Registration of British ships

1 Central register of British ships

(1) There shall be established, for all registrations of ships in the United Kingdom under this Act, a register of British ships which shall be available for public inspection.

(2) The register shall be maintained by the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen as registrar.

(3) The Secretary of State may designate any person to discharge, on behalf of the registrar, all his functions or such of them as the Secretary of State may direct.

(4) The Secretary of State may give to the registrar directions of a general nature as to the discharge of any of his functions.

(5) The register shall be so constituted as to distinguish, in a separate part, registrations of fishing vessels and may be otherwise divided into parts so as to distinguish between classes or descriptions of ships.

(6) The register shall be maintained in accordance with registration regulations and the private law provisions for registered ships and any directions given by the Secretary of State under subsection (4) above.

(7) On the appointed day for the opening of the new register established under subsection (1) above the following existing registers shall close, that is to say—

(a) the register of British ships maintained under Part I of the [1894 c. 60] Merchant Shipping Act 1894;

(b) the register of small British ships maintained under section 5 of the [1983 c. 13] Merchant Shipping Act 1983; and

(c) the register of British fishing vessels maintained under section 13 of the [1988 c. 12] Merchant Shipping Act 1988;

and all registrations in those registers in force on that day shall become registrations in the new register.

2 Registration of ships: basic provisions

(1) A ship is entitled to be registered if—

(a) it is owned, to the prescribed extent, by persons qualified to own British ships; and

(b) such other conditions are satisfied as are prescribed under subsection (2)(b) below;

(and any application for registration is duly made).

(2) It shall be for registration regulations—

(a) to determine the persons who are qualified to be owners of British ships, or British ships of any class or description, and to prescribe the extent of the ownership required for compliance with subsection (1)(a) above;

(b) to prescribe other requirements designed to secure that, taken in conjunction with the requisite ownership, only ships having a British connection are registered.

(3) The registrar may, if registration regulations so provide, refuse to register a ship or terminate the registration of a ship if, having regard to any relevant requirements of the Merchant Shipping Acts he considers it would be inappropriate for the ship to be or, as the case may be, to remain registered.

(4) The registrar may, if registration regulations so provide, register a fishing vessel notwithstanding that the requirement of subsection (1)(a) above is not satisfied in relation to a particular owner of a share in the vessel if the vessel otherwise has a British connection.

(5) Where a ship becomes registered at a time when it is already registered under the law of a country other than the United Kingdom, the owner of the ship shall take all reasonable steps to secure the termination of the ship’s registration under the law of that country.

(6) Subsection (5) above does not apply to a ship which becomes registered on a transfer of registration to the register from a relevant British possession.

(7) Any person who contravenes subsection (5) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(8) In subsection (3) above “the relevant requirements of the Merchant Shipping Acts” means the requirements of those Acts (including requirements falling to be complied with after registration) relating to—

(a) the condition of ships or their equipment so far as relevant to their safety or any risk of pollution; and

(b) the safety, health and welfare of persons employed or engaged in them.

(9) In this Act references to a ship’s having a British connection are references to compliance with the conditions of entitlement imposed by subsection (1)(a) and (b) above and “declaration of British connection” is to be construed accordingly.

3 Registration regulations

(1) The Secretary of State shall by regulations (to be known as “registration regulations”) make provision for and in connection with the registration of ships as British ships.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, registration regulations may, in particular, make provision with respect to any of the following matters—

(a) the persons by whom and the manner in which applications in connection with registration are to be made;

(b) the information and evidence (including declarations of British connection) to be provided in connection with such applications and such supplementary information or evidence as may be required by any specified authority;

(c) the shares in the property in, and the number of owners (including joint owners) of, a ship permitted for the purposes of registration and the persons required or permitted to be registered in respect of a ship or to be so registered in specified circumstances;

(d) the issue of certificates (including provisional certificates) of registration, their production and surrender;

(e) restricting and regulating the names of ships registered or to be registered;

(f) the marking of ships registered or to be registered, including marks for identifying the port to which a ship is to be treated as belonging;

(g) the period for which registration is to remain effective without renewal;

(h) the production to the registrar of declarations of British connection or other information relating thereto, as respects registered ships, at specified intervals or at his request;

(i) the survey and inspection of ships registered or to be registered and the recording of their tonnage as ascertained (or re-ascertained) under the tonnage regulations;

(j) the refusal, suspension and termination of registration in specified circumstances;

(k) matters arising out of the expiration, suspension or termination of registration (including the removal of marks and the cancellation of certificates);

(l) the charging of fees in connection with registration or registered ships;

(m) the transfer of the registration of ships to and from the register from and to registers or corresponding records in countries other than the United Kingdom;

(n) inspection of the register;

(o) any other matter which is authorised or required by this Act to be prescribed in registration regulations;

but no provision determining, or providing for determining, the fees to be charged or prescribing any arrangements for their determination by other persons shall be made without the approval of the Treasury.

