Law

Merchant Shipping Act 1995

United Kingdom · statute

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In force since 2026-06-23, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 386 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 British ships and United Kingdom ships.
  3. 2 British flag.
  4. 3 Offences relating to British character of ship.
  5. 4 Penalty for carrying improper colours.
  6. 5 Duty to show British flag.
  7. 6 Duty to declare national character of ship.
  8. 7 Proceedings on forfeiture of a ship.
  9. 8 Central register of British ships.
  10. 9 Registration of ships: basic provisions.
  11. 10 Registration regulations.
  12. 11 Tonnage ascertained for registration to be tonnage of ship.
  13. 12 Tonnage of ships of foreign countries adopting tonnage regulations.
  14. 13 Status of certificate of registration.
  15. 14 Offences relating to a ship’s British connection.
  16. 15 Supplementary provisions as respects fishing vessels.
  17. 16 Private law provisions for registered ships and liability as owner.
  18. 17 Ships bareboat chartered-in by British charterers.
  19. 18 Regulation of registration in British possessions by reference to categories of registries.
  20. 19 Tonnage regulations.
  21. 20 Proceedings on forfeiture of ship.
  22. 21 Disclosure of information relating to registration by other government departments.
  23. 22 Forgery of documents: Scotland.
  24. 23 Interpretation.
  25. 24 Application of this Part.
  26. 25 Crew agreements.
  27. 26 Regulations relating to crew agreements.
  28. 27 Discharge of seamen.
  29. 28 Seamen left behind abroad otherwise than on discharge.
  30. 29 Discharge of seamen when ship ceases to be registered in United Kingdom.
  31. 30 Payment of seamen’s wages.
  32. 31 Account of seaman’s wages.
  33. 32 Regulations relating to wages and accounts.
  34. 33 Power of superintendent or proper officer to decide disputes about wages.
  35. 34 Restriction on assignment of and charge upon wages.
  36. 35 Power of court to award interest on wages due otherwise than under crew agreement.
  37. 36 Allotment notes.
  38. 37 Right of person named in allotment to sue in own name.
  39. 38 Right, or loss of right, to wages in certain circumstances.
  40. 39 Protection of certain rights and remedies.
  41. 40 Claims against seaman’s wages for maintenance, etc. of dependants.
  42. 41 Remedies of master for remuneration, disbursements and liabilities.
  43. 42 Obligation of shipowners as to seaworthiness.
  44. 43 Crew accommodation.
  45. 44 Complaints about provisions or water.
  46. 45 Expenses of medical and other treatment during voyage.
  47. 46 Application of sections 47 to 51.
  48. 47 Manning.
  49. 48 Power to exempt from manning requirements.
  50. 49 Prohibition of going to sea undermanned.
  51. 50 Production of certificates and other documents of qualification.
  52. 51 Crew’s knowledge of English.
  53. 52 Unqualified persons going to sea as qualified officers or seamen.
  54. 53 Medical treatment on board ship.
  55. 54 Special certificates of competence.
  56. 55 Young persons.
  57. 56 Financial assistance for training.
  58. 57 Uniform.
  59. 58 Conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals.
  60. 59 Concerted disobedience and neglect of duty.
  61. 61 Inquiry into fitness or conduct of officer.
  62. 62 Disqualification of holder of certificate other than officer’s.
  63. 63 Inquiry into fitness or conduct of seaman other than officer.
  64. 64 Re-hearing of and appeal from inquiries.
  65. 65 Rules as to inquiries and appeals.
  66. 66 Failure to deliver cancelled or suspended certificate.
  67. 67 Power to restore certificate.
  68. 68 Power to summon witness to inquiry into fitness or conduct of officer or other seaman.
  69. 69 Procedure where inquiry into fitness or conduct of officer or other seaman is held by sheriff.
  70. 70 Civil liability for absence without leave.
  71. 71 Civil liability for smuggling.
  72. 72 Civil liability for fines imposed under immigration laws.
  73. 73 Relief and return of seamen etc. left behind and shipwrecked.
  74. 74 Limit of employer’s liability under section 73.
  75. 75 Recovery of expenses incurred for relief and return, etc.
  76. 76 Financial assistance in respect of crew relief costs.
  77. 77 Official log books.
  78. 78 Lists of crew.
  79. 79 British seamen’s cards.
  80. 80 Discharge books.
  81. 81 Handing over of documents by master.
  82. 82 Maintenance of Merchant Navy Reserve.
  83. 83 Supplementary provisions as respects the Reserve.
  84. 84 Interpretation.
  85. 84A International agreements relating to maritime employment
  86. 84B Regulations under section 84A: supplementary
  87. 85 Safety and health on ships.
  88. 86 Provisions supplementary to section 85: general.
  89. 87 Provisions supplementary to section 85: dangerous goods.
  90. 88 Safety of submersible and supporting apparatus.
  91. 89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  92. 90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  93. 91
  94. 92 Duty of ship to assist the other in case of collision.
  95. 93 Duty to assist aircraft in distress.
  96. 94 Meaning of “dangerously unsafe ship”.
  97. 95 Power to detain dangerously unsafe ship.
  98. 96 References of detention notices to arbitration.
  99. 97 Compensation in connection with invalid detention of ship.
  100. 98 Owner and master liable in respect of dangerously unsafe ship.
  101. 99 Use of unsafe lighters, etc.
  102. 100 Owner liable for unsafe operation of ship.
  103. 100A Power to establish temporary exclusion zones.
  104. 100B Temporary exclusion zones: offences
  105. 100C Power to require ships to be moved.
  106. 100D Offences in relation to section 100C.
  107. 100E Service of directions under section 100C.
  108. 100F Requirements to be met by ships in respect of which trans-shipment licences in force.
  109. 100G Failure to comply with prescribed standards in respect of ship in respect of which trans-shipment licence is in force.
  110. 101 Offences in connection with passenger ships.
  111. 102 Power to exclude drunken passengers from certain passenger ships.
  112. 103 Stowaways.
  113. 104 Unauthorised presence on board ship.
  114. 105 Master’s power of arrest.
  115. 106 Unauthorised persons: offences relating to safety.
  116. 107 Return to be furnished by masters of ships as to passengers.
  117. 108 Returns of births and deaths in ships, etc.
  118. 108A Safety directions
  119. 109 Regulations relating to crew agreements.
  120. 110 Payments of seamen’s wages.
  121. 112 Accounts of wages and catch.
  122. 113 Restriction on assignment of and charge upon wages.
  123. 114 Right, or loss of right, to wages in certain circumstances.
  124. 116 Production of crew certificates and other documents of qualification.
  125. 117 Drunkenness on duty.
  126. 119 Disciplinary offences.
  127. 120 Power to grant exemptions from this Chapter.
  128. 121 Fishing vessel construction rules.
  129. 122 Fishing vessel survey rules.
  130. 123 Fishing vessel certificates.
  131. 124 Provisions supplementary to section 123.
  132. 125 Prohibition on going to sea without appropriate certificate.
  133. 126 Notice of alterations.
  134. 128 Prevention of pollution from ships etc.
  135. 129 Further provision for prevention of pollution from ships.
  136. 130 Regulation of transfers between ships in territorial waters.
  137. 130A General.
  138. 130B Waste management plans.
  139. 130C Charges for and use of waste reception facilities.
  140. 130D Supplementary.
  141. 130E Interpretation of Chapter IA.
  142. 131 Discharge of oil from ships into certain United Kingdom waters.
  143. 132 Defences of owner or master charged with offence under section 131.
  144. 133 Defences of occupier charged with offence under section 131
  145. 134 Protection for acts done in exercise of certain powers of harbour authorities, etc.
  146. 135 Restrictions on transfer of oil at night.
  147. 136 Duty to report discharge of oil into waters of harbours.
  148. 136A Discharges etc. authorised under other enactments.
  149. 137 Shipping casualties.
  150. 138 Right to recover in respect of unreasonable loss or damage.
  151. 138A Application of sections 137 and 138 to pollution by substances other than oil.
  152. 139 Offences in relation to section 137.
  153. 140 Service of directions under section 137.
  154. 141 Application of sections 137 to 140 to certain foreign and other ships.
  155. 142 Oil records.
  156. 143 Prosecutions and enforcement of fines.
  157. 144 Power to detain ships for section 131 offences.
  158. 145 Interpretation of section 144
  159. 146 Enforcement and application of fines.
  160. 147 Enforcement of Conventions relating to oil pollution.
  161. 148 Power of Secretary of State to grant exemptions.
  162. 149 Application to Government ships.
  163. 150 Annual Report.
  164. 151 Interpretation.
  165. 152 Meaning of “the Bunkers Convention”, “the Liability Convention” and related expressions.
  166. 153 Liability for oil pollution in case of tankers.
  167. 153A Liability for pollution by bunker oil
  168. 154 Liability for oil pollution in other cases.
  169. 155 Exceptions from liability under sections 153 , 153A and 154.
  170. 156 Restriction of liability for pollution from oil or bunker oil.
  171. 156A Liability under section 153, 153A or 154: supplementary provisions
  172. 157 Limitation of liability under section 153.
  173. 158 Limitation actions.
  174. 159 Restriction on enforcement after establishment of limitation fund.
  175. 160 Concurrent liabilities of owners and others.
  176. 161 Establishment of limitation fund outside United Kingdom.
  177. 162 Extinguishment of claims.
  178. 163 Compulsory insurance against liability for pollution.
  179. 163A Compulsory insurance against liability for pollution from bunker oil
  180. 164 Issue of certificate by Secretary of State.
  181. 165 Rights of third parties against insurers.
  182. 166 Jurisdiction of United Kingdom courts and registration of foreign judgments.
  183. 167 Government ships.
  184. 168 Limitation of liability under section 153A or 154.
  185. 169 Saving for recourse actions.
  186. 170 Interpretation.
  187. 171 Transitory text of this Chapter and power to make transitional provisions.
  188. 172 Meaning of the “Liability Convention”, “the Fund Convention” and related expressions.
  189. 173 Contributions by importers of oil and others.
  190. 174 Power to obtain information.
  191. 175 Liability of the Fund.
  192. 176 Limitation of Fund’s liability under section 175.
  193. 176A Liability of the Supplementary Fund
  194. 176B Limitation of the Supplementary Fund’s liability under section 176A
  195. 177 Jurisdiction and effect of judgments.
  196. 178
  197. 179 Subrogation.
  198. 180 Supplementary provisions as to proceedings involving the Fund.
  199. 181 Interpretation.
  200. 182 Transitory text of this Chapter and power to make transitional provisions.
  201. 182A Introductory.
  202. 182B Power to give effect to Convention.
  203. 182C Power of Secretary of State to make orders.
  204. 183 Scheduled convention to have force of law.
  205. 184 Application of Schedule 6 to carriage within British Islands.
  206. 185 Limitation of liability for maritime claims.
  207. 186 Exclusion of liability.
  208. 187 Damage or loss: apportionment of liability.
  209. 188 Loss of life or personal injuries: joint and several liability.
  210. 189 Loss of life or personal injuries: right of contribution.
  211. 190 Time limit for proceedings against owners or ship.
  212. 191 Limitation of liability.
  213. 192 Application to Crown and its ships.
  214. 192A Compulsory insurance or security
  215. 193 General and local lighthouse authorities.
  216. 194 Returns and information to Secretary of State.
  217. 195 General function of management of lighthouses, etc.
  218. 196 Joint discharge of functions.
  219. 197 General powers of general lighthouse authority.
  220. 197A General lighthouse authorities: commercial activities
  221. 198 Inspection of local lighthouses.
  222. 199 Control of local lighthouse authorities.
  223. 200 Powers of inspection by Secretary of State.
  224. 201 Powers of harbour authorities.
  225. 202 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  226. 203 Individual transfers of local lighthouses to harbour authorities.
  227. 204 Surrender of local lighthouses.
  228. 205 Light dues leviable by general lighthouse authorities.
  229. 206 Information to determine light dues.
  230. 207 Recovery of general light dues.
  231. 208 Distress on ship for general light dues.
  232. 209 Receipt for general light dues and its production.
  233. 210 Light dues leviable by local lighthouse authorities.
  234. 211 General Lighthouse Fund: expenses and receipts.
  235. 212 Establishments of general lighthouse authorities.
  236. 213 Estimates or accounts of expenses to Secretary of State.
  237. 214 Pension rights of certain employees.
  238. 215 Borrowing powers of general lighthouse authorities.
  239. 216 Limit on borrowings under section 215.
  240. 217 Guarantees by Secretary of State.
  241. 218 Accounts of general lighthouse authorities.
  242. 219 Damage etc. to lighthouses etc.
  243. 220 Prevention of false lights.
  244. 221 Exemption from taxes, duties, rates etc.
  245. 222 Exemption from harbour dues.
  246. 222A Disclosure of information to general lighthouse authorities.
  247. 223 Interpretation, etc.
  248. 224 Salvage Convention 1989 to have force of law.
  249. 225 Valuation of property by receiver.
  250. 226 Detention of property liable for salvage by receiver.
  251. 227 Sale of detained property by receiver.
  252. 228 Apportionment of salvage under £5,000 by the receiver.
  253. 229 Apportionment of salvage by the court.
  254. 230 Salvage claims against the Crown and Crown rights of salvage and regulation thereof.
  255. 231 Application of, and discharge of functions under, sections 232, 233 234 and 235.
  256. 232 Duty of receiver where vessel in distress.
  257. 233 Powers of receiver in case of vessel in distress.
  258. 234 Power to pass over adjoining land.
  259. 235 Liability for damage in case of plundered vessel.
  260. 236 Duties of finder etc of wreck.
  261. 237 Provisions as respects cargo, etc.
  262. 238 Receiver to give notice of wreck.
  263. 239 Claims of owners to wreck.
  264. 240 Immediate sale of wreck in certain cases.
  265. 241 Right of Crown to unclaimed wreck.
  266. 242 Notice of unclaimed wreck to be given to persons entitled.
  267. 243 Disposal of unclaimed wreck.
  268. 244 Effect of delivery of wreck etc under this Part.
  269. 245 Taking wreck to foreign port.
  270. 246 Interfering with wrecked vessel or wreck.
  271. 247 Powers of entry etc.
  272. 248 Functions of Secretary of State as to wreck.
  273. 249 Expenses and fees of receivers.
  274. 250 Remuneration for services of coastguard.
  275. 251 Release of goods from customs and excise control.
  276. 252 Powers of harbour and conservancy authorities in relation to wrecks.
  277. 253 Powers of lighthouse authorities in relation to wrecks.
  278. 254 Referral of questions as to powers between authorities.
  279. 255 Interpretation.
  280. 255A “The Wrecks Convention”
  281. 255B Wreck reports
  282. 255C Locating and marking wrecks
  283. 255D Removal by registered owner
  284. 255E Imposition of conditions about removal
  285. 255F Removal in default
  286. 255G Liability for costs
  287. 255H Limitation period
  288. 255I Expenses of general lighthouse authorities
  289. 255J Wreck removal insurance
  290. 255K Failure to insure
  291. 255L Detention of ships
  292. 255M Production of certificates
  293. 255N Issue of certificates
  294. 255O Cancellation of certificates
  295. 255P Third parties' rights against insurers
  296. 255Q Electronic certificates
  297. 255R Interpretation etc.
  298. 255S Government ships
  299. 255T Saving
  300. 255U Power to amend
  301. 256 Appointment of inspectors and surveyors.
  302. 256A Scottish officers
  303. 257 Powers to require production of ships documents.
  304. 258 Powers to inspect ships and their equipment, etc.
  305. 259 Powers of inspectors in relation to premises and ships.
  306. 260 Provisions supplementary to section 259.
  307. 261 Improvement notices.
  308. 262 Prohibition notices.
  309. 263 Provisions supplementary to sections 261 and 262.
  310. 264 References of notices to arbitration.
  311. 265 Compensation in connection with invalid prohibition notices.
  312. 266 Offences.
  313. 267 Investigation of marine accidents.
  314. 268 Formal investigation into marine accidents.
  315. 269 Re-hearing of and appeal from investigations.
  316. 270 Rules as to investigations and appeals.
  317. 271 Inquiries into deaths of crew members and others.
  318. 272 Reports of and inquiries into injuries.
  319. 273 Transmission of particulars of certain deaths on ships.
  320. 274 Time limit for summary offences.
  321. 275 Time limit for summary orders.
  322. 276 Summary offences: Scotland.
  323. 277 Offences by officers of bodies corporate.
  324. 277A Accessories and abettors
  325. 278 Offences by partners, etc. in Scotland.
  326. 279 Jurisdiction in relation to offences.
  327. 280 Jurisdiction over ships lying off coasts.
  328. 281 Jurisdiction in case of offences on board ship.
  329. 282 Offences committed by British seamen.
  330. 283 Return of offenders.
  331. 284 Enforcing detention of ship.
  332. 285 Sums ordered to be paid leviable by distress on the ship.
  333. 286 Depositions of persons abroad admissible.
  334. 287 Admissibility in evidence and inspection of certain documents.
  335. 288 Admissibility of documents in evidence.
  336. 289 Inspection and admissibility in evidence of copies of certain documents.
  337. 290 Proof, etc of exemptions.
  338. 291 Service of documents.
  339. 292 General functions of Secretary of State.
  340. 293 Functions of Secretary of State in relation to marine pollution.
  341. 294 General power to dispense.
  342. 295 Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen.
  343. 296 Mercantile marine superintendents.
  344. 297 Wreck commissioners, etc.
  345. 298 Transmission of documents to Registrar General.
  346. 299 Returns, etc to Secretary of State.
  347. 300 Forms.
  348. 301 Advisory committees.
  349. 302 Fees.
  350. 302A Funding of maritime services.
  351. 303 Expenses of Commissioners of Customs and Excise.
  352. 304 Expenses charged on money provided by Parliament.
  353. 305 Payments to be made into Consolidated Fund.
  354. 306 Regulations, rules and orders, etc.
  355. 306A Power to make ambulatory references to international instruments
  356. 307 Application of Act to non-United Kingdom ships.
  357. 308 Application of Act to government ships.
  358. 309 Application of Act to ships chartered by demise to the Crown.
  359. 310 Application of Act to hovercraft.
  360. 311 Application of Act to certain structures, etc.
  361. 312 Special provisions for Scots law.
  362. 313 Definitions.
  363. 313A Meaning of “qualifying foreign ship”.
  364. 314 Repeals, consequential amendments and transitional provisions.
  365. 315 Extent and application.
  366. 316 Short title and commencement.
  367. SCHEDULE 1 Private Law Provisions for registered ships
  368. SCHEDULE 2 Regulations Relating to Submersible and Supporting Apparatus
  369. SCHEDULE 3
  370. SCHEDULE 3A Safety Directions
  371. SCHEDULE 4 Prevention of Oil Pollution: Transitory Provisions
  372. SCHEDULE 5 Overall Limit on Liability of Fund
  373. SCHEDULE 5ZA SUPPLEMENTARY FUND LIABILITY
  374. SCHEDULE 5A
  375. SCHEDULE 6 Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and Their Luggage by Sea
  376. SCHEDULE 7 Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976
  377. SCHEDULE 8 Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses
  378. SCHEDULE 9
  379. SCHEDULE 10 Local Light Dues: Objections
  380. SCHEDULE 11 International Convention on Salvage 1989
  381. SCHEDULE 11ZA Wrecks Convention
  382. Schedule 11A Funding of maritime services
  383. SCHEDULE 12 Repeals
  384. SCHEDULE 13 Consequential Amendments
  385. SCHEDULE 14 Transitory, Saving and Transitional Provisions
  386. Table of Derivations

