Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847

Collection of Rates

And with respect to the Collection and Recovery of Rates, be it enacted as follows:

XXXIV Collector may enter Vessels to ascertain Rates payable.

The Collector of Rates may, either alone or with any other Persons, enter into any Vessel within the Limits of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, in order to ascertain the Rates payable in respect of such Vessel, or of any Goods therein.

XXXV Master to report Arrival of Vessel. Penalty for Neglect.

Within Twenty-four Hours after the Arrival within the Limits of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, of any Vessel liable to Rates the Master of such Vessel shall report such Arrival to the Harbourmaster, and if he fail to make such Report within the Time aforesaid he shall be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Ten Pounds.

XXXVI Master of Vessel to produce Certificate of Registry.

The Master of every registered Vessel shall, on Demand, produce the Certificate of the Registry of such Vessel to the Collector of Rates, and if any such Master refuse or neglect to make such Production, on Demand, he shall be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Twenty Pounds.

XXXVII Masters of Vessels to give Accounts of Goods intended to be unshipped within the Limits, &c.

When any Goods are intended to be unshipped within the Limits of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, the Master of the Vessel containing such Goods shall, within Twelve Hours after the Arrival of such Vessel within the Limits of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, deliver to the Collector of Rates the Name of the Consignee of the Goods intended to be unshipped, or other Person to whom the same are to be delivered, and if the whole Cargo be intended to be unshipped, a Copy of the Bill of Lading or Manifest of the Cargo, or, if Part only of the Cargo be intended to be unshipped, the best Account in Writing in his Power of the Kinds, Weights, and Quantities of the several Goods intended to be unshipped; and every such Master shall, if required so to do by the Collector of Rates, give to him Twelve Hours Notice of the Time at which the Cargo of such Vessel, or any Part of the same, is intended to be unshipped.

XXXVIII Penalty on Masters giving no Account, or a false Account, of Goods to be unshipped.

Every Master of a Vessel of which the Cargo or Part of the Cargo shall be unshipped within the Limits of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, who shall have failed to deliver or to give any of the Particulars in regard to the Cargo or the Notice in regard to the Unshipment thereof herein-before required to be delivered or given by such Master, or who shall deliver or give any false Particulars or Notice, shall for every such Offence be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Ten Pounds.

XXXIX Shippers to give an Account of Goods intended to be shipped.

Before any Person shall ship any Goods on board of any Vessel lying within the Limits of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier he shall give to the Collector of Rates a true Account, signed by him, of the Kinds, Quantities, and Weights of such Goods; and every Person who shall ship any Goods in any such Vessel without having given such Accounts, or who shall give or sign a false Account of such Goods, shall for every such Offence be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Ten Pounds.

XL In case of Dispute between Collector and Master, &c. Goods to be weighed or measured.

If any Difference arise between the Collector of the Rates and the Master of any Vessel or the Owner of any Goods, concerning the Weight or Quantities of the Goods in respect of which any Rates are payable, such Collector may cause all such Goods to be weighed or measured, and if necessary, may detain the Vessel containing such Goods until they have been weighed or measured.

XLI As to the Expenses of weighing or measuring Goods.

If the Weight or Quantity of such Goods be greater than that shown by the Manifest, Bill of Lading, Account, or Statement delivered by the Master of the Vessel or by the Owner of the Goods the Expenses of such weighing or measuring shall be paid to the Undertakers, and shall be recoverable by the same Means as are herein or in the Special Act provided for the Recovery of Rates; but if the Weight or Quantity of such Goods be the same or less than that shown by the Manifest, Bill of Lading, Account, or Statement so delivered, the Undertakers shall pay all the Expenses of such weighing or measuring, and shall also pay to the Master of the Vessel or to the Owner of the Goods all the Expenses occasioned by such weighing or measuring, or by the Detention of the Vessel for that Purpose.

XLII Rates on Goods when payable.

The Rates payable to the Undertakers in respect of any Goods shipped or unshipped within the Limits of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier shall be paid as follows; (that is to say,) if such Goods are to be shipped they shall be paid before the Shipment, or if such Goods are to be unshipped they shall be paid before the Removal of the Goods from the Premises of the Undertakers, and before the Expiration of Two Months next after they were unshipped.

XLIII Penalty on evading Payment of Rates.

If the Master of any Vessel or the Owner of any Goods evade the Payment of the Rates payable to the Undertakers in respect of such Vessel or Goods, or any Part thereof, he shall pay to them Three Times the Amount of the Rates of which he shall so have evaded the Payment, and the same shall be recovered from such Master or Owner respectively in the same Manner as Penalties imposed by this Act are directed to be recovered, or by Action in any Court of competent Jurisdiction.

XLIV Recovery of Tonnage Rates by Distraint of Ship and Tackle.

If the Master of any Vessel in respect of which any Rate is payable to the Undertakers refuse or neglect to pay the same, or any Part thereof, the Collector of Rates may, with such Assistance as he may deem necessary, go on board of such Vessel and demand such Rates, and on Nonpayment thereof, or of any Part thereof, take, distrain, or arrest, of his own Authority, such Vessel, and the Tackle, Apparel, and Furniture belonging thereto, or any Part thereof, and detain the Matters so distrained or arrested until the Rates are paid; and in case any of the said Rates shall remain unpaid for the Space of Seven Days next after any Distress or Arrestment so made, the. said Collector may cause the Matters so distrained or arrested to be appraised by Two or more sworn Appraisers, and afterwards cause the Matters distrained or arrested, or any Part thereof, to be sold, and with the Proceeds of such Sale may satisfy the Rates so unpaid, and the Expenses of taking, keeping, appraising, and selling the Matters so distrained or arrested, rendering the Overplus (if any) to the Master of such Vessel upon Demand.

XLV Recovery of Rates on Goods.

If Default be made in the Payment of the Rates payable in respect of any such Goods,- the Collector of Rates may distrain or arrest, of his own Authority, such Goods and for that Purpose may enter any Vessel within the Limits of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, in which the Goods may be, with such Assistance as he shall deem necessary, or if the said Goods have been removed without Payment of such Rates he may distrain or arrest any other Goods within the Limits of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, or the Premises of the Undertakers, belonging to the Person liable to pay such Rates and may sell the Goods so distrained or arrested, and out of the Proceeds of such Sale pay the Rates due to the Undertakers, rendering the Overplus, if any, to the Owner of such Goods, on Demand; or the Undertakers may recover such Rates by Action in any Court having competent Jurisdiction : Provided always, that the Collector of Rates shall, before making any such Distress or Arrestment as aforesaid, pay all Duties which may be payable to Her Majesty in respect of the Goods so distrained or arrested, and he may retain the Amount of Duties so paid out of the Proceeds arising from the Sale of such Goods.

XLVI Disputes concerning Rates or Charges occasioned by Distress to be settled by a Justice in England or Ireland, and in Scotland by the Sheriff.

If any Dispute arise concerning the Amount of any Rates due, or the Charges occasioned by any Distress or Arrestment, by virtue of this or the Special Act, the Person making such Distress or using such Arrestment may detain the Goods distrained or arrested until the Amount of the Rates due or the Charges of such Distress or Arrestment be ascertained by a Justice, if in England or Ireland, and by the Sheriff if in Scotland, who, upon Application made to him for that Purpose, shall determine the same, and award such Costs to be paid by either of the Parties to the other of them as he shall think reasonable, and such Costs, if not paid on Demand, shall be levied by Distress or Poinding and Sale, and such Justice or Sheriff shall issue his Warrant accordingly.

XLVII List of Rates to be set up in large and legible Characters.

The Undertakers shall from Time to Time cause to be painted on Boards, or to be printed and attached to Boards, in large and legible Characters, a List of the several Rates for the Time being payable, and shall cause such Boards containing such Lists to be fixed in front of the principal Office of Business of the Undertakers, and on some conspicuous Part of the Quays of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier; and no Rate shall be payable during such Time as such List is not so affixed, nor shall any Rate not specified in such List be payable : Provided always, that if any such List be destroyed, injured, or obliterated, the Rates shall continue payable during such Time as may be reasonably required for the Restoration or Reparation of such List, in the same Manner as if such List had continued affixed and in the State required by this Act.

XLVIII Collector of Customs may withhold a Clearance to any Vessel until the Sates paid.

The Collector or other proper Officer of Her Majesty's Customs for the District within which the Harbour, Dock, or Pier is situate may, with the Consent of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs, refuse to receive any Entry or give any Cocquet, Discharge, or Clearance, or to take any Report inwards or outwards of any Vessel liable to the Payment of any of the Rates imposed by the Special Act, until the Master of such Vessel produces to such Collector or Officer a Certificate, under the Hand of the Collector of Rates, that the Rates payable in respect of such Vessel, and any Goods imported or exported by such Vessel, have been paid, or, if there be any Dispute as to the Rates payable, until such Collector or Officer shall be satisfied that, sufficient Security has been given for the Payment of such Rates when ascertained, together with the Expenses arising from the Nonpayment thereof.