Merchant Shipping Act 1979

The [1970 c. 36.] Merchant Shipping Act 1970

18 In section 19(5) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 (which authorises safety regulations to make a contravention of the regulations punishable on summary conviction with a fine not exceeding £200 if the offence is committed by the master or owner of the ship and £20 if it is committed by another person) for the words from " summary conviction " onwards there shall be substituted the words " conviction on indictment with a fine and on summary conviction with a fine not exceeding £1,000 ".

19 In section 27(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 (under which the master or a member of the crew of a ship registered in the United Kingdom who improperly endangers the ship or persons on board the ship is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for up to 2 years or to a fine and on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 in some cases and £400 in others)—

(a) for the words " or to a fine " there shall be inserted the words " and a fine "; and

(b) for the words from " summary conviction " onwards there shall be substiuted the words " summary convicition to a fine not exceeding £1,000 ".

20 In section 28 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 (which provides that a seaman who is under the influence of drink or drugs while on duty to such an extent that his capacity to carry out his duties is impaired shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50) for the words from " summary conviction" onwards there shall be substituted the words " conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years and a fine and, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 ".

21 In section 30 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 (which provides among other things that a seaman employed in a ship registered in the United Kingdom who persistently neglects his duty or disobeys orders or combines with other seamen to do so or to impede the ship's progress shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100) for the words from " summary conviction " to " £100 " there shall be substituted the words " conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years and a fine and, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 ".