Search Legislation

Advanced Search

Merchant Shipping Act 1988 (repealed)

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 (repealed). Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I Registration of British Ships

    1. Preliminary

      1. 1. Effect of Part I and interpretation.

      2. 2. British ships.

      3. 3. Persons qualified to be owners of British ships.

    2. Registration under Part I of 1894 Act

      1. 4. Entitlement to registration under Part I of 1894 Act.

      2. 5. Representative persons.

      3. 6. Refusal of registration.

      4. 7. Power of Secretary of State to direct removal from the register.

      5. 8. Offences relating to furnishing of information, and duty to comply with directions.

      6. 9. Duty of owner of registered ship to secure termination of any overseas registration.

      7. 10. Amendments of Part I of 1894 Act.

    3. Registration in overseas territories

      1. 11. Regulation of registration in overseas territories by reference to categories of registries.

  3. part ii

    1. Preliminary

      1. 12. Interpretation of Part II, et ceteralaetc.

    2. New system of registration for fishing vessels

      1. 13. Separate registration of fishing vessels.

      2. 14. Eligibility for registration as British fishing vessel.

      3. 15. Grant or refusal of applications for registration of fishing vessels.

      4. 16. Termination of registration where vessel is not eligible for registration or is not certificated.

      5. 17. Consequences of termination of registration by virtue of s.16.

      6. 18. Registration of property in fishing vessels.

    3. Transfers et ceteralaetc. of registered vessels

      1. 19. Transfer of vessel or share by bill of sale.

      2. 20. Transmission of property in vessel or share other than under s.19.

    4. Mortgages of registered vessels

      1. 21. Mortgages of registered vessels.

    5. Unregistered fishing vessels

      1. 22. Offences relating to, and liabilities of, unregistered fishing vessels.

    6. Supplemental

      1. 23. Notification of changes in ownership et ceteralaetc., and offences relating to furnishing of information.

      2. 24. Penalties for offences under s. 22 or 23 and other provisions relating to such offences.

      3. 25. Application of other enactments, et ceteralaetc.

  4. Part III Miscellaneous Provisions relating to Merchant Shipping etc.

    1. Financial assistance

      1. 26. Financial assistance in respect of costs of training merchant navy officers and ratings.

      2. 27. Financial assistance in respect of crew relief costs.

    2. The Merchant Navy Reserve

      1. 28. Establishment of the Merchant Navy Reserve.

      2. 29. Supplementary provisions relating to Merchant Navy Reserve.

    3. Safety of navigation, oil pollution et ceteralaetc.

      1. 30. Owner and master liable in respect of dangerously unsafe ship.

      2. 30A. Power to detain unsafe ship

      3. 31. Owner liable for unsafe operation of ship.

      4. 32. Conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals.

      5. 33. Investigation of marine accidents.

      6. 34. Liability and compensation for oil pollution damage.

      7. 35. Regulation of transfers between ships in territorial waters.

      8. 36. Amendments of Coast Protection Act 1949 relating to safety of navigation.

      9. 37. Licensing of tidal works by harbour authorities.

    4. Protection of shipping interests

      1. 38. Amendments of Part III of Merchant Shipping Act 1974.

      2. 39. Power to prohibit provision of coastal shipping services which are not British-based.

      3. 40. Enforcement of s. 39.

    5. Financing and administration of lighthouse service

      1. 41. Joint discharge of functions by general lighthouse authorities.

      2. 42. Borrowing powers in connection with lighthouse expenditure.

      3. 43. Payment out of General Lighthouse Fund of certain expenses of Secretary of State.

    6. Inquiries

      1. 44. Power to summon witness to inquiry into fitness or conduct of officer or other seaman.

      2. 45. Procedure where inquiry into fitness or conduct of officer or other seaman is held by sheriff.

    7. Crew agreements

      1. 46. Payment of wages on termination of crew agreement.

    8. Miscellaneous

      1. 47. Application of Merchant Shipping Acts to ships chartered by demise to the Crown.

      2. 48. Miscellaneous amendments of Merchant Shipping Acts.

  5. Part IV General

    1. 49. Application to hovercraft.

    2. 50. Application to unregistered ships.

    3. 51. Offences by officers of bodies corporate.

    4. 52. Disclosure of information to Secretary of State by other government departments.

    5. 53. Regulations.

    6. 54. Notices under Parts I and II.

    7. 55. Financial provisions.

    8. 56. Extension of Act to overseas territories.

    9. 57. Interpretation, minor and consequential amendments and repeals.

    10. 58. Citation, commencement, transitional provisions and extent.

  6. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      1. 1.Omit sections 1 to 3 (qualification for owning British ships...

      2. 2.In section 4 (registrars of British ships)—

      3. 3.In section 5 (register books), for the words from “a...

      4. 4.In section 6 (survey and measurement of ships), omit “British”....

      5. 5.In section 7 (marking of ships)— (a) in subsection (1),...

      6. 6.In section 9 (declaration of ownership on registry)—

      7. 7.In section 11 (entry of particulars in register book), omit...

      8. 8.In section 13 (port of registry), omit “British”.

      9. 9.In section 14 (certificate of registry), for “book, with the...

      10. 10.In section 18 (provision for loss of certificate)—

      11. 11.Omit section 19 (endorsement of change of master on certificate)....

      12. 12.In section 21 (delivery up of certificate of ship lost...

      13. 13.For section 22 substitute— Provisional certificate for ship becoming entitled...

      14. 14.In section 23 (temporary passes in lieu of certificates of...

      15. 15.In section 24 (transfer of ships or shares), for subsection...

      16. 16.In section 25 (declaration of transfer)— (a) after “transferred” insert...

      17. 17.In section 26 (registration of transfers), omit “book” wherever occurring....

      18. 18.In section 27 (transmission of property in ship on death,...

      19. 19.In section 28 (order for sale on transmission to unqualified...

      20. 20.In section 30 (power of courts to prohibit transfer), for...

      21. 21.In section 31 (mortgage of registered ship or share), for...

      22. 22.In sections 32 and 33 (other provisions about mortgages), omit...

      23. 23.In section 37 (transfer of mortgages), for the words from...

      24. 24.In section 38 (transmission of interest in mortgage otherwise than...

      25. 25.Omit sections 39 to 46 (certificates of mortgage and sale)....

      26. 26.In the following provisions, namely— section 47(4) and (5) (rules...

      27. 27.In section 49(2) (rules as to registration of alterations), for...

      28. 28.In section 50(2) (provisional certificate and endorsement where ship is...

      29. 29.In section 53 (transfer of registry)— (a) in subsection (1)—...

      30. 30.After section 53 insert— Transfer of registry to overseas territory....

      31. 31.Omit section 54 (restrictions on re-registration of abandoned ships).

      32. 32.Omit section 55 (provision for cases of infancy or other...

      33. 33.In sections 56 and 57 (trusts and equitable rights), omit...

      34. 34.In section 59 (registration of managing owner or manager), for...

      35. 35.Omit section 61(1) (mode of making declarations).

      36. 36.In section 62 (application of fees), omit—

      37. 37.In section 63 (returns to be made by registrars)—

      38. 38.In section 64 (inspection and evidence of register book and...

      39. 39.In section 65 (forms of documents and instructions as to...

      40. 40.In section 67(2) (false declarations), after “any share therein,” insert...

      41. 41.In section 69(1) (penalty for unduly assuming British character), for...

      42. 42.For section 70 substitute— Penalty for concealing British character of...

      43. 43.Omit section 71 (penalty for acquiring ownership if unqualified).

      44. 44.For section 72 substitute— Liabilities of unregistered ships. (1) Where a ship— (a) is 24 metres or more...

      45. 45.In section 73 (national colours for ships and penalty for...

      46. 46.In section 74 (penalty for ship not showing colours)—

      47. 47.(1) Section 76 (proceedings on forfeiture of ship) shall be...

      48. 48.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      49. 49.Omit section 85 (space occupied by deck cargo to be...

      50. 50.Omit sections 88 to 90 (registration of ships abroad).

      51. 51.Omit section 91 (application of Part I).

      52. 52.In Schedule 1 (forms relating to registration)—

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      1. Interpretation

        1. 1.In this Schedule— “declaration of British character” means a declaration,...

      2. Regulations: general provisions

        1. 2.Regulations may make provision— (a) for the persons by whom...

      3. Provisional registration

        1. 3.Regulations may make provision— (a) for fishing vessels acquired outside...

      4. Transfers of registration

        1. 4.(1) Regulations may make provision with respect to the transfer...

      5. Offences

        1. 5.(1) Regulations may provide for the creation of offences and...

      6. Operation of regulations in territorial waters

        1. 6.Regulations may provide for any of their provisions to extend...

      7. Discharge of functions by persons appointed by Secretary of State

        1. 7.(1) The Secretary of State may appoint persons to discharge...

