(1) When there has been any allegation that a seafarer—
(a) is suffering from any habit or any mental or physical condition rendering him or her unfit to be a seafarer;
(b) is guilty of dishonesty, incompetence or misconduct in the performance of his or her functions as a seafarer;
(c) procured his or her certificate of competency or licence as a result of any misleading, false or fraudulent misrepresentation,
the Minister may appoint a board of inquiry of at least one person but not more than 3 persons, at least one of whom shall have served as a senior officer on board a ship, to enquire into the allegation.
(2) A board of inquiry appointed under subsection (1) shall have all the powers of a person holding a preliminary inquiry under section 439.
(3) The board of inquiry shall, at the conclusion of its investigation, send a full report of the proceedings and evidence to the Minister.