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No one has proposed a change to this act yet.

386 provisions

81 Handing over of documents by master.

(1) If a person ceases to be the master of a United Kingdom ship during a voyage of the ship he shall deliver to his successor the documents relating to the ship or its crew which are in his custody. (2) If, without reasonable excuse, the master of such a ship fails to comply with subsection (1) above, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

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82 Maintenance of Merchant Navy Reserve.

(1) The Secretary of State may maintain the body of persons known as the Merchant Navy Reserve whose members may, in such circumstances and for such periods as the Secretary of State may determine, be required by him to serve in ships belonging to or employed in the service of Her Majesty. (2) The Merchant Navy Reserve shall consist of such number of persons as the Secretary of State may determine who voluntarily undertake to become members of the Reserve and are accepted as members of it. (3) The Secretary of State may determine the procedure by which, and the conditions under which, persons may become, or (subject to any regulations made by him under this section) may cease to be, members of the Merchant Navy Reserve. (4) The Secretary of State may make regulations with respect to the calling into, and discharge from, service of members of the Merchant Navy Reserve and with respect to other matters relating to the service of members of the Reserve. (5) Any such regulations may, in particular, make provision— (a) for call-out notices to be served on members of the Reserve; (b) for the requirements to be complied with by persons on whom such notices have been served; (c) as to the uniform and equipment with which members of the Reserve are to be provided; (d) for regulating the conduct and discipline of members of the Reserve who have entered into service, and for securing their attendance at their places of duty; (e) for the imposition of fines, or the forfeiture of pay or other amounts, for misconduct or breaches of discipline or for contravention of provisions of the regulations. (6) Without prejudice to the operation of subsection (5)(e) above, regulations under this section may provide that a contravention of the regulations shall be an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale or such lower amount as is prescribed by the regulations. (7) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different circumstances.

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83 Supplementary provisions as respects the Reserve.

(1) Subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may determine, there shall be payable to members of the Merchant Navy Reserve such pay, bounties and allowances as he may determine. (2) The Secretary of State may make such payments as he thinks fit in connection with the training and certification of members of the Merchant Navy Reserve (including payments to persons undergoing such training and payments in connection with the re-validation of certificates). (3) The Secretary of State shall not make any determination under subsection (1) above, or any payment under subsection (2) above, except with the consent of the Treasury. (4) Where any person is called into service by virtue of regulations under section 82— (a) the provisions of the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985 shall apply to that person as if any service rendered by him in pursuance of the call-out were whole-time service within the meaning of that Act; and (b) any service so rendered shall be relevant service within the meaning of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act 1951.

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84 Interpretation.

(1) In this Part— “crew agreement” has the meaning given to it by section 25(2); “relief and maintenance” includes the provision of surgical or medical treatment and such dental and optical treatment (including the repair or replacement of any appliance) as cannot be postponed without impairing efficiency; and “ship’s boat” includes a life-raft. (2) References in this Part to going to sea include references to going to sea from any country outside the United Kingdom. (3) For the purposes of this Part a seaman is discharged from a ship when his employment in that ship is terminated. (4) For the purposes of this Part a seaman discharged from a ship in any country and left there shall be deemed to be left behind in that country notwithstanding that the ship also remains there. (5) Any power conferred by this Part to provide for or grant an exemption includes power to provide for or grant the exemption subject to conditions.

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84A International agreements relating to maritime employment

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make such provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of giving effect to— (a) the Maritime Labour Convention, adopted on 23 February 2006 by the International Labour Organisation, as it has effect from time to time; (b) the Work in Fishing Convention, adopted on 14 June 2007 by the International Labour Organisation, as it has effect from time to time. (2) The Secretary of State may by regulations make such provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of giving effect to an international agreement that has been ratified by the United Kingdom, so far as the agreement relates to maritime employment. (3) The power in subsection (2) to give effect to an agreement so far as it relates to maritime employment includes power to give effect to any amendments of the agreement that relate to maritime employment. (4) For the purposes of this section, a provision relates to maritime employment if it relates to the terms and conditions of employment or engagement, or working conditions, of masters or seamen. (5) Section 84B makes further provision with respect to the regulations that may be made under this section.