(3) Registration regulations may—

(a) make different provision for different classes or descriptions of ships and for different circumstances;

(b) without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, make provision for the granting of exemptions or dispensations by the Secretary of State from specified requirements of the regulations, subject to such conditions (if any) as he thinks fit to impose; and

(c) make such transitional, incidental or supplementary provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient, including provision authorising investigations and conferring powers of inspection for verifying the British connection of a ship.

(4) Registration regulations—

(a) may make provision for the registration of any class or description of ships to be such as to exclude the application of the private law provisions for registered ships and, if they do, may regulate the transfer, transmission or mortgaging of ships of the class or description so excluded;

(b) may make provision for any matter which is authorised or required by those provisions to be prescribed by registration regulations; and

(c) shall make provision precluding notice of any trust being entered in the register or being receivable by the registrar except as respects specified classes or descriptions of ships or in specified circumstances.

(5) Registration regulations may create offences subject to the limitation that no offence shall be punishable with imprisonment or punishable on summary conviction with a fine exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(6) Registration regulations may provide for—

(a) the approval of forms by the Secretary of State; and

(b) the discharge of specified functions by specified authorities or persons.

(7) Registration regulations may provide for any of their provisions to extend to places outside the United Kingdom.

(8) The power to make registration regulations shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(9) Any document purporting to be a copy of any information contained in an entry in the register and to be certified as a true copy by the registrar shall be evidence (and, in Scotland, sufficient evidence) of the matters stated in the document.

(10) Any fees received by the Secretary of State in pursuance of registration regulations shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

4 Offences relating to a ship’s British connection

(1) Any person who, in relation to any matter relevant to the British connection of a ship—

(a) makes to the registrar a statement which he knows to be false or recklessly makes a statement which is false; or

(b) furnishes to the registrar information which is false,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) If at any time there occurs, in relation to a registered ship, any change affecting the British connection of the ship the owner of the ship shall, as soon as practicable after the change occurs, notify the registrar of that change; and if he fails to do so he shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) Any person who intentionally alters, suppresses, conceals or destroys a document which contains information relating to the British connection of a ship and which he has been required to produce to the registrar in pursuance of registration regulations shall be guilty of an offence.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both.

(5) This section applies to things done outside, as well as to things done within, the United Kingdom.

5 Supplementary provisions as respects fishing vessels

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, if a fishing vessel which—

(a) is either—

(i) entitled to be registered, or

(ii) wholly owned by persons qualified to be owners of British ships, but

(b) is registered neither under this Act in the part of the register relating to fishing vessels nor under the law of any country outside the United Kingdom,

fishes for profit the vessel shall be liable to forfeiture and the skipper, the owner and the charterer of the vessel shall each be guilty of an offence.

(2) Subsection (1) above does not apply to fishing vessels of such classes or descriptions or in such circumstances as may be specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3) If the skipper or owner of a fishing vessel which is not registered in the United Kingdom does anything, or permits anything to be done, for the purpose of causing the vessel to appear to be a vessel registered in the United Kingdom, then, subject to subsection (4) below, the vessel shall be liable to forfeiture and the skipper, the owner and any charterer of the vessel shall each be guilty of an offence.

(4) Where the registration of a fishing vessel has terminated by virtue of any provision of registration regulations, any marks prescribed by registration regulations displayed on the fishing vessel within the period of 14 days beginning with the date of termination of that registration shall be disregarded for the purposes of subsection (3) above.

(5) Any person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50,000;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both.

(6) Proceedings for an offence under this section shall not be instituted—

(a) in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General, the Secretary of State or the Minister; or

(b) in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State or the Minister.

(7) In subsection (6) above “the Minister”—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and

(b) in relation to Northern Ireland, means the Secretary of State concerned with sea fishing in Northern Ireland.

(8) This section applies to things done outside, as well as to things done within, the United Kingdom.

(9) Sections 8 and 9 of the [1968 c. 77] Sea Fisheries Act 1968 (general powers of British sea-fishery officers and powers of sea-fishery officers to enforce conventions) shall apply in relation to any provision of this section or of registration regulations in their application to fishing vessels or fishing vessels of any class or description as they apply in relation to any order mentioned in section 8 of that Act and in relation to any convention mentioned in section 9 of that Act respectively; and sections 10 to 12 and 14 of that Act (offences and supplemental proceedings as to legal proceedings) shall apply accordingly.

6 Private law provisions for registered ships and liability as owner

(1) Schedule 1 (which makes provision relating to the title to, and the registration of mortgages over, ships) shall have effect.

(2) Schedule 1 does not apply in relation to ships which are excluded from its application by registration regulations under section 3(4)(a).

(3) Where any person is beneficially interested, otherwise than as mortgagee, in any ship or share in a ship registered in the name of some other person as owner, the person so interested shall, as well as the registered owner, be liable to any pecuniary penalties imposed by or under the Merchant Shipping Acts or any other Act on the owners of registered ships.

(4) Where the registration of any ship terminates by virtue of any provision of registration regulations, the termination of that registration shall not affect any entry made in the register so far as relating to any undischarged registered mortgage of that ship or of any share in it.

(5) In subsection (4) above “registered mortgage” has the same meaning as in that Schedule.

(6) In this Act “the private law provisions for registered ships” means the provisions of Schedule 1 and registration regulations made for the purposes of that Schedule or the provisions of registration regulations made under section 3(4)(a).

Special provisions for ships on bareboat charter

7 Ships bareboat chartered-in by British charterers

(1) This section applies to any ship which—

(a) is registered under the law of a country other than the United Kingdom (“the country of original registration”),

(b) is chartered on bareboat charter terms to a charterer who is a person qualified to own British ships, and

(c) is so chartered in circumstances where the conditions of entitlement to registration prescribed under section 2(2)(b), read with the requisite modifications, are satisfied as respects the charterer and the ship.

(2) The “requisite modifications” of those conditions are the substitution for any requirement to be satisfied by or as respects the owner of a ship of a corresponding requirement to be satisfied by or as respects the charterer of the ship.

(3) A ship to which this section applies is entitled to be registered if an application for registration is duly made, but section 2(3) applies also in relation to registration by virtue of this section.

(4) The registration of a ship registered by virtue of this section shall remain in force (unless terminated earlier by virtue of registration regulations and subject to any suspension thereunder) until the end of the charter period and shall then terminate by virtue of this subsection.

(5) Section 2(5) does not apply to a ship registered by virtue of this section but registration regulations shall include provision for securing that the authority responsible for the registration of ships in the country of original registration is notified of the registration of the ship and of the termination of its registration whether by virtue of subsection (4) above or registration regulations.

(6) Accordingly, throughout the period for which a ship is registered by virtue of this section—

(a) the ship shall, as a British ship, be entitled to fly the British flag;

(b) the Merchant Shipping Acts shall, subject to subsections (7) and (8) below, apply to the ship as a British ship or as a registered ship as those Acts apply to other British ships and to registered ships; and

(c) any other enactment applicable to British ships or ships registered under those Acts shall, subject to subsection (8) below, apply to the ship as a British ship or as a registered ship.

(7) The private law provisions for registered ships shall not apply to a ship registered by virtue of this section and any matters or questions corresponding to those for which the private law provisions for registered ships make provision shall be determined by reference to the law of the country of original registration.

(8) Her Majesty may, subject to subsection (9) below, by Order in Council, provide that any enactment falling within subsection (6)(b) or (c) above—

(a) shall not have effect in accordance with that subsection in relation to a ship registered by virtue of this section, or

(b) shall so have effect subject to such modifications (if any) as may be specified in the Order.

(9) No provision shall be made by an Order in Council under subsection (8) above which would have the effect of relaxing the relevant requirements of the Merchant Shipping Acts (within the meaning of section 2(3)) in their application to a ship to which this section applies.

(10) An Order in Council under subsection (8) above—

(a) may make such transitional, incidental or supplementary provision as appears to Her Majesty to be necessary or expedient (including provision divesting or providing for the divestment of ownership in the ship); and

(b) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(11) In this section—

• “bareboat charter terms”, in relation to a ship, means the hiring of the ship for a stipulated period on terms which give the charterer possession and control of the ship, including the right to appoint the master and crew; and

• “the charter period” means the period during which the ship is chartered on bareboat charter terms.

Supplementary and pre-consolidation provisions

8 Amendments and repeals including those for purposes of consolidation

(1) Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect for making amendments consequential on the provisions of this Act.

(2) Schedule 3 to this Act (which substantially re-enacts certain provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts relating to British ships and the British flag) shall have effect.

(3) Schedule 4 to this Act shall have effect for making amendments designed to facilitate, or otherwise desirable in connection with, the consolidation of the enactments relating to merchant shipping.

(4) The enactments mentioned in Schedule 5 to this Act (which include enactments which are spent or are of no practical utility) are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule, subject, however, to the saving at the end of the Schedule.

9 Interpretation, etc

(1) This Act shall be construed as one with the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1988.

(2) In this Act—

• “British connection” and “declaration of British connection” have the meaning given in section 2(9);

• “the Merchant Shipping Acts” means the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1988 and this Act;

• “the private law provisions for registered ships” has the meaning given in section 6;

• “the register” means the register maintained for the United Kingdom under section 1 and “registered” (except with reference to the law of another country) is to be construed accordingly;

• “the registrar” means the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen in his capacity as registrar or, as respects functions of his being discharged by another authority or person, that authority or person;

• “registration regulations” means regulations under section 3;

• “relevant British possession” means—

  (a)

  the Isle of Man,

  (b)

  the Channel Islands, or

  (c)

  any colony; and

• “the tonnage regulations” means regulations under section 1 of the [1965 c. 47] Merchant Shipping Act 1965.

