Merchant Shipping Act 1988

1. Introductory Text

2. Part I Registration of British Ships

   1. Preliminary

      1. 1. Effect of Part I and interpretation

      2. 2. British ships

      3. 3. Persons qualified to be owners of British ships

   2. Registration under Part I of 1894 Act

      1. 4. Entitlement to registration under Part I of 1894 Act

      2. 5. Representative persons

      3. 6. Refusal of registration

      4. 7. Power of Secretary of State to direct removal from the register

      5. 8. Offences relating to furnishing of information, and duty to comply with directions

      6. 9. Duty of owner of registered ship to secure termination of any overseas registration

      7. 10. Amendments of Part I of 1894 Act

   3. Registration in overseas territories

      1. 11. Regulation of registration in overseas territories by reference to categories of registries

3. Part II Registration of British Fishing Vessels

   1. Preliminary

      1. 12. Interpretation of Part II, etc

   2. New system of registration for fishing vessels

      1. 13. Separate registration of fishing vessels

      2. 14. Eligibility for registration as British fishing vessel

      3. 15. Grant or refusal of applications for registration of fishing vessels

      4. 16. Termination of registration where vessel is not eligible for registration or is not certificated

      5. 17. Consequences of termination of registration by virtue of s.16

      6. 18. Registration of property in fishing vessels

   3. Transfers etc. of registered vessels

      1. 19. Transfer of vessel or share by bill of sale

      2. 20. Transmission of property in vessel or share other than under s.19

   4. Mortgages of registered vessels

      1. 21. Mortgages of registered vessels

   5. Unregistered fishing vessels

      1. 22. Offences relating to, and liabilities of, unregistered fishing vessels

   6. Supplemental

      1. 23. Notification of changes in ownership etc., and offences relating to furnishing of information

      2. 24. Penalties for offences under s. 22 or 23 and other provisions relating to such offences

      3. 25. Application of other enactments, etc

4. Part III Miscellaneous Provisions relating to Merchant Shipping etc.

   1. Financial assistance

      1. 26. Financial assistance in respect of costs of training merchant navy officers and ratings

      2. 27. Financial assistance in respect of crew relief costs

   2. The Merchant Navy Reserve

      1. 28. Establishment of the Merchant Navy Reserve

      2. 29. Supplementary provisions relating to Merchant Navy Reserve

   3. Safety of navigation, oil pollution etc.

      1. 30. Owner and master liable in respect of dangerously unsafe ship

      2. 31. Owner liable for unsafe operation of ship

      3. 32. Conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals

      4. 33. Investigation of marine accidents

      5. 34. Liability and compensation for oil pollution damage

      6. 35. Regulation of transfers between ships in territorial waters

      7. 36. Amendments of Coast Protection Act 1949 relating to safety of navigation

      8. 37. Licensing of tidal works by harbour authorities

   4. Protection of shipping interests

      1. 38. Amendments of Part III of Merchant Shipping Act 1974

      2. 39. Power to prohibit provision of coastal shipping services which are not British-based

      3. 40. Enforcement of s. 39

   5. Financing and administration of lighthouse service

      1. 41. Joint discharge of functions by general lighthouse authorities

      2. 42. Borrowing powers in connection with lighthouse expenditure

      3. 43. Payment out of General Lighthouse Fund of certain expenses of Secretary of State

   6. Inquiries

      1. 44. Power to summon witness to inquiry into fitness or conduct of officer or other seaman

      2. 45. Procedure where inquiry into fitness or conduct of officer or other seaman is held by sheriff

   7. Crew agreements

      1. 46. Payment of wages on termination of crew agreement

   8. Miscellaneous

      1. 47. Application of Merchant Shipping Acts to ships chartered by demise to the Crown

      2. 48. Miscellaneous amendments of Merchant Shipping Acts

5. Part IV General

   1. 49. Application to hovercraft

   2. 50. Application to unregistered ships

   3. 51. Offences by officers of bodies corporate

   4. 52. Disclosure of information to Secretary of State by other government departments

   5. 53. Regulations

   6. 54. Notices under Parts I and II

   7. 55. Financial provisions

   8. 56. Extension of Act to overseas territories

   9. 57. Interpretation, minor and consequential amendments and repeals

   10. 58. Citation, commencement, transitional