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84B Regulations under section 84A: supplementary

(1) In subsections (2) to (9) “regulations” means regulations under section 84A. (2) Regulations— (a) may make provision in terms of approvals given by the Secretary of State or another person and in terms of any document which the Secretary of State or that other person considers relevant; (b) may provide for the cancellation of an approval given in pursuance of the regulations and for the alteration of the terms of such an approval; (c) must provide for any approval in pursuance of the regulations to be given in writing and to specify the date on which it takes effect and the conditions (if any) on which it is given. (3) Regulations may make provision for— (a) the granting by the Secretary of State or another person of exemptions from specified provisions of the regulations for classes of case or individual cases, on such terms (if any) as the Secretary of State or that other person may specify, and (b) for the alteration or cancellation of such exemptions. (4) Regulations may make provision in respect of the checking or monitoring of compliance with any provision of the regulations, including (among other things) provision for— (a) the making and keeping of records and the keeping of documents; (b) the issue of certificates; (c) the furnishing of information. (5) Regulations may— (a) provide for the detention of a ship in respect of which a contravention of the regulations is suspected to have occurred; (b) apply section 284 with or without modifications in relation to such detentions. (6) Regulations may provide for the contravention of any provision of the regulations to be a criminal offence, but may not provide— (a) for an offence under the regulations to be punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment; (b) in relation to Scotland or Northern Ireland— (i) for an offence under the regulations that is triable only summarily to be punishable by a fine exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; (ii) for an offence under the regulations that is triable summarily or on indictment to be punishable on summary conviction by a fine exceeding the statutory maximum; (c) for an offence under the regulations to be punishable on conviction on indictment with imprisonment for a term exceeding two years. (7) Regulations may provide that, in specified cases, specified persons each commit an offence created by regulations in reliance on subsection (6). (8) Regulations may— (a) make different provision for different purposes; (b) provide for references in the regulations to any specified document to operate as references to that document as revised or re-issued from time to time; (c) provide for the delegation of functions exercisable by virtue of the regulations. (9) The power to make regulations includes power to make consequential, supplementary, incidental or transitional provision. (10) The powers conferred by section 84A to make provision for the purpose of giving effect to an agreement or an amendment of an agreement include power to provide for the provision to come into force although the agreement or amendment has not come into force. (11) But regulations under section 84A may not provide for provision made for the purpose of giving effect to an agreement, or an amendment of an agreement, to come into force— (a) before the United Kingdom has ratified the agreement, or (b) in a case where— (i) the provision is for the purpose of giving effect to an amendment of an agreement, and (ii) the United Kingdom would not be required to give effect to the amendment until it had been ratified by the United Kingdom, before the United Kingdom has ratified the amendment. (12) Nothing in subsections (2) to (10) of this section is to be construed as restricting the generality of the powers conferred by section 84A. (13) A statutory instrument which contains (whether alone or with other provision) regulations under section 84A(2) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

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85 Safety and health on ships.

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations (in this Act referred to as “safety regulations”) make such provision as he considers appropriate for all or any of the following purposes— (a) for securing the safety of United Kingdom ships and persons on them, and for protecting the health of persons on United Kingdom ships; (b) for securing the safety of other ships and persons on them while they are within United Kingdom waters and for protecting the health of persons on ships other than United Kingdom ships while they are within United Kingdom waters. (1A) Except as provided by subsection (1B) below, safety regulations shall not apply in relation to— (a) a qualifying foreign ship while it is exercising— (i) the right of innocent passage; or (ii) the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation; or (b) persons on such a ship while it is exercising any such right. (1B) Safety regulations shall apply in relation to a qualifying foreign ship, and persons on such a ship, even though the ship is exercising a right mentioned in subsection (1A)(a) above, to the extent that the safety regulations give effect to any provisions of an international agreement ratified by the United Kingdom so far as it relates to the safety of ships or persons on them or to the protection of the health of persons on ships. (2) In subsection (1) above “United Kingdom ship” means a ship which— (a) is registered in the United Kingdom; or (b) is not registered under the law of any country but is wholly owned by persons each of whom is— (i) a British citizen, a British Dependent Territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen, or (ii) a body corporate which is established under the law of a part of the United Kingdom and has its principal place of business in the United Kingdom. (3) Regulations in pursuance of subsection (1)(a) or (b) above may make provision with respect to any of the following matters, . . ., that is to say— (a) the design, construction, maintenance, repair, alteration, inspection, surveying and marking of ships and their machinery and equipment; (b) the packaging, marking, loading, placing, moving, inspection, testing and measuring of cargo and anything on a ship which is not cargo, machinery or equipment; (c) the carrying out of any operation involving a ship; (d) the use of the machinery and equipment of a ship and of anything on a ship which is not cargo, machinery or equipment; (e) the manning of ships, including the employment on ships of persons qualified to attend to the health and safety of persons on the ships; (f) the arrangements for ensuring communication between persons in different parts of a ship and between persons in the ship and other persons; (g) the access to, presence in and egress from a ship, and different parts of it, of persons of any description; (h) the ventilation, temperature and lighting of different parts of a ship; (i) the steps to be taken to prevent or control noise, vibration and radiation in and from a ship and the emission in or from a ship of smoke, gas and dust; (j) the steps to be taken to prevent, detect and deal with outbreaks of fire on a ship; (k) the steps to be taken to prevent any collision involving a ship and in consequence of any collision involving a ship; (l) the steps to be taken, in a case where a ship is in distress or stranded or wrecked, for the purpose of saving the ship and its machinery, equipment and cargo and the lives of persons on or from the ship, including the steps to be taken by other persons for giving assistance in such a case; (m) the removal, by jettisoning or otherwise, of its equipment and of other things from a ship for the purpose of avoiding, removing or reducing danger to persons or property; (n) the steps to be taken, in a case where danger of any kind occurs or is suspected on a ship, for removing or reducing the danger and for warning persons who are not on the ship of the danger or suspected danger; (o) the making of records and the keeping of documents relating to ships and the keeping and use on a ship of information to facilitate the navigation of the ship; (p) the keeping of registers and the issue of certificates in cases for which registration or a certificate is required by virtue of the regulations; and (q) the furnishing of information; but the mention of specific matters in this subsection shall not be construed as restricting the generality of the power conferred by paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) above. (4) The power to make regulations conferred by subsection (1)above shall extend also to the making of regulations for the prevention of collisions between seaplanes on the surface of water and between ships and seaplanes and subsection (3)(k) above and (5) to (7) below and section 86(1) shall have effect accordingly. (5) Safety regulations— (a) may make provision in terms of approvals given by the Secretary of State or another person and in terms of any document which the Secretary of State or another person considers relevant from time to time; (b) may provide for the cancellation of an approval given in pursuance of the regulations and for the alteration of the terms of such an approval; and (c) must provide for any approval in pursuance of the regulations to be given in writing and to specify the date on which it takes effect and the conditions (if any) on which it is given. (6) Without prejudice to section 86(1)(b), safety regulations may provide— (a) for the granting by the Secretary of State or another person, on such terms (if any) as the Secretary of State or other person may specify, of exemptions from specified provisions of the regulations for classes of cases or individual cases; and (b) for the alteration or cancellation of exemptions granted in pursuance of the regulations. (7) Safety regulations may provide— (a) that in such cases as are prescribed by the regulations a ship shall be liable to be detained and that section 284 shall have effect, with such modifications (if any) as are prescribed by the regulations, in relation to the ship; (b) that a contravention of the regulations shall be an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum and on conviction on indictment by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years and a fine; (c) that any such contravention shall be an offence punishable only on summary conviction by a maximum fine of an amount not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or such less amount as is prescribed by the regulations; (d) that, in such cases as are prescribed by the regulations, such persons as are so prescribed shall each be guilty of an offence created by virtue of paragraph (b) or (c) above; (e) that, notwithstanding anything in paragraph (b) or (c) above, a person convicted summarily of an offence under the regulations of a kind which is stated by the regulations to correspond to an offence which is triable either summarily or on indictment under an enactment specified in the regulations which authorises or authorised a fine on summary conviction of a maximum amount exceeding the statutory maximum shall be liable to a fine not exceeding that maximum amount. (8) Safety regulations which make provision in respect of the prohibition of smoking on any ship (“the smoking provisions”) may include provision— (a) for the appointment by the Secretary of State of persons to enforce the smoking provisions (whether in respect of ships generally or for any particular case or purpose), and for the removal of any person so appointed, (b) for such persons (if they are not surveyors of ships appointed under section 256) to have the powers of such surveyors for the purposes of their enforcement functions, (c) for any such persons to have, for the purposes of their enforcement functions, powers corresponding to those which authorised officers have under paragraphs 2(b) to (e), 3 and 4, as read with paragraphs 5 and 9, of Schedule 2 to the Health Act 2006 (which confers powers of entry, etc., on authorised officers of enforcement authorities in relation to the enforcement of the provisions of that Act in relation to smoking), (d) in relation to an offence of smoking in a place where smoking is prohibited under the smoking provisions, for purposes corresponding to those of section 9 of and Schedule 1 to the Health Act 2006 (which provide for the giving by authorised officers of penalty notices in respect of such an offence). In this subsection, “smoking” has the same meaning as in Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Health Act 2006.