      8. Construction of references in other enactments to fishing vessels excluded from registration

        1. 8.References in any statutory provision (apart from section 2(1)(c)) to...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      Mortgages of Registered Fishing Vessels

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      1. Merchant Shipping Law Amendment Act 1853 (c. 131) . ....

        1. Merchant Shipping Law Amendment Act 1853 (c. 131)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. Merchant Shipping Law Amendment Act 1894 (c. 60)

          1. 1.Omit section 463 (survey of ship alleged to be unseaworthy...

          2. 2.In section 531 (power of lighthouse authority to remove wreck),...

          3. 3.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

          4. 4.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

          5. 5.In section 648 (application and collection of light dues)—

          6. 6.In section 652(4) (inspection of local lighthouses), omit the words...

          7. 7.For section 658 substitute— Expenses of general lighthouse authorities to...

          8. 8.In section 659 (establishments of general lighthouse authorities)—

          9. 9.In section 676 (sums payable to Mercantile Marine Fund)—

          10. 10.In section 677 (application of Mercantile Marine Fund)—

          11. 11.In section 731 (exemption from rates)— (a) for “Mercantile Marine...

          12. 12.Omit section 744 (application of Act to vessels fishing for...

        3. Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act 1898 (c. 44)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. Merchant Shipping Act 1906 (c. 48)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. Merchant Shipping Act 1970 (c. 36)

          1. 1.Omit section 23 (power of seamen to complain to master...

          2. 2.In section 30 (continued or concerted disobedience, neglect of duty...

          3. 3.In section 42 (trade disputes involving seamen), omit subsection (2)....

          4. 4.In section 56 (formal investigation into shipping casualty or incident),...

          5. 5.Omit sections 65 and 66 (custody and disposal of property...

          6. 6.After section 75 insert— Inspection and admissibility in evidence of...

          7. 7.Omit section 89 (return of deserters under reciprocal arrangements).

          8. 8.In section 92 (unregistered British ships)— (a) omit “British”; and...

          9. 9.In section 96 (non-sea-going ships)— (a) in subsection (1)—

        6. Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act 1971 (c. 59)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        7. Merchant Shipping Act 1979 (c. 39)

          1. 1.In section 46(1) (offences by officers of bodies corporate), for...

          2. 2.In section 49 (orders and regulations), as amended by section...

        8. Merchant Shipping Act 1983 (c. 13)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        9. Merchant Shipping Act 1984 (c. 5)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

    6. SCHEDULE 6

      1. Sea Fisheries Act 1868 (c.45) . . . . ....

        1. Sea Fisheries Act 1868 (c.45)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (c.60)

          1. 1.In section 459 (power to detain unsafe ships, and procedure...

          2. 2.In section 462 (application to foreign ships of provisions as...

          3. 3.In section 692 (enforcing detention of ship), at the end...

        3. Merchant Shipping Act 1906 (c.48)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act 1920 (c.2)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. . . .

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        6. Merchant Shipping Act 1965 (c.47)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        7. . . .

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        8. . . .

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        9. Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Act 1970 (c.27)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        10. Merchant Shipping Act 1970 (c.36)

          1. 1.In section 33 (defence of drug taken for medical purposes),...

          2. 2.In section 56 (formal investigation into shipping casualty)—

          3. 3.In section 58(1) (rules as to inquiries etc.), for “55”...

          4. 4.In section 67 (application of sections 62 to 66 to...

          5. 5.In section 95 (fishing vessels)— (a) in subsection (1), for...

        11. . . .

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        12. . . .

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        13. . . .

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        14. Merchant Shipping Act 1979 (c.39)

          1. 1.In section 20(3)(a) (prevention of pollution from ships etc.), for...

          2. 2.In section 28(7)(b) (supplementary provisions about inspectors), for “sections 55(2)...

          3. 3.In section 47(2) (power to extend Act to certain countries,...

          4. 4.In paragraph 8 of Part VI of Schedule 6 (miscellaneous...

        15. Supreme Court Act 1981 (c.54)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        16. . . .

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        17. Merchant Shipping Act 1983 (c.13)

          1. 1.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        18. Merchant Shipping Act 1984 (c.5)

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        19. . . .

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        20. . . .

          1. . . . . . . . . . ....

    7. SCHEDULE 7

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

    8. SCHEDULE 8

      1. 1.The amendments and repeals made by this Act do not—...

      2. 2.(1) This paragraph shall have effect in relation to any...

      3. 3.If the Secretary of State by order made by statutory...

      4. 4.Section 4(6) of this Act shall not have effect at...

      5. 5.In section 72(1) of the 1894 Act as amended by...

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources

The data on this page is available in the alternative data formats listed: