Merchant Shipping Act 1995

Local light dues

210 Light dues leviable by local lighthouse authorities

(1) This section applies to charges leviable by a local lighthouse authority who are not a harbour authority in respect of lighthouses, buoys or beacons over which they have authority (in this section referred to as “local light dues”).

(2) A local lighthouse authority (who are not a harbour authority) may demand, take and recover in respect of every ship which—

(a) enters or leaves the port, harbour or estuary in which is situated any lighthouse, buoy or beacon over which they have authority; and

(b) passes the lighthouse, buoy or beacon and derives benefit from it,

such charges as they think fit.

(3) The same persons shall be liable to pay local light dues as are liable to pay general light dues under section 207.

(4) Local light dues may be recovered in the same manner as general light dues may be recovered under sections 207 and 208.

(5) A list showing the local light dues leviable by a local lighthouse authority shall be kept at the authority’s office and shall be open there during reasonable hours for inspection by any person without charge, and copies of the list shall be kept for sale there at such reasonable price (if any) as the authority determine.

(6) No local light due shall be levied by a local lighthouse authority if, at the time at which it is leviable,—

(a) the authority are in default in compliance with subsection (5) above as respects the keeping of the list of dues; or

(b) the light due is not shown in the list kept there at that time.

(7) A copy of the list kept by a local lighthouse authority in pursuance of subsection (5) above shall be supplied by them to the Secretary of State without charge.

(8) Section 31 of the [1964 c. 40.] Harbours Act 1964 (right of objection to ship, passenger and goods dues) shall apply in relation to local light dues subject, however, to the modifications specified in Schedule 10 to this Act.

(9) All local light dues shall be applied by the authority by whom they are levied for the purpose of the construction, placing, maintenance and improvement of the lighthouses, buoys or beacons in respect of which the dues are levied, and for no other purpose.

(10) The local lighthouse authority to whom any local light dues are paid shall keep a separate account of the receipt and expenditure of those dues.

(11) This section does not apply to Northern Ireland.