(3) Where, for the purposes of any enactment, the question arises whether a ship is owned by persons qualified to own British ships, the question shall be determined by reference to registration regulations made under section 2(2)(a).

(4) Any reference in any other Act or in any instrument made under any other Act to the registration of a ship (or fishing vessel) under any of the enactments mentioned in section 1(7) shall be construed, unless the context otherwise requires, as, or as including, a reference to registration under this Act; and connected phrases shall be construed accordingly.

(5) Registration regulations may provide that any reference in any other Act or in any instrument made under any other Act to the port of registry of a ship or the port to which a ship belongs shall be construed as a reference to the port identified by the marks required for the purpose by registration regulations.

(6) The Secretary of State may, by order made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, make such amendments of any local Act or instrument so far as it provides for the registration of ships in local registers as appear to him to be appropriate in view of the provision made by section 1.

10 Short title, commencement and extent

(1) This Act may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993; and this Act and the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1988 may be cited together as the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1993.

(2) This Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint by order made by statutory instrument, and different days may be appointed for different provisions or different purposes.

(3) An order under subsection (2) above may include such transitional, saving and supplementary provision (including modifications of any enactment) as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate in connection with the transition to the new register or the partial operation of section 1 or in connection with the amendments made by Schedule 4 to this Act.

(4) This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

SCHEDULES

Section 6

SCHEDULE 1 Private Law Provisions for Registered Ships

General

1 (1) Subject to any rights and powers appearing from the register to be vested in any other person, the registered owner of a ship or of a share in a ship shall have power absolutely to dispose of it provided the disposal is made in accordance with this Schedule and registration regulations.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above does not imply that interests arising under contract or other equitable interests cannot subsist in relation to a ship or a share in a ship; and such interests may be enforced by or against owners and mortgagees of ships in respect of their interest in the ship or share in the same manner as in respect of any other personal property.

(3) The registered owner of a ship or of a share in a ship shall have power to give effectual receipts for any money paid or advanced by way of consideration on any disposal of the ship or share.

Transfers etc. of registered ships

2 (1) Any transfer of a registered ship, or a share in such a ship, shall be effected by a bill of sale satisfying the prescribed requirements, unless the transfer will result in the ship ceasing to have a British connection.

(2) Where any such ship or share has been transferred in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) above, the transferee shall not be registered as owner of the ship or share unless—

(a) he has made the prescribed application to the registrar; and

(b) the registrar is satisfied that the ship retains a British connection and that he would not refuse to register the ship.

(3) If an application under sub-paragraph (2) above is granted by the registrar, the registrar shall register the bill of sale in the prescribed manner.

(4) Bills of sale shall be registered in the order in which they are produced to the registrar for the purposes of registration.

3 (1) Where a registered ship, or a share in a registered ship, is transmitted to any person by any lawful means other than a transfer under paragraph 2 above and the ship continues to have a British connection, that person shall not be registered as owner of the ship or share unless—

(a) he has made the prescribed application to the registrar; and

(b) the registrar is satisfied that the ship retains a British connection and that he would not refuse to register the ship.

(2) If an application under sub-paragraph (1) is granted by the registrar, the registrar shall cause the applicant’s name to be registered as owner of the ship or share.

4 (1) Where the property in a registered ship or share in a registered ship is transmitted to any person by any lawful means other than a transfer under paragraph 2 above, but as a result the ship no longer has a British connection, the High Court or the Court of Session may, on application by or on behalf of that person, order a sale of the property so transmitted and direct that the proceeds of sale, after deducting the expenses of the sale, shall be paid to that person or otherwise as the court direct.

(2) The court may require any evidence in support of the application they think requisite, and may make the order on any terms and conditions they think just, or may refuse to make the order, and generally may act in the case as the justice of the case requires.

(3) Every such application must be made within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the occurrence of the event on which the transmission has taken place, or within such further time (not exceeding one year) as the court may allow.

(4) If—

(a) such an application is not made within the time allowed by or under sub-paragraph (3) above; or

(b) the court refuse an order for sale,

the ship or share transmitted shall be liable to forfeiture.

5 (1) Where any court (whether under paragraph 4 above or otherwise) order the sale of any registered ship or share in a registered ship, the order of the court shall contain a declaration vesting in some named person the right to transfer the ship or share.

(2) The person so named shall be entitled to transfer the ship or share in the same manner and to the same extent as if he were the registered owner of the ship or share.

(3) The registrar shall deal with any application relating to the transfer of the ship or share made by the person so named as if that person were the registered owner.

6 (1) The High Court or Court of Session may, if they think fit (without prejudice to the exercise of any other power), on the application of any interested person, make an order prohibiting for a specified time any dealing with a registered ship or share in a registered ship.

(2) The court may make the order on any terms or conditions they think just, or may refuse to make the order, or may discharge the order when made (with or without costs or, in Scotland, expenses) and generally may act in the case as the justice of the case requires.

