mistakes made by him are to name the white light “red” and, after the Examiner has directed his attention to the difference between the white and red lights, he does not make a further mistake.

(2.) If a candidate makes any other mistake in naming the colours of the lights, the Examiner shall—

(a) if he is the Principal Examiner—decide whether the candidate has passed or failed to pass the test; or

(b) in any other case—refer the results of the test to the Principal Examiner.

(3.) The Principal Examiner shall consider the results of a test referred to him in accordance with paragraph (b) of the last preceding sub-regulation and shall decide whether the candidate has passed or failed to pass the test.

(4.) Where the Principal Examiner thinks it desirable to do so, he may, before deciding whether a candidate has passed or failed to pass the test, require the candidate to be again tested by the colour vision test in accordance with the last preceding regulation.

Further test of candidate who fails to pass the colour vision test.

11.—(1.) The Principal Examiner may permit a candidate who failed to pass the colour vision test to be again tested by that test, in which event the candidate may, upon payment of a fee determined by the Minister, apply to the Principal Examiner for a further test.

(2.) A fee paid under the last preceding sub-regulation shall be repaid to the candidate if he passes the further test.

Overview

The Navigation (Sight Tests for Apprentices) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1964, No. 36, were enacted to address the need for standardised sight tests for apprentices in the maritime industry, ensuring that they meet specific vision standards necessary for safe navigation. These Regulations were made under the Navigation Act 1912-1961 and came into effect on 6 March 1964, as notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on the same day. The policy objective is to establish a consistent and rigorous process for assessing the visual acuity of maritime apprentices, thus ensuring that they are fit for their roles at sea. The Regulations outline the procedures for conducting both form vision and colour vision tests, stipulating the conditions under which these tests must be performed and the criteria for passing them. Candidates are not permitted to use any artificial aids to vision during the tests, and the tests are conducted in a manner that eliminates external distractions to ensure accurate results. These Regulations establish a clear and standardised framework for testing the sight of apprentices, ensuring that all candidates are assessed under the same conditions and criteria. The form vision test involves reading letters of specific sizes from a distance, while the colour vision test requires the candidate to identify the colours of lights displayed through a lantern. Candidates who fail the form vision test may be retested after a period of at least three months, and those who fail the colour vision test may also be retested, subject to certain conditions and fees. The regulations aim to provide a robust system for evaluating the visual capabilities of maritime apprentices, thereby contributing to the safety and efficiency of maritime operations.

Scope and Application

The Navigation (Sight Tests for Apprentices) Regulations, 1964, are instrumental in establishing the procedures for sight tests required for apprentices in the maritime industry under the Navigation Act 1912-1961. These regulations apply to candidates for the sight tests, which are conducted by appointed Examiners under the oversight of the Principal Examiner. The regulations define the roles of the Examiner and the Principal Examiner and specify the tests that candidates must undergo, including a form vision test and a colour vision test. Candidates are prohibited from using artificial aids to vision during the test, and they must first pass the form vision test before being eligible to attempt the colour vision test. The form vision test is conducted using specific Snellen's principle sheets, and candidates must read certain letters at prescribed distances to pass. If a candidate fails the form vision test, they may be retested after a minimum interval of three months, but only if they meet specific criteria. The colour vision test is conducted in a controlled environment using a special lantern and mirror, and candidates must correctly identify the colours of the lights to pass. If a candidate fails the colour vision test, they may apply for a further test, subject to a fee and the discretion of the Principal Examiner. The scope of these regulations is national, as they are made under the Navigation Act 1912-1961 and apply across the Commonwealth of Australia. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the text of the regulations themselves, but the application and enforcement of these regulations may be subject to any relevant provisions within the principal Act or other related legislation. The application of these regulations may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, although such provisions are not detailed in the provided text.

Key Provisions

The Navigation (Sight Tests for Apprentices) Regulations 1964 establish the procedures for conducting sight tests for candidates aspiring to become maritime apprentices. Section 3 outlines that the prescribed sight test comprises a form vision test and a colour vision test. According to Section 4, candidates must not use any artificial aids to vision, such as glasses, contact lenses, or other corrective devices, during the test. Section 5 specifies that the form vision test must precede the colour vision test. The Regulations detail the specific procedures for conducting these tests. For the form vision test, Section 6 explains that it should follow Snellen's principle using sheets with letters. These sheets must contain seven lines, with specific letter sizes that subtend certain angles at specific distances (Section 6(3)). The sheets are hung at a specified height, and an electric light is positioned to illuminate the letters properly (Section 6(4)). The Examiner ensures there are no distractions in the candidate's field of vision and positions the candidate at a distance of sixteen feet from the sheets (Section 6(5) and (6)). The Examiner exposes three sheets to the candidate, asking them to read aloud the letters in each line, alternating the use of their eyes as specified (Section 6(7) and (8)). If the candidate fails to read correctly from two sheets, a fourth sheet may be used (Section 6(9)). The Examiner must not expose more than four sheets or the same sheet more than once (Section 6(10)). The candidate is deemed to have passed the form vision test if they read correctly from the specified number of sheets (Section 6(12)). The Regulations also outline the obligations for candidates and Examiners. Candidates are required to comply with the testing procedures and prohibitions on using artificial aids to vision (Section 4). Examiners must conduct the tests in accordance with the specified procedures, ensuring all conditions are met (Section 6). Furthermore, candidates who fail the form vision test may be retested at intervals of at least three months (Section 7). Breaching the regulations may lead to consequences. While the Regulations do not explicitly state penalties for violations, failure to adhere to the testing procedures or using prohibited aids to vision could result in a candidate being deemed unfit for the apprenticeship, impacting their career prospects in the maritime industry. Additionally, Examiners must adhere to the stipulated procedures to ensure the validity and fairness of the tests.

Instrument: Legislative Instrument
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Regulatory Standards; Enforcement Powers

Interactions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

Legislation content

Overview

Scope and Application

Key Provisions

Legal classification tags

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions