28. Power for State Government to require Master or engineer to hold certificate granted under Act in addition to other certificate.-
Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, the State Government may, by general or special order, direct that a person possessing-
(a) a master's 3[certificate granted or deemed to be granted under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958)], or
(b) an engineer's or engine-driver's 3[certificate granted or deemed to be granted under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), shall not act as master or engineer, as the case may be, of an inland 1[mechanically propelled vessel] unless he also possesses-
(i) in case (a), such a master's or serang's certificate granted under this Act as qualified him under this Chapter to act as master of the 1[mechanically propelled vessel], or
(ii) in case (b), such an engineer's or engine-driver's certificate granted under this Act as qualifies him under this Chapter to act as engineer of the 1[mechanically propelled vessel]: Provided that, for the purposes of this section, the State Government may 4[if it thinks fit], grant to any person, without examination, a master's or scrang's or an engineer's or engine-driver's certificate of competency under this Act, and such certificate shall have the same effect as a certificate of competency granted under this Act after examination.