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86 Provisions supplementary to section 85: general.

(1) Safety regulations may— (a) make different provision for different circumstances and, in particular, make provision for an individual case; (b) be made so as to apply only in such circumstances as are prescribed by the regulations; (c) be made so as to extend outside the United Kingdom; (d) contain such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as the Secretary of State considers appropriate; (e) make provision for compensation to be paid, where a signal is used or displayed otherwise than in accordance with the regulations, for any expense or loss caused in consequence of the signal’s being taken for a signal of distress; and any compensation falling to be paid by virtue of regulations under paragraph (e) above may, without prejudice to any other remedy, be recovered in the same manner as salvage. (2) The Secretary of State may by regulations— (a) make such repeals or other modifications of provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1977 re-enacted in this Act, and of any instruments made under those Acts as he considers appropriate in consequence or in anticipation of the making of safety regulations; (b) make such repeals or other modifications of provisions of any enactment passed and any instrument made before 4th April 1979 as he considers appropriate in connection with any modification made or to be made in pursuance of paragraph (a); (c) provide for anything done under a provision repealed or otherwise modified by virtue of either of the preceding paragraphs to have effect as if done under safety regulations and make such other transitional provision and such incidental and supplemental provision as he considers appropriate in connection with any modification made by virtue of either of those paragraphs. (3) Nothing in section 85(3) to (6) or subsection (1) above shall be construed as prejudicing the generality of section 85(1). (4) Where the Secretary of State proposes to make safety regulations or he or another person proposes to give an approval in pursuance of safety regulations it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State or other person, before he gives effect to the proposal, to consult such persons in the United Kingdom (if any) as he considers will be affected by the proposal. (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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87 Provisions supplementary to section 85: dangerous goods.

(1) Where any dangerous goods have been sent or carried, or attempted to be sent or carried, on board any ship, whether or not a United Kingdom ship— (a) without being marked as required by safety regulations, (b) without such notice having been given as is required by safety regulations, (c) under a false description, or (d) with a false description of their sender or carrier, any court having Admiralty jurisdiction may declare the goods, and any package or receptacle in which they are contained, to be forfeited. (2) On a declaration of forfeiture being made, the goods shall be forfeited and they shall be disposed of as the court directs. (3) The powers conferred on the court by subsections (1) and (2) above are exercisable notwithstanding that the owner of the goods— (a) has not committed any offence under safety regulations relating to dangerous goods; (b) is not before the court; and (c) has no notice of the proceedings; and notwithstanding that there is no evidence to show to whom the goods belong. (4) Nevertheless, the court may, in their discretion, require such notice as they may direct to be given to the owner or shipper of the goods before they are forfeited. (5) In this section “dangerous goods” means goods designated as dangerous goods by safety regulations.

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88 Safety of submersible and supporting apparatus.

(1) This section applies to any submersible or supporting apparatus— (a) operated within United Kingdom waters, or (b) launched or operated from, or comprising, a United Kingdom ship. (2) The Secretary of State may make regulations — (a) for the safety of submersible and supporting apparatus; (b) for the prevention of accidents in or near submersible or supporting apparatus; (c) for the safety, health and welfare of persons on or in submersible and supporting apparatus; (d) for prohibiting or otherwise restricting the operation of any submersible apparatus except in accordance with the conditions of a licence granted under the regulations; and (e) for the registration of submersible apparatus. (3) Schedule 2 shall have effect for supplementing the provisions of this section. (4) In this section— “apparatus” includes any vessel, vehicle or hovercraft, any structure, any diving plant or equipment and any other form of equipment; “specified” means specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section; “submersible apparatus” means any apparatus used, or designed for use, in supporting human life on or under the bed of any waters or elsewhere under the surface of any waters; and “supporting apparatus” means any apparatus used, or designed for use, in connection with the operation of any submersible apparatus.

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89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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91

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) Every person in charge of a controlled station for wireless telegraphy shall, on receiving the signal prescribed under safety regulations relating to dangers to navigation, which indicates that a message is about to be sent under those regulations, refrain from sending messages for a time sufficient to allow other stations to receive the message, and, if so required by the Secretary of State, shall transmit the message in such manner as may be required by the Secretary of State. (6) Compliance with subsection (5) above shall be deemed to be a condition of every wireless telegraphy licence. (7) In this section— “controlled station for wireless telegraphy” means such a station controlled by the Secretary of State or by the Office of Communications ; and “controlled” includes controlled by means of a licence granted by the Office of Communications ; . . . “wireless telegraphy licence” has the same meaning as in the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006, and “station for wireless telegraphy” has the same meaning as “wireless telegraphy station” in that Act. . . ..

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92 Duty of ship to assist the other in case of collision.

(1) In every case of collision between two ships, it shall be the duty of the master of each ship, if and so far as he can do so without danger to his own ship, crew and passengers (if any)— (a) to render to the other ship, its master, crew and passengers (if any) such assistance as may be practicable, and may be necessary to save them from any danger caused by the collision, and to stay by the other ship until he has ascertained that it has no need of further assistance; and (b) to give to the master of the other ship the name of his own ship and also the names of the ports from which it comes and to which it is bound. (2) The duties imposed on the master of a ship by subsection (1) above apply to the masters of United Kingdom ships and to the masters of foreign ships when in United Kingdom waters. (3) The failure of the master of a ship to comply with the provisions of this section shall not raise any presumption of law that the collision was caused by his wrongful act, neglect, or default. (4) If the master fails without reasonable excuse to comply with this section, he shall— (a) in the case of a failure to comply with subsection (1)(a) above, be liable— (i) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50,000 a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both; (ii) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both; and (b) in the case of a failure to comply with subsection (1)(b) above, be liable— (i) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; (ii) on conviction on indictment, to a fine; and in either case if he is a certified officer, an inquiry into his conduct may be held, and his certificate cancelled or suspended.

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93 Duty to assist aircraft in distress.

(1) The master of a ship, on receiving at sea a signal of distress from an aircraft or information from any source that an aircraft is in distress, shall proceed with all speed to the assistance of the persons in distress (informing them if possible that he is doing so) unless he is unable, or in the special circumstances of the case considers it unreasonable or unnecessary, to do so, or unless he is released from this duty under subsection (4) or (5) below. (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) The duties imposed on the master of a ship by subsection (1)above apply to the masters of United Kingdom ships and to the masters of foreign ships when in United Kingdom waters. (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) A master shall be released from the duty imposed by subsection (1) above . . .if he is informed by the persons in distress, or by the master of any ship that has reached the persons in distress, that assistance is no longer required. (6) If a master fails to comply with the preceding provisions of this section he shall be liable— (a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both; (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or both. (7) Compliance by the master of a ship with the provisions of this section shall not affect his right, or the right of any other person, to salvage.

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94 Meaning of “dangerously unsafe ship”.

(1) For the purposes of sections 95, 96, 97 and 98 a ship in port is “dangerously unsafe” if, having regard to the nature of the service for which it is intended, the ship is, by reason of the matters mentioned in subsection (2) below, unfit to go to sea without serious danger to human life. (1A) For the purposes of those sections a ship at sea is “dangerously unsafe” if, having regard to the nature of the service for which it is being used or is intended, the ship is, by reason of the matters mentioned in subsection (2) below, either— (a) unfit to remain at sea without serious danger to human life, or (b) unfit to go on a voyage without serious danger to human life. (2) Those matters are— (a) the condition, or the unsuitability for its purpose, of— (i) the ship or its machinery or equipment, or (ii) any part of the ship or its machinery or equipment; (b) undermanning; (c) overloading or unsafe or improper loading; (d) any other matter relevant to the safety of the ship; and are referred to in those sections, in relation to any ship, as “the matters relevant to its safety”. (3) Any reference in those sections to “going to sea” shall, in a case where the service for which the ship is intended consists of going on voyages or excursions that do not involve going to sea, be construed as a reference to going on such a voyage or excursion.

