29Repeal of provisions limiting discretion of local lighthouse authorities as to local light dues
(1)Section 655(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (which empowers Her Majesty in Council to fix the dues to be paid to a local lighthouse authority by whom a lighthouse, buoy or beacon is erected or placed, or is reconstructed, repaired or replaced, in respect of every ship which enters the port or harbour under the control of that authority or the estuary in which the light, buoy or beacon is situate, and which passes the lighthouse, buoy or beacon and derives benefit therefrom) shall cease to have effect, and any other statutory provision made with respect to a local lighthouse authority shall, if the authority are not a harbour authority, cease to have effect in so far as it limits the discretion of the authority as to the charges to be made by them.
(2)Subject to the following provisions of this Act, a local lighthouse authority who are not a harbour authority may demand, take and recover, in respect of every ship which enters or leaves a port, harbour or estuary wherein is situate a lighthouse, buoy or beacon whereover they have authority and which passes the lighthouse, buoy or beacon and derives benefit therefrom, such charges as they think fit.
(3)Any reference in sections 655 and 656 of the said Act of 1894 to local fight dues shall be construed as referring to charges exigible by virtue of this section.
(4)Any dues fixed by virtue of the said section 655(1) or by or by virtue of any other statutory provision, being dues that are in force immediately before the coming into operation of this section and are to be paid to a local lighthouse authority who are not a harbour authority, shall, so far as they could be imposed by virtue of this section, be deemed to have been so imposed.