Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847

Protection of the Harbour, Dock, and Pier

And with respect to the Protection of the Harbour, Dock, and Pier, and the Vessel therein, from Fire or other Injury, be it enacted as follows:

LXIX Combustible Matter on Quays, &c. to be removed.

Every Person being the Owner of or having the Charge of any Tar, Pitch, Resin, spirituous Liquors, Turpentine, Oil, or other combustible Thing which shall be upon any Quay, Dock, or Wharf belonging to the Undertakers, or on the Deck of any Vessel within the Harbour or Dock, or at or hear the Pier, shall cause the same to be removed to a Place of Safety within Two Hours after being required so to do by Notice in Writing, signed by the Harbour-master, and if he fail so to do shall forfeit a Sum not exceeding Forty Shillings for every Hour such combustible Thing shall remain in any such Place as aforesaid after the Expiration of Two Hours. from the Service of the said Notice. Combustibles to be guarded during the Night.

LXX Combustibles to be guarded during the Night.

If any such combustible Thing as aforesaid shall remain on any Part of the Quays or Works connected with the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, or on the Deck of any Vessel Within the Harbour or Dock or at or near the Pier, after Sunset, the Owner or Person having the Charge of the same, or on his Default the Harbour-master, at the Expense of such Owner, shall provide a sufficient Number of Persons to guard the same from Half an Hour before Sunset to Half an Hour after Sunrise; and such Expense, if not paid by the said Owner to the Undertakers, on Demand, shall be ascertained and recovered in the same Manner as Damages for the Recovery of which no special Provision is made are by this Act directed to be ascertained and recovered.

LXXI Penalties against Offences herein named.

Every Person who shall commit any of the Acts following shall be deemed guilty of an Offence, and shall for every such Offence be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Ten Pounds; (that is to say,)

1.

Boiling or heating Pitch, &c.

Every Person who shall boil or heat any Pitch, Tar, Resin, Turpentine, Oil, or other combustible Matter in any Vessel lying within the Harbour or Dock or near the Pier, or in any Place within the Limits of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, except in such Place and in such Manner as shall be specially appointed by the Undertakers for that Purpose :

2.

Fires in Vessels.

Every Person who shall have or cause to be had any Fire or lighted Candle or Lamp in any Vessel within the Harbour or Dock, or at or near the Pier, except with the Permission of the Harbour-master:

3.

Fires within Docks.

Every Person who hall have or cause to be had any Fire, Candle, or Lamp lighted within any of the Docks or the Works belonging to the same, except at such Times and in such Manner as shall be permitted by the Byelaws of the Undertakers:

4.

Loaded Guns.

Every Person who shall bring any loaded Gun on the Quays or Works of the Harbour or Dock or on the Pier, or shall have or suffer to remain any loaded Gun in any Vessel in the Harbour or Dock or at or near the Pier:

5.

Gunpowder.

Every Person who shall, without the Permission of the Undertaken, bring or suffer to remain any Gunpowder on the Quays or Works of the Harbour or within the Dock, or on the Pier or in any Vessel within the Harbour or Dock or at or near the Pier.

LXXII Power to enter Ship and search for and extinguish Fires or Lights.

The Harbour-master may enter into any Vessel within the Harbour or Dock or at or near the Pier, to search for any Fire or Light in or suspected to be in such Vessel, contrary to the Provisions of this or the Special Act, or of any Byelaw made in pursuance thereof, and may extinguish the same; and any Person who shall obstruct the Harbour-master in the Execution of such Duty shall for every such Offence be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Ten Pounds.

LXXIII Penalty for throwing Ballast, &c. into Harbour or Dock.

Every Person who shall throw or put any Ballast, Earth, Ashes, Stones, or other Thing into the Harbour or Dock shall for every such Offence be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Five Pounds: Provided always, that nothing in this Act contained shall prejudice or prevent any Person from adopting any Measures which but for the passing of this Act he would be lawfully entitled to adopt for recovering any Land which shall at any Time have been lost to him or severed from Land belonging to him, by reason of the Overflowing or Washing of anynavigable River, or for protecting his Land from future Loss or Damage by the Overflowing or Washing of such navigable River.

LXXIV Owner of Vessel answerable for Damage to Works.

The Owner of every Vessel or Float of Timber shall be answerable to the Undertakers for any Damage done by such Vessel or Float of Timber, or by any Person employed about the same, to the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, or the Quays or Works connected therewith, and the Master or Person having the Charge of such Vessel or Float of Timber through whose wilful Act or Negligence any such Damage is done shall also be liable to make good the same; and the Undertaker may detain any such Vessel or Float of Timber until sufficient Security has been given for the Amount of Damage done by the same: Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall extend to impose any Liability for any such Damage upon the Owner of any Vessel where such Vessel shall at the Time when such Damage is caused be in charge of a duly licensed Pilot, whom such Owner or Master is bound by Law to employ and put his Vessel in charge of.

LXXV As to the Recovery of Amount of Damage to Quays, &c.

If the Amount claimed in respect of any such Damage as aforesaid do not exceed Fifty Pounds, such Damage shall be ascertained, and the Amount thereof shall, in England or Ireland, be recovered before Two Justices, and in Scotland before the Sheriff; and in addition to the Remedies hereby provided for the Recovery of the same, the Justices or Sheriff before whom the same are recovered may cause the Vessel or Float of Timber causing such Damage, and any Tackle and Furniture thereof, to be distrained and kept until the Amount of Damages and Costs awarded by them is paid, and if the same be not paid within Seven Days after such Distress or Keeping may cause the Property so distrained or kept, or any Part thereof, to be sold, and out of the Proceeds of such Sale may pay the Amount, of Damages and Costs awarded by such Justices or Sheriff, and all the Charges incurred by the Distress, keeping, and Sale of such Property.

LXXVI Owner may recover Damage from his Servants.

If the Owner of any Vessel or Float of Timber make Satisfaction for any such Damage as aforesaid, wilfully or negligently done by the Master or Person having charge of such Vessel or Float of Timber, or if the Owner of any Vessel or Goods in any other Case have been compelled to pay any Penalty or Costs by reason of any Act or Omission of any other Person, the Person who actually did such Damage or who committed such Offence shall repay to the Owner of such Vessel or such Goods the Amount of the Damage or Penalty and Costs, together with the Costs of the Proceedings to enforce such Repayment; and if such Damage or Penalty respectively do not exceed Fifty Pounds the Sum may, in England or Ireland, be recovered before Two or more Justices, and in Scotland before the Sheriff.