(3) The order, when a copy is served on the registrar, shall be binding on him whether or not he was made a party to the proceedings.

Mortgages of registered ships

7 (1) A registered ship, or share in a registered ship, may be made a security for the repayment of a loan or the discharge of any other obligation.

(2) The instrument creating any such security (referred to in the following provisions of this Schedule as a “mortgage”) shall be in the form prescribed by or approved under registration regulations.

(3) Where a mortgage executed in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) above is produced to the registrar, he shall register the mortgage in the prescribed manner.

(4) Mortgages shall be registered in the order in which they are produced to the registrar for the purposes of registration.

Priority of registered mortgages

8 (1) Where two or more mortgages are registered in respect of the same ship or share, the priority of the mortgagees between themselves shall, subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, be determined by the order in which the mortgages were registered (and not by reference to any other matter).

(2) Registration regulations may provide for the giving to the registrar by intending mortgagees of “priority notices” in a form prescribed by or approved under the regulations which, when recorded in the register, determine the priority of the interest to which the notice relates.

Registered mortgagee’s power of sale

9 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, every registered mortgagee shall have power, if the mortgage money or any part of it is due, to sell the ship or share in respect of which he is registered, and to give effectual receipts for the purchase money.

(2) Where two or more mortgagees are registered in respect of the same ship or share, a subsequent mortgagee shall not, except under an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, sell the ship or share without the concurrence of every prior mortgagee.

Protection of registered mortgagees

10 Where a ship or share is subject to a registered mortgage—

(a) except so far as may be necessary for making the ship or share available as a security for the mortgage debt, the mortgagee shall not by reason of the mortgage be treated as owner of the ship or share; and

(b) the mortgagor shall be treated as not having ceased to be owner of the ship or share.

Transfer of registered mortgage

11 (1) A registered mortgage may be transferred by an instrument made in the form prescribed by or approved under registration regulations.

(2) Where any such instrument is produced to the registrar, the registrar shall register the transferee in the prescribed manner.

Transmission of registered mortgage by operation of law

12 Where the interest of a mortgagee in a registered mortgage is transmitted to any person by any lawful means other than by a transfer under paragraph 11 above, the registrar shall, on production of the prescribed evidence, cause the name of that person to be entered in the register as mortgagee of the ship or share in question.

Discharge of registered mortgage

13 Where a registered mortgage has been discharged, the registrar shall, on production of the mortgage deed and such evidence of the discharge of the mortgage as may be prescribed, cause an entry to be made in the register to the effect that the mortgage has been discharged.

Definitions

14 In this Schedule—

• “mortgage” shall be construed in accordance with paragraph 7(2) above;

• “prescribed” means prescribed in registration regulations; and

• “registered mortgage” means a mortgage registered under paragraph 7(3) above.

Section 8(1)

SCHEDULE 2 Consequential Amendments

1 (1) Section 26 of the [1868 c. 45] Sea Fisheries Act 1868 (sea fishing boats within British waters to have official papers) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)—

(a) for the words “Part II of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988” there shall be substituted the words “the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993”; and

(b) for the words “that Part of that Act” there shall be substituted the words “registration regulations under section 3 of that Act”.

(3) In subsection (5), in the definition of “foreign sea-fishing boat”, for paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) there shall be substituted the following—

“(a) is not registered in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and

(b) is not wholly owned by persons qualified to own British ships for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993.”.

2 In the [1894 c. 60] Merchant Shipping Act 1894—

(a) in section 82 (tonnage on registration to be registered tonnage of ship), for the words from “the same” to the end there shall be substituted the words “that tonnage shall be treated as the tonnage of the ship except so far as registration regulations provide, in specified circumstances, for the ship to be re-measured and the register amended accordingly.”; and

(b) in section 742 (definitions), there shall be inserted as the first two definitions the following—

““the register” means the register of British ships kept under section 1 of the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993;

“registration regulations” means regulations under section 3 of that Act;”.

3 In section 80(1) of the [1906 c. 48] Merchant Shipping Act 1906 (power to register Government ships)—

(a) for the words from “for the purpose” to “those Acts” there shall be substituted the words “in the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993, and the Merchant Shipping Acts,”; and

(b) for the words “in manner provided by those Acts” there shall be substituted the words “in accordance with that Act”.

4 In section 6(1)(c) of the [1965 c. 19 (N.I.)] Contracts of Employment and Redundancy Payments Act (Northern Ireland) 1965 (excluded categories of employees), from the word “registered” to the end there shall be substituted the words “registered under the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993”.

5 (1) In section 163(3) of the [1966 c. 17 (N.I.)] Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (names of owners to be painted on fishing boats registered under Part IV of the 1894 Act) for the words “Part IV of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894” there shall be substituted the words “the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993”.

(2) In section 174(4) of that Act (examination of certificates for fishing boats) for the words from “Part IV” to the end there shall be substituted the words “the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993”.

6 In section 1 of the [1967 c. 84] Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (size, limits, etc. for fish) for subsection (9) (definitions) there shall be substituted the following subsection—

“(9) In this section—

• “British fishing boat” means a fishing boat which either is registered in the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993 or is owned wholly by persons qualified to own British ships for the purposes of that Act; and

• “foreign fishing boat” means any fishing boat other than a British fishing boat.”.

7 In section 5(8) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (restriction on scope of certain orders), in paragraph (b), for the words “Merchant Shipping Act 1894” there shall be substituted the words “Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993”.

8 In section 22(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (definitions), in the definition of “British-owned”, for the words “(within the meaning of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894)” and “(within the meaning of that Act)” there shall be substituted the words “for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993” and “for those purposes” respectively.

9 In section 19(1) of the [1968 c. 77] Sea Fisheries Act 1968 (definitions)—

(a) for the definitions of “British fishing boat” and “foreign fishing boat” there shall be substituted the following definition—

““British fishing boat” means a fishing boat which either is registered in the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993 or is wholly British-owned”; and

(b) in the appropriate places there shall be inserted the following definitions—

““foreign fishing boat” means any fishing boat other than a British fishing boat;”

““wholly British-owned” means wholly owned by persons qualified to own British ships for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993;”.

10 In section 8 of the [1976 c. 86] Fishery Limits Act 1976 (definitions)—

(a) for the definition of “foreign fishing boat” there shall be substituted the following definition—

““foreign fishing boat” means a fishing boat which is not—

(a) registered in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man; or

(b) wholly British-owned;” and

(b) in the appropriate place there shall be inserted the following definition—

““wholly British-owned” means wholly owned by persons qualified to own British fishing boats for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993;”.

11 In section 144(1)(b) of the [1978 c. 44] Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 (mariners), for the words following “registered”, there shall be substituted the words “under the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993”.

12 In section 81(7) of the [1979 c. 2] Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (power to regulate small craft), for the words from “fishing vessel” to “1988”, there shall be substituted the words “fishing vessel registered under the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993”.

13 In section 9 of the [1983 c. 8] British Fishing Boats Act 1983 (definitions)—

(a) for the definition of “British fishing boat” there shall be substituted the following definition—

““British fishing boat” means a fishing boat which either is registered in the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993 or is wholly British-owned”; and

(b) in the appropriate place there shall be inserted the following definition—

““wholly British-owned” means wholly owned by persons qualified to own British ships for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993;”.

14 In section 9(1) of the [1984 c. 26] Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984 (definitions)—

(a) for the definition of “British fishing boat” there shall be substituted the following definition—

““British fishing boat” means a fishing boat which either is registered in the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993 or is wholly British-owned;” and

(b) in the appropriate place there shall be inserted the following definition—

““wholly British-owned” means wholly owned by persons qualified to own British ships for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993;”.

15 (1) The [1988 c. 12] Merchant Shipping Act 1988 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In section 11 (regulation of registration in British territories overseas)—

(a) in subsection (1), for the words from “of ships” to “territories” there shall be substituted the words “in relevant British possessions of ships other than small ships and fishing vessels”;

(b) in subsection (2)—

(i) in paragraph (a) for the words “under Part I of the 1894 Act” there shall be substituted the words “in such possessions”;

(ii) in paragraphs (b) and (c), for the words “overseas territory” there shall be substituted the words “British possession”; and

(iii) in paragraph (c), for the words from “Part I” to the end there shall be substituted the words “the law of that possession”;

(c) in subsection (3)—

(i) for the word “territory” there shall be substituted the word “possession”; and

(ii) the words “under Part I of the 1894 Act” shall be omitted; and

(d) at the end insert—

“(5) In this section—

• “relevant British possession” has the meaning given in paragraph 4 of Schedule 4 to the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc) Act 1993; and

• “small ship” has the meaning given in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 3 to that Act”.

(3) In section 47 (application of Merchant Shipping Acts to ships chartered by demise to the Crown)—

(a) in subsections (3) and (5), for the words “registration enactments” there shall be substituted the words “Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993”;

(b) in subsection (7)—

(i) after the definition of “Government ship” there shall be inserted the following definition—

““the Merchant Shipping Acts” means the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1986, this Act and the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993;”; and

(ii) the definition of “the registration enactments” shall be omitted.

(4) In section 52 (disclosure of information to the Secretary of State by other government departments)—

(a) in subsection (1), after paragraph (a), there shall be inserted—

“(aa) to the registrar of British ships (within the meaning of the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993), or”; and

(b) in subsections (1) and (3), for the words “Part I or Part II” there shall be substituted the words “the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993”.