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95 Power to detain dangerously unsafe ship.

(1) Where a ship which is— (a) in a port in the United Kingdom, or (b) at sea in United Kingdom waters, appears to a relevant inspector to be a dangerously unsafe ship, the ship may be detained. (2) Subject to subsection (2A) belowthe power of detention conferred by subsection (1) above is exercisable in relation to foreign ships as well as United Kingdom ships. (2A) The power of detention conferred by subsection (1)(b) is not exercisable in relation to a qualifying foreign ship while the ship is exercising— (a) the right of innocent passage, or (b) the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation. (3) The officer detaining the ship shall serve on the master of the ship a detention notice which shall— (a) state that the relevant inspector is of the opinion that the ship is a dangerously unsafe ship; (b) specify the matters which, in the relevant inspector’s opinion, make the ship a dangerously unsafe ship; and (c) require the ship to comply with the terms of the notice until it is released by a competent authority. (4) In the case of a ship which is not a British ship the officer detaining the ship shall cause a copy of the detention notice to be sent as soon as practicable to the nearest consular officer for the country to which the ship belongs. (5) In this section— “competent authority” means any officer mentioned in section 284(1); and “relevant inspector” means any person mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of section 258(1).

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96 References of detention notices to arbitration.

(1) Any question as to whether any of the matters specified in relation to a ship in a detention notice in pursuance of section 95(3)(b) in connection with any opinion formed by the relevant inspector constituted a valid basis for that opinion shall, if the master or owner of the ship so requires by a notice given to the relevant inspector within 21 days from the service of the detention notice, be referred to a single arbitrator appointed by agreement between the parties for that question to be decided by him. (2) Where a notice is given by the master or owner of the ship in accordance with subsection (1) above, the giving of the notice shall not suspend the operation of the detention notice unless, on the application of the person requiring the reference, the arbitrator so directs. (3) The arbitrator shall have regard, in coming to his decision, to any other matters not specified in the detention notice which appear to him to be relevant to whether the ship was or was not a dangerously unsafe ship. (4) Where on a reference under this section the arbitrator decides as respects any matter to which the reference relates, that in all the circumstances the matter did not constitute a valid basis for the inspector’s opinion he shall either cancel the detention notice or affirm it with such modifications as he may in the circumstances think fit; and in any other case the arbitrator shall affirm the notice in its original form. (5) The arbitrator shall include in his decision a finding whether there was or was not a valid basis for the detention of the ship as a dangerously unsafe ship. (6) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as an arbitrator under this section unless he is— (a) a person holding a certificate of competency as a master mariner or as a marine engineer officer class 1, or a person holding a certificate equivalent to any such certificate; (b) a naval architect; (c) a person falling within subsection (7); or (d) a person with special experience of shipping matters, of the fishing industry, or of activities carried on in ports. (7) For the purposes of subsection (6)(c) a person falls within this subsection if— (a) he satisfies the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis; (b) he is an advocate or solicitor in Scotland of at least 7 years’ standing; or (c) he is a member of the bar of Northern Ireland or solicitor of the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland of at least 7 years’ standing. (8) In connection with his functions under this section an arbitrator shall have the powers conferred on an inspector by section 259. (9) In the application of this section to Scotland any reference to an arbitrator shall be construed as a reference to an arbiter and the reference in subsection (1) above to a single arbitrator appointed by agreement between the parties shall be construed as a reference to a single arbiter so appointed or, in default of agreement, appointed by the sheriff. (10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (11) In this section “relevant inspector” has the same meaning as in section 95.

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97 Compensation in connection with invalid detention of ship.

(1) If on a reference under section 96 relating to a detention notice in relation to a ship— (a) the arbitrator decides that any matter did not constitute a valid basis for the relevant inspector’s opinion, and (b) it appears to him that there were no reasonable grounds for the inspector to form that opinion, the arbitrator may award the owner of the ship such compensation in respect of any loss suffered by him in consequence of the detention of the ship as the arbitrator thinks fit. (2) Any compensation awarded under this section shall be payable by the Secretary of State. (3) In the application of this section to Scotland any reference to an arbitrator shall be construed as a reference to an arbiter. (4) In this section “relevant inspector” has the same meaning as in section 95.

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98 Owner and master liable in respect of dangerously unsafe ship.

(1) If a ship which— (a) is in a port in the United Kingdom, or (b) is a United Kingdom ship and is in any other port, is dangerously unsafe, then, subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, the master and the owner of the ship shall each be guilty of an offence. (2) Where, at the time when a ship is dangerously unsafe, any responsibilities of the owner with respect to the matters relevant to its safety have been assumed (whether wholly or in part) by any person or persons other than the owner, and have been so assumed by that person or (as the case may be) by each of those persons either— (a) directly, under the terms of a charter-party or management agreement made with the owner, or (b) indirectly, under the terms of a series of charter-parties or management agreements, the reference to the owner in subsection (1) above shall be construed as a reference to that other person or (as the case may be) to each of those other persons. (3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable— (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50,000 a fine; (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both. (4) It shall be a defence in proceedings for an offence under this section to prove that at the time of the alleged offence— (a) arrangements had been made which were appropriate to ensure that before the ship went to sea it was made fit to do so without serious danger to human life by reason of the matters relevant to its safety which are specified in the charge (or, in Scotland, which are libelled in the complaint, petition or indictment); or (b) it was reasonable for such arrangements not to have been made. (5) It shall also be a defence in proceedings for an offence under this section to prove— (a) that, under the terms of one or more charter-parties or management agreements entered into by the accused, the relevant responsibilities, namely— (i) where the accused is the owner, his responsibilities with respect to the matters relevant to the ship’s safety, or (ii) where the accused is liable to proceedings under this section by virtue of subsection (2) above, so much of those responsibilities as had been assumed by him as mentioned in that subsection, had at the time of the alleged offence been wholly assumed by some other person or persons party thereto; and (b) that in all the circumstances of the case the accused had taken such steps as it was reasonable for him to take, and exercised such diligence as it was reasonable for him to exercise, to secure the proper discharge of the relevant responsibilities during the period during which they had been assumed by some other person or persons as mentioned in paragraph (a) above; and, in determining whether the accused had done so, regard shall be had in particular to the matters mentioned in subsection (6) below. (6) Those matters are— (a) whether prior to the time of the alleged offence the accused was, or in all the circumstances ought reasonably to have been, aware of any deficiency in the discharge of the relevant responsibilities; and (b) the extent to which the accused was or was not able, under the terms of any such charter-party or management agreement as is mentioned in subsection (5)(a) above— (i) to terminate it, or (ii) to intervene in the management of the ship, in the event of any such deficiency, and whether it was reasonable for the accused to place himself in that position. (7) No proceedings for an offence under this section shall be instituted— (a) in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions; (b) in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland. (8) In this section— “management agreement”, in relation to a ship, means any agreement (other than a charter-party or a contract of employment) under which the ship is managed, either wholly or in part, by a person other than the owner (whether on behalf of the owner or on behalf of some other person); and “relevant responsibilities” shall be construed in accordance with subsection (5) above. (9) References in this section to responsibilities being assumed by a person under the terms of a charter-party or management agreement are references to their being so assumed by him whether or not he has entered into a further charter-party or management agreement providing for them to be assumed by some other person.

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99 Use of unsafe lighters, etc.

(1) If any person uses or causes or permits to be used in navigation any lighter, barge or like vessel when, because of— (a) the defective condition of its hull or equipment, (b) overloading or improper loading, or (c) undermanning, it is so unsafe that human life is thereby endangered, he shall be liable— (i) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; (ii) on conviction on indictment, to a fine. (2) Proceedings for an offence under this section shall not be instituted— (a) in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State; or (b) in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State. (3) This section does not affect the liability of the owners of any lighter, barge or like vessel in respect of loss of life or personal injury caused to any person carried in the vessel.

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100 Owner liable for unsafe operation of ship.

