Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997

19 (1) Section 313 of the 1995 Act (interpretation) is amended as follows. U.K.

(2) In subsection (1) (definitions)—

(a) for the definition of “harbour authority” there is substituted—

• ““harbour authority” means, in relation to a harbour—

  (a)

  the person who is the statutory harbour authority for the harbour, or

  (b)

  if there is no statutory harbour authority for the harbour, the person (if any) who is the proprietor of the harbour or who is entrusted with the function of managing, maintaining or improving the harbour;”,

(b) after the definition of “master” there is inserted—

• ““Minister of the Crown” has the same meaning as in the Ministers of the M1 Crown Act 1975;”,

(c) after the definition of “proper officer” there is inserted—

• ““qualifying foreign ship” has the meaning given in section 313A;”, and

(d) after the definition of “ship” there is inserted—

• ““statutory harbour authority” means—

  (a)

  in relation to Great Britain, a harbour authority within the meaning of the M2 Harbours Act 1964; and

  (b)

  in relation to Northern Ireland, a harbour authority within the meaning of the M3 Harbours Act (Northern Ireland) 1970.”

(3) After subsection (2) there is inserted—

“(2A) In this Act “right of innocent passage”, “right of transit passage” and “straits used for international navigation” shall be construed in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.”

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 6 para. 19 wholly in force at 17.7.1997; Sch. 6 para. 19(1)(2)(b)(c)(3) in force at 23.3.1997 by S.I. 1997/1082, art. 2, Sch.; Sch. 6 para. 19 in force at 17.7.1997 insofar as not already in force by S.I. 1997/1539, art. 2, Sch.

Marginal Citations

M1 1975 c. 26.

M2 1964 c. 40.

M3 1970 c. 1 (N.I.).