Merchant Shipping Act 1894

PART XII Mercantile Marine Fund.

676 Sums payable to the Mercantile Marine Fund.

(1) The common fund called the Mercantile Marine Fund shall continue to exist under that name, and subject to the provisions of this Act there shall be accounted for and paid to that fund—

(a) all fees, charges, and expenses payable in respect of the survey or measurement of ships under this Act:

(b) all fees and other sums (other than fines and forfeitures) received by the Board of Trade under the Second and Fifth Parts of this Act, including all fees payable in respect of the medical inspection of seamen under the Second Part of this Act:

(c) the moneys arising from the unclaimed property of deceased seamen, except where the same are required to be paid as directed by the Accountant-General of Her Majesty's Navy :

(d) any sums recovered by the Board of Trade in respect of expenses incurred in relation to distressed seamen and apprentices under the Second Part of this Act:

(e) all fees and other sums payable in respect of any services-performed by any person employed under the authority of the Third Part of this Act:

(f) all fees paid upon the engagement or discharge of members of the crews of fishing boats when effected before a superintendent :

(g) such proceeds of the sale of unclaimed wreck as are directed to be paid thereto during the lifetime of Her present Majesty under the Ninth Part of this Act:

(h) any fees received by receivers of wreck under the Ninth. Part of this Act:

(i) all light dues or other sums received by or accruing to any of the General Lighthouse Authorities under the Eleventh Part of this Act:

(k) all costs and expenses ordered by the court to be paid to the Board of Trade in pursuance of the [45 & 46 Vict. c. 22.] Boiler Explosions Acts, 1882 and [53 & 54 Vict. c. 35.] 1890:

(l) any sums which under this or any other Act are directed to-be paid to the Mercantile Marine Fund.

(2) All fees mentioned in this section shall be paid at such time and in such manner as the Board of Trade direct.

677 Application of Mercantile Marine Fund.

Subject to the provisions of this Act and to any prior charges that may be subsisting on the Mercantile Marine Fund under any Act of Parliament or otherwise there shall be charged on and payable out of that fund the following expenses so far as they are not paid by any private person :—

(a) The salaries and other expenses connected with local marine boards and mercantile marine offices, and with the examinations conducted under the Second and Fourth Parts of this Act:

(b) The salaries of all surveyors of ships and officers appointed under this Act and all expenses incurred in connexion with the survey and measurement of ships under this Act, and the remuneration of medical inspectors of seamen under the Second Part of this Act:

(c) The salaries and expenses of persons employed under the Third Part of this Act:

(d) The superannuation allowances, gratuities, pensions, and other allowances granted either before or after the passing of this Act to any of the said surveyors, officers, or persons:

(e) The allowances and expenses paid for the relief of distressed British seamen and apprentices, including the expenses declared under this Act to be payable as such expenses, and any contributions to seamen's refuges and hospitals:

(f) Any sums which the Board of Trade, in their discretion, think fit to pay in respect of claims to moneys carried to the Mercantile Marine Fund on account of the property of deceased seamen, or on account of the proceeds of wreck:

(g) All expenses of obtaining depositions, reports, and returns respecting wrecks and casualties :

(h) All expenses incurred in carrying into effect the provisions of this Act with regard to receivers of wrecks and the performance of their duties under this Act:

(i) All expenses incurred by the general lighthouse authorities, in the works and services of lighthouses, buoys, and beacons, or in the execution of any works necessary or expedient for the purpose of permanently reducing the expense of those works and services:

(k) Any pensions or other sums payable in relation to the duties formerly performed by the Trinity House in respect of Jastage and ballastage in the River Thames:

(l) Such expenses for establishing and maintaining on the coasts of the United Kingdom proper lifeboats with the necessary crews and equipments, and for affording assistance towards the preservation of life and property in cases of shipwreck and distress at sea, and for rewarding the preservation of life in such cases, as the Board of Trade direct:

(m) Such reasonable costs, as the Board of Trade may allow, of advertising or otherwise making known the establishment of, or alterations in, foreign lighthouses, buoys, and beacons to owners, and masters of, and other persons interested in, British ships:

(n) All costs and expenses incurred by the Board of Trade under the [45 & 46 Vict. c. 22.] Boiler Explosions Acts, 1882 and [53 & 54 Vict. c. 35.] 1890 (so far as not otherwise provided for), including any remuneration paid in pursuance of section seven of the Boiler Explosions Act, 1882, and any costs and expenses ordered by the court in pursuance of those Acts to be paid by the Board of Trade :

(o) Any expenses which are charged on or payable out of the Mercantile Marine Fund under this or any other Act of Parliament.

678 Subsidy from Parliament to Mercantile Marine Fund.

There shall be paid to the Mercantile Marine Fund out of moneys provided by Parliament such sum in each year as may be determined by the Treasury, with-the concurrence of the Board of Trade, having regard to the receipts and expenditure of the Mercantile Marine Fund under this Act.

679 Accounts and audit.

(1) The accounts of the Mercantile Marine Fund shall be deemed to be public accounts within the meaning of section thirty-three of the [29 & 30 Vict. c. 39.] Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1866, and, shall be examined and audited accordingly. (2,) The Board of Trade shall as soon as may be after the meeting of Parliament in every year cause the accounts of the Mercantile Marine Fund for the preceding year to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.