(1) It shall be the duty of the owner of a ship to which this section applies to take all reasonable steps to secure that the ship is operated in a safe manner. (2) This section applies to— (a) any United Kingdom ship; and (b) any ship which— (i) is registered under the law of any country outside the United Kingdom, and (ii) is within United Kingdom waters while proceeding to or from a port in the United Kingdom, unless the ship would not be so proceeding but for weather conditions or any other unavoidable circumstances. (3) If the owner of a ship to which this section applies fails to discharge the duty imposed on him by subsection (1) above, he shall be liable— (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50,000 a fine; (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both. (4) Where any such ship— (a) is chartered by demise, or (b) is managed, either wholly or in part, by a person other than the owner under the terms of a management agreement within the meaning of section 98, any reference to the owner of the ship in subsection (1) or (3) above shall be construed as including a reference— (i) to the charterer under the charter by demise, or (ii) to any such manager as is referred to in paragraph (b) above, or (iii) (if the ship is both chartered and managed as mentioned above) to both the charterer and any such manager, and accordingly the reference in subsection (1) above to the taking of all reasonable steps shall, in relation to the owner, the charterer or any such manager, be construed as a reference to the taking of all such steps as it is reasonable for him to take in the circumstances of the case. (5) No proceedings for an offence under this section shall be instituted— (a) in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions; (b) in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.

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100A Power to establish temporary exclusion zones.

(1) Subsection (2) below applies where a ship, structure or other thing— (a) is in United Kingdom waters or a part of the sea specified by virtue of section 129(2)(b); and (b) is wrecked, damaged or in distress; and in this section and section 100B “the relevant casualty” means that ship, structure or other thing. (2) If it appears to the Secretary of State— (a) that significant harm will or may occur as a direct or indirect result of the relevant casualty being wrecked, damaged or in distress, and (b) that if access to an area around the relevant casualty were restricted in accordance with section 100B, significant harm, or the risk of such harm, would be prevented or reduced, he may by direction identify an area to which access is so restricted (“a temporary exclusion zone”). (3) In this section “significant harm” means— (a) significant pollution in the United Kingdom, in United Kingdom waters or in a part of the sea specified by virtue of section 129(2)(b); or (b) significant damage to persons or property. (4) A temporary exclusion zone may not include any area which is neither within United Kingdom waters nor within a part of the sea specified by virtue of section 129(2)(b). (5) If it appears to the Secretary of State at any time after a temporary exclusion zone is established that the zone is larger than is needed for the purpose of preventing or reducing significant harm, or the risk of such harm, he shall by direction vary the direction establishing the zone accordingly. (6) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) above, a temporary exclusion zone may be identified by reference to the position of the relevant casualty from time to time. (7) If it appears to the Secretary of State at any time after a temporary exclusion zone is established that the zone is not needed for the purpose of preventing or reducing significant harm, or the risk of such harm, he shall by direction revoke the direction establishing the zone. (8) Where the Secretary of State gives a direction under this section, he shall— (a) as soon as practicable, publish it in such manner as he considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it; and (b) within the period of 24 hours from the giving of the direction, send a copy of it to the International Maritime Organization. (9) Subsection (2) above does not apply where an order under section 2 of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 has effect in relation to the relevant casualty.

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100B Temporary exclusion zones: offences

(1) If a direction establishing a temporary exclusion zone contains a statement of a description mentioned in subsection (2) below, then, subject to subsection (4) below, no ship shall enter or remain in the zone. (2) The statement is one to the effect that the direction is given for the purpose of preventing or reducing significant pollution, or the risk of significant pollution, in the United Kingdom, in United Kingdom waters or in a part of the sea specified by virtue of section 129(2)(b). (3) If a direction establishing a temporary exclusion zone does not contain a statement of a description mentioned in subsection (2) above, then, subject to subsections (4) and (5) below— (a) no ship shall enter or remain in any part of the zone that is in United Kingdom waters; and (b) no United Kingdom ship shall enter or remain in any part of the zone that is in a part of the sea specified by virtue of section 129(2)(b). (4) A ship may enter or remain in a temporary exclusion zone or a part of such a zone if it does so— (a) in accordance with the direction establishing the zone; (b) with the consent of the Secretary of State; or (c) in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section. (5) A qualifying foreign ship may enter a temporary exclusion zone or a part of such a zone if in doing so it is exercising the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation. (6) If a ship enters or remains in a temporary exclusion zone or a part of such a zone in contravention of subsection (1) or (3) above then, subject to subsection (7) below, its owner and its master shall each be guilty of an offence and liable— (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50,000 a fine; (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both. (7) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that the existence or area of the temporary exclusion zone was not, and would not on reasonable enquiry have become, known to the master.

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100C Power to require ships to be moved.

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100D Offences in relation to section 100C.

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100E Service of directions under section 100C.

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100F Requirements to be met by ships in respect of which trans-shipment licences in force.

(1) In this section and section 100G “trans-shipment licence” means a licence under section 4A of the Sea Fish Conservation Act 1967 (prohibition of trans-shipment of fish unless authorised by a licence). (2) The Secretary of State may, for all or any of the purposes specified in subsection (3) below, by regulations prescribe requirements to be met by ships in respect of which trans-shipment licences are in force. (3) Those purposes are— (a) the purpose of securing the safety of ships in respect of which trans-shipment licences are in force and persons on them, (b) the purpose of protecting the health of persons on such ships, (c) the purpose of securing the safety of any other persons or property, and (d) the purpose of preventing or reducing pollution. (4) The matters with respect to which requirements may be prescribed under subsection (2) above include, in particular, the construction and equipment of ships, the manning of ships, and operational matters. (5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2) above, regulations under that subsection may apply in relation to a ship in respect of which a trans-shipment licence is in force any requirements contained in— (a) safety regulations, (b) regulations under section 128, or (c) any international agreement, whether or not those requirements would otherwise apply in relation to that ship.

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100G Failure to comply with prescribed standards in respect of ship in respect of which trans-shipment licence is in force.

(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State that any requirement of regulations under section 100F(2) or regulations under section 192A is being contravened in respect of a ship in respect of which a trans-shipment licence is in force, he may serve on the master a notice under subsection (2) below. (2) A notice under this subsection must specify the contravention by reason of which it is given and must— (a) prohibit the receiving by the ship of fish trans-shipped from another ship, (b) prohibit the processing of fish on the ship, or (c) prohibit both such receiving and such processing. (3) The Secretary of State shall revoke a notice under subsection (2) above if he is satisfied that the contravention specified in it has been remedied. (4) If a trans-shipment licence ceases to be in force in respect of a ship to which a notice under subsection (2) above relates, the notice is revoked by virtue of this subsection. (5) If without reasonable excuse the master of a ship causes or permits any prohibition imposed by a notice under subsection (2) above to be contravened in respect of the ship, he shall be liable— (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50,000 a fine; (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine or both. (6) The obligation imposed by regulations under section 100F(2) shall not be enforceable except in accordance with this section, but this subsection does not limit the powers conferred by section 258.

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101 Offences in connection with passenger ships.

(1) A person commits an offence if, in relation to a ship to which this section applies, he does any of the following things, that is to say— (a) if, being drunk or disorderly, he has been on that account refused admission to the ship by the owner or any person in his employment, and, after having the amount of his fare (if he has paid it) returned or tendered to him, nevertheless persists in attempting to enter the ship; (b) if, being drunk or disorderly on board the ship, he is requested by the owner or any person in his employment to leave the ship at any place in the United Kingdom at which he can conveniently do so, and, after having the amount of his fare (if he has paid it) returned or tendered to him, does not comply with the request; (c) if, on board the ship, after warning by the master or other officer thereof, he molests or continues to molest any passenger; (d) if, after having been refused admission to the ship by the owner or any person in his employment on account of the ship being full, and having had the amount of his fare (if he has paid it) returned or tendered to him, he nevertheless persists in attempting to enter the ship; (e) if, having gone on board the ship at any place, and being requested, on account of the ship being full, by the owner or any person in his employment to leave the ship before it has left that place, and having had the amount of his fare (if he has paid it) returned or tendered to him, he does not comply with that request; (f) if, on arriving in the ship at a point to which he has paid his fare, he knowingly and intentionally refuses or neglects to leave the ship; and (g) if, on board the ship he fails, when requested by the master or other officer thereof, either to pay his fare or show such ticket or other receipt, if any, showing the payment of his fare, as is usually given to persons travelling by and paying their fare for the ship; but his liability in respect of any such offence shall not prejudice the recovery of any fare payable by him. (2) A person commits an offence if, on board any ship to which this section applies he intentionally does or causes to be done anything in such a manner as to— (a) obstruct or damage any part of the machinery or equipment of the ship, or (b) obstruct, impede or molest the crew, or any of them, in the navigation or management of the ship, or otherwise in the execution of their duty on or about the ship. (3) The master or other officer of any ship to which this section applies, and all persons called by him to his assistance, may, without any warrant, detain any person who commits any offence against subsection (1) or (2) above and whose name and address are unknown to the master or officer, and deliver that person to a constable. (4) A person guilty of an offence against subsection (1) or (2) above shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale. (5) If any person commits an offence against subsection (1) or (2) above and on the application of the master of the ship, or any other person in the employment of the owner thereof, refuses to give his name and address, or gives a false name or address, that person shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale. (6) This section applies to a ship for which there is in force a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate or Passenger Certificate, as the case may be, issued under or recognised by safety regulations.

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102 Power to exclude drunken passengers from certain passenger ships.

(1) The master of any ship to which this section applies may refuse to receive on board any person who by reason of drunkenness or otherwise is in such a state, or misconducts himself in such a manner, as to cause annoyance or injury to passengers on board, and if any such person is on board, may put him on shore at any convenient place. (2) A person so refused admittance or put on shore shall not be entitled to the return of any fare he has paid. (3) This section applies to a ship (whether or not a United Kingdom ship) carrying more than 12 passengers and employed in carrying passengers between places in the limited European trading area as for the time being defined in regulations made under section 47 by the Secretary of State.

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103 Stowaways.

(1) If a person, without the consent of the master or of any other person authorised to give it, goes to sea or attempts to go to sea in a United Kingdom ship, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. (2) Nothing in section 281 shall be taken to limit the jurisdiction of any court in the United Kingdom to deal with an offence under this section which has been committed in a country outside the United Kingdom by a person who is not a British citizen.

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104 Unauthorised presence on board ship.

Where a United Kingdom ship or a ship registered in any other country is in a port in the United Kingdom and a person who is neither in Her Majesty’s service nor authorised by law to do so— (a) goes on board the ship without the consent of the master or of any other persons authorised to give it; or (b) remains on board the ship after being requested to leave by the master, a constable, an officer authorised by the Secretary of State or an officer of customs and excise, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

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105 Master’s power of arrest.

The master of any United Kingdom ship may cause any person on board the ship to be put under restraint if and for so long as it appears to him necessary or expedient in the interest of safety or for the preservation of good order or discipline on board the ship.

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106 Unauthorised persons: offences relating to safety.

(1) Where a person goes to sea in a ship without the consent of the master or of any other person authorised to give it or is conveyed in a ship in pursuance of section 73(5)(b), sections 58 and 59 shall apply as if he were a seaman employed in the ship. (2) Subsection (1) above shall, in its application to section 58 so far as that section applies to ships which are not sea-going ships have effect— (a) with the omission of the words “goes to sea in a ship”; and (b) with the insertion, after the words “to give it”, of the words “ is on board a ship while it is on a voyage or excursion ”. (3) This section does not apply to fishing vessels.

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107 Return to be furnished by masters of ships as to passengers.

(1) The master of every ship, whether or not a United Kingdom ship, which carries any passenger to a place in the United Kingdom from any place out of the United Kingdom, or from any place in the United Kingdom to any place out of the United Kingdom, shall furnish to such person and in such manner as the Secretary of State directs a return giving the total number of any passengers so carried, distinguishing, if so directed by the Secretary of State, the total number of any class of passengers so carried, and giving, if the Secretary of State so directs, such particulars with respect to passengers as may be for the time being required by the Secretary of State. (2) Any passenger shall furnish the master of the ship with any information required by him for the purpose of the return. (3) If— (a) the master of a ship fails to make a return as required by this section, or makes a false return, (b) any passenger refuses to give any information required by the master of the ship for the purpose of the return required by this section, or, for that purpose, gives to the master information which he knows to be false or recklessly gives to him information which is false, the master or (as the case may be) passenger shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale in the case of a failure or refusal and level 3 on the standard scale in the case of a false return or false information.

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108 Returns of births and deaths in ships, etc.

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations under the following provisions of this section in relation to births and deaths in the circumstances specified in those provisions. (2) Regulations under this section may require the master of any United Kingdom ship to make a return to a superintendent or proper officer of— (a) the birth or death of any person occurring in the ship; and (b) the death of any person employed in the ship, wherever occurring outside the United Kingdom; and to notify any such death to such person (if any) as the deceased may have named to him as his next of kin. (3) Regulations under this section may require the master of any ship not registered in the United Kingdom which calls at a port in the United Kingdom in the course of or at the end of a voyage to make a return to a superintendent of any birth or death of a British citizen, a British Dependent Territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen which has occurred in the ship during the voyage. (4) The returns referred to in subsections (2) and (3) above shall be for transmission to the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. (5) Regulations under this section may require the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen to record such information as may be specified in the regulations about such a death as is referred to in subsection (2) above in a case where— (a) it appears to him that the master of the ship cannot perform his duty under that subsection because he has himself died or is incapacitated or missing; and (b) any of the circumstances specified in subsection (6) below exist. (6) Those circumstances are that— (a) the death in question has been the subject of— (i) an inquest held by a coroner, (ii) an inquiry held in pursuance of section 271, or (iii) an inquiry held in pursuance of the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016; and the findings of the inquest or inquiry include a finding that the death occurred; (b) the deceased’s body has been the subject of— (i) a post-mortem examination in England and Wales, or (ii) a preliminary investigation in Northern Ireland; and in consequence the coroner discontinues an investigation under Part 1 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 or, as the case may be, is satisfied that an inquest under the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 is unnecessary; or (c) in Scotland, no inquiry is to be held into the death under the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016. (7) Regulations under this section may require the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen to send a certified copy of any return or record made thereunder to the Registrar General for England and Wales, the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages for Scotland or the Registrar General for Northern Ireland, as the case may require. (8) The Registrar General to whom any such certified copies are sent— (a) shall record the information contained therein in the marine register; and (b) may record in the marine register such additional information as appears to him desirable for the purpose of ensuring the completeness and correctness of the register; and the enactments relating to the registration of births and deaths in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland shall have effect as if the marine register were a register of births (other than stillbirths) or deaths or certified copies of entries in such a register had been transmitted to the Registrar General in accordance with those enactments. (9) Regulations under this section may make a contravention of any provision thereof an offence punishable on summary conviction with a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale or not exceeding a lesser amount. (10) Regulations under this section may contain provisions authorising the registration of the following births and deaths occurring outside the United Kingdom in circumstances where no return is required to be made under the preceding provisions of this section— (a) any birth or death of a British citizen, a British Dependent Territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen which occurs in a ship not registered in the United Kingdom; (b) any death of any such citizen who has been employed in a ship not registered in the United Kingdom which occurs elsewhere than in the ship; and (c) any death of a person who has been employed in a United Kingdom ship which occurs elsewhere than in the ship. (11) References in this section to deaths occurring in a ship include references to deaths occurring in a ship’s boat.

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108A Safety directions

(1) Schedule 3A (safety directions) shall have effect. (2) A provision made by or by virtue of this Act (including one which creates an offence) shall have no effect in so far as it— (a) is inconsistent with the exercise by or on behalf of the Secretary of State of a power under Schedule 3A (safety directions), (b) would interfere with a person’s compliance with a direction under that Schedule, or (c) would interfere with action taken by virtue of that Schedule.

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109 Regulations relating to crew agreements.

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations prescribing the procedure to be followed in connection with the making of crew agreements between persons employed in United Kingdom fishing vessels and persons employing them and prescribing the places where such crew agreements are to be made or where an agreement with any person may be added to those contained in such a crew agreement. (2) Regulations under this section may make a contravention of any provision thereof an offence punishable on summary conviction with a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale or such less amount as may be specified in the regulations.

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110 Payments of seamen’s wages.

Except as provided by or under Part III or any other enactment, the wages due to a seaman under a crew agreement relating to a United Kingdom fishing vessel shall be paid to him in full.

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