The Fishing Vessels (Codes of Practice) Regulations 2017

Detention of a United Kingdom fishing vessel U.K.

12.—(1) Where a surveyor of ships is satisfied that there is or has been a failure by an owner or skipper to comply in relation to any United Kingdom fishing vessel with the preceding requirements of these Regulations, that vessel is liable to be detained until a surveyor of ships is satisfied that those requirements are complied with.

(2) A surveyor of ships may permit a fishing vessel which is liable to be detained under paragraph (1) to proceed to sea for the purpose of proceeding to the nearest appropriate repair yard.

(3) A fishing vessel must not be delayed or detained unreasonably under this regulation.

(4) Where a United Kingdom fishing vessel is detained because in relation to it there has been a failure to comply with the preceding requirements of these Regulations, and that failure has ceased, a surveyor of ships must, at the request of the owner or skipper, immediately release the vessel—

(a) if no proceedings for an offence arising from the failure in question are instituted within the period of seven days beginning with the day on which the vessel is detained;

(b) if proceedings for an offence arising from the failure in question, having been instituted within that period, are concluded without the owner or skipper being convicted;

(c) if either—

(i) the sum of £30,000 is paid to the Secretary of State by way of security, or

(ii) security which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, is satisfactory and is for an amount not less than £30,000 is given to the Secretary of State,

by or on behalf of the owner or skipper;

(d) where the owner or skipper is convicted of an offence arising from the failure in question, if any costs or expenses ordered to be paid by the owner or skipper, and any fine imposed on the owner or skipper, have been paid; or

(e) if the release is ordered by a court or tribunal referred to in article 292 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 M1 , and any bond or other financial security ordered by such court or tribunal is posted.

(5) The Secretary of State must repay any sum paid in pursuance of paragraph 4(c) or release any security so given—

(a) if no proceedings for an offence arising from the failure in question are instituted within the period of seven days beginning with the day on which the sum is paid; or

(b) if proceedings for an offence arising from the failure in question, having been instituted within that period, are concluded without the owner or skipper being convicted.

(6) Where a sum has been paid, or security has been given, by any person in pursuance of paragraph (4)(c) and the owner or skipper is convicted of an offence arising from the failure in question, the sum so paid or the amount made available under the security must be applied as follows—

(a) first in payment of any costs or expenses ordered by the court to be paid by the owner or skipper; and

(b) next in payment of any fine imposed by the court,

and any balance must be repaid to the first-mentioned person.

(7) Section 145 of the Act (interpretation of section 144) applies for the purposes of paragraphs (4) to (6) as if references to an offence under section 131 were references to an offence arising from the failure in question.

Marginal Citations

M1 Cmnd. 8941; http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf.