(1) Subject to subsection (2) the master of every Saint Lucian ship shall enter into an agreement in accordance with this Act with every seaman whom he or she engages and carries to sea as one of his or her crew, and the master of any ship shall enter into such an agreement with every seaman whom he or she engages in Saint Lucia or carries to sea from Saint Lucia as one of his or her crew.
(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply in any case where the ship concerned does not exceed 24 metres, and which is not engaged on an international voyage.
(3) The Minister may waive the requirements stipulated in subsection (1), or he or she may vary the contents of the approved form of the crew agreement in respect of any ship if he or she considers it expedient to do so.
(4) The Minister may make regulations for the engagement of seamen and matters pertaining to the engagement of seamen in respect of all vessels including vessels of 24 metres or less in length which are not engaged on international voyage.