31.—(1) On making an application for registration of a ship the applicant shall specify one of the ports listed in part 1 or 2 of Schedule 2, as is appropriate, which it is intended shall be the ship’s port of choice.
(2) [F1Subject to paragraph (2A), on] receipt of an application for registration of a ship for the first time the Registrar, if he is satisfied that that ship is eligible to be registered, shall:—
(a)allocate to the ship a register number (“official number”),
[F2(b)in the case of a fishing vessel, allocate a port number,]
and shall issue a carving and marking note.
[F3(2A) The Registrar is not required to carry out any of the actions mentioned in paragraph (2) if the Registrar is satisfied that the ship is a sanctioned ship.]
(3) The Registrar may, on request by a classification society, allocate an official number to a ship notwithstanding that he is not yet satisfied as to its eligibility.
(4) Where a ship has had a number allocated under paragraph (3) and that number has been carved into the ship’s beam but the ship is not accepted as being eligible for registration, the number must be permanently defaced and a certificate to that effect provided by the classification society to the Registrar.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 31(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/509), regs. 1(3), 11(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F2Reg. 31(2)(b) substituted (10.1.2000) by The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships, and Tonnage) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/3206), regs. 1, 7
F3Reg. 31(2A) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/509), regs. 1(3), 11(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Commencement Information