Section 8(2)

SCHEDULE 3 British Ships

British ships

1 (1) A ship is a British ship if—

(a) the ship is registered in the United Kingdom under this Act; or

(b) the ship is registered in the United Kingdom in pursuance of an Order in Council under section 80 of the [1906 c. 48] Merchant Shipping Act 1906 (Government ships); or

(c) the ship is registered under the law of a relevant British possession; or

(d) the ship is a small ship other than a fishing vessel and—

(i) is not registered under this Act, but

(ii) is wholly owned by qualified owners, and

(iii) is not registered under the law of a country outside the United Kingdom.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(d) above—

• “qualified owners” means persons of such description qualified to own British ships as is prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State for the purposes of that sub-paragraph; and

• “small ship” means a ship less than 24 metres in length (“length” having the same meaning as in the tonnage regulations).

(3) The power to make regulations for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(d) above shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

The British flag

2 (1) The flag which every British ship is entitled to fly is the red ensign (without any defacement or modification) and, subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, no other colours.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply to Government ships within the meaning of section 80 of the [1906 c. 48] Merchant Shipping Act 1906.

(3) The following are also proper national colours, that is to say—

(a) any colours allowed to be worn in pursuance of a warrant from Her Majesty or from the Secretary of State;

(b) in the case of British ships registered in a relevant British possession, any colours consisting of the red ensign defaced or modified whose adoption for ships registered in that possession is authorised or confirmed by Her Majesty by Order in Council.

Penalty for carrying improper colours

3 (1) If any of the following colours, namely—

(a) any distinctive national colours except-

(i) the red ensign,

(ii) the Union flag (commonly known as the Union Jack) with a white border, or

(iii) any colours authorised or confirmed under paragraph 2(3)(b) above; or

(b) any colours usually worn by Her Majesty’s ships or resembling those of Her Majesty, or

(c) the pendant usually carried by Her Majesty’s ships or any pendant resembling that pendant,

are hoisted on board any British ship without warrant from Her Majesty or from the Secretary of State, the master of the ship, or the owner of the ship (if on board) and every other person hoisting them shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (1) above shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine;

(b) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

(3) If any colours are hoisted on board a ship in contravention of sub-paragraph (1) above, any of the following, namely—

(a) any commissioned naval or military officer,

(b) any officer of customs and excise, and

(c) any British consular officer,

may board the ship and seize and take away the colours.

(4) Any colours seized under sub-paragraph (3) above shall be forfeited to Her Majesty.

(5) In this paragraph—

• “colours” includes any pendant;

• “commissioned naval officer” means a commissioned officer in Her Majesty’s navy on full pay and “commissioned military officer” has a corresponding meaning.

Duty to show British flag

4 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, a British ship, other than a fishing vessel, shall hoist the red ensign or other proper national colours—

(a) on a signal being made to the ship by one of Her Majesty’s ships (including any ship under the command of a commissioned naval officer); and

(b) on entering or leaving any foreign port; and

(c) in the case of ships of 50 or more tons gross tonnage, on entering or leaving any British port.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1)(c) above does not apply to a small ship (as defined in paragraph 1(2) above) registered under this Act.

(3) In this paragraph “commissioned naval officer” has the same meaning as in paragraph 3 above.

Offences relating to British character of ship

5 (1) If the master or owner of a ship which is not a British ship does anything, or permits anything to be done, for the purpose of causing the ship to appear to be a British ship then, except as provided by sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, the ship shall be liable to forfeiture and the master, the owner and any charterer shall each be guilty of an offence.

(2) No liability arises under sub-paragraph (1) above where the assumption of British nationality has been made for the purpose of escaping capture by an enemy or by a foreign ship of war in the exercise of some belligerent right.

(3) Where the registration of any ship has terminated by virtue of any provision of registration regulations, any marks prescribed by registration regulations displayed on the ship within the period of 14 days beginning with the date of termination of that registration shall be disregarded for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) above.

(4) If the master or owner of a British ship does anything, or permits anything to be done, for the purpose of concealing the nationality of the ship, the ship shall be liable to forfeiture and the master, the owner and any charterer of the ship shall each be guilty of an offence.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraphs (1) and (4) above, those sub-paragraphs apply in particular to acts or deliberate omissions as respects—

(a) the flying of a national flag;

(b) the carrying or production of certificates of registration or other documents relating to the nationality of the ship; and

(c) the display of marks required by the law of any country.

(6) Any person guilty of an offence under this paragraph shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50,000;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both.

(7) This paragraph applies to things done outside, as well as to things done within, the United Kingdom.

Duty to declare national character of ship

6 (1) An officer of customs and excise shall not grant a clearance or transire for any ship until the master of such ship has declared to that officer the name of the nation to which he claims that the ship belongs, and that officer shall thereupon enter that name on the clearance or transire.

(2) If a ship attempts to proceed to sea without such clearance or transire, the ship may be detained until the declaration is made.

Status of certificate of registration

7 The certificate of registration of a British ship shall be used only for the lawful navigation of the ship, and shall not be subject to detention to secure any private right or claim.

