Merchant Shipping Act 1995

126 Notice of alterations

(1) Where a fishing vessel certificate is in force in respect of a fishing vessel and—

(a) the certificate shows compliance with requirements of the fishing vessel construction rules and an alteration is made in the vessel’s hull, equipment or machinery which affects the efficiency thereof or the seaworthiness of the vessel; or

(b) the certificate shows compliance with requirements of the fishing vessel equipment provisions and an alteration is made affecting the efficiency or completeness of the appliances or equipment which the vessel is required to carry by the fishing vessel equipment provisions;

the owner or skipper shall, as soon as possible after the alteration is made, give written notice containing full particulars of it to the Secretary of State or, if the certificate was issued by another person, to that person.

(2) If the notice required by subsection (1) above is not given as required by that subsection the owner or skipper shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) In this section—

• “alteration” in relation to anything includes the renewal of any part of it and

• “the fishing vessel equipment provisions” means the provisions of the fishing vessel construction and equipment provisions other than the fishing vessel construction rules.