Section 8(3)

SCHEDULE 4 Pre-Consolidation Amendments

Preliminary

1 (1) In this Schedule—

• “the 1894 Act” means the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, and so for any other Merchant Shipping Act of a specified year;

• “the Merchant Shipping Acts” means the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1988 and this Act and also the [1911 c. 57] Maritime Conventions Act 1911 and the [1971 c. 60] Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 except sections 2(1) and 3 (and so much of it as relates to them);

• “the Oil Pollution Act” means the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971; and

• “United Kingdom ship” means a ship registered in the United Kingdom under this Act.

(2) Any power under any provision in this Schedule to make regulations or orders shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Terminology and construction

2 (1) Except as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) below, in the Merchant Shipping Acts—

(a) “ship” includes every description of vessel used in navigation;

(b) any reference to a vessel, except in the expression “fishing vessel”, shall be construed as a reference to a ship (as so defined);

(c) “fishing vessel” means a vessel for the time being used (or, in the context of an application for registration, intended to be used) for or in connection with fishing for sea fish, other than a vessel used (or intended to be used) for fishing otherwise than for profit; and for the purposes of this definition “sea fish” includes shellfish, salmon and migratory trout (as defined by section 44 of the [1981 c. 29] Fisheries Act 1981);

(d) a vessel for the time being used (or intended to be used) wholly for the purpose of conveying persons wishing to fish for pleasure is not a fishing vessel;

(e) “foreign”, in relation to a ship, means that it is neither a United Kingdom ship nor a small ship (as defined in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 3 to this Act) which is a British ship;

(f) “master”, in relation to a fishing vessel, means the skipper; and

(g) any reference to “home trade ships” shall be construed as a reference to ships employed in trading or going between places in the limited trading area, as defined for the time being in regulations; and similarly as respects any reference to a “home trade passenger ship”;

and any enactment in which “ship” or “vessel” has the same meaning as in the Merchant Shipping Acts shall be construed in accordance with (a) and (b) above.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1)(a) and (b) above do not apply in relation to Part IX of the 1894 Act and sections 16 and 17 of the 1974 Act.

(3) In the Merchant Shipping Acts—

(a) “United Kingdom waters” means the sea or other waters within the seaward limits of the territorial sea of the United Kingdom;

(b) “national waters”, in relation to the United Kingdom, means United Kingdom waters landward of the baselines for measuring the breadth of its territorial sea;

and in section 544 of the 1894 Act the reference to British waters shall be construed as a reference to United Kingdom waters.

(4) In the Merchant Shipping Acts any reference to, or to any of, the tackle, equipments, furniture or apparel of a ship shall be construed as a reference to the equipment of a ship.

(5) In the Merchant Shipping Acts any reference to carriages, wagons or carts shall be construed as a reference to vehicles.

3 Without prejudice to the effect of any provision for the construction of any Act (“the Act in question”) included in the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1988 as one with the previous Acts so included, references in the Acts so previously included to the Merchant Shipping Acts shall be construed as including references to the Act in question.

Extent and application: generalised provisions

4 (1) Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that any provision of the Merchant Shipping Acts and instruments made under them shall, with such exceptions, adaptations and modifications (if any) as may be specified in the Order, extend to any relevant British possession.

(2) Her Majesty may, in relation to any relevant British possession, by Order in Council direct that, with such exceptions, adaptations and modifications (if any) as may be specified in the Order, any of the provisions of those Acts shall have effect as if references in them to the United Kingdom included a reference to that possession.

(3) An Order in Council under this paragraph may make such transitional, incidental or supplementary provision as appears to Her Majesty to be necessary or expedient.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (3) above, an Order in Council under this paragraph may, in its application to any relevant British possession, provide for such authority in that possession as is specified in the Order to furnish the Secretary of State or the registrar with such information with respect to the registration of ships in that territory under its law as is specified in the Order or as the Secretary of State may from time to time require, and for any such information to be so furnished at such time or times and in such manner as is or are so specified or (as the case may be) as the Secretary of State may so require.

(5) In this paragraph “relevant British possession” means—

(a) the Isle of Man;

(b) any of the Channel Islands; and

(c) any colony.

5 (1) The Secretary of State may make regulations specifying any description of non-United Kingdom ships and directing that such of the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts and of instruments under those Acts as may be specified in the regulations—

(a) shall extend to non-United Kingdom ships of that description and to masters and seamen employed in them, or

(b) shall so extend in such circumstances as may be so specified, with such modifications (if any) as may be so specified.

(2) Regulations under this paragraph may contain such transitional, supplementary and consequential provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.

(3) In this paragraph “non-United Kingdom ships” means ships which are not registered in the United Kingdom.

Extent of application of Acts

6 (1) The following provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts (which expressly or by implication apply to or in relation to British ships), namely—

(a) in the 1894 Act—

• section 458 (shipowner’s obligation as to seaworthiness);

• section 544 (saving life outside United Kingdom waters);

• section 689 (returns in cases of offences abroad);

• section 723 (powers to require production of ship’s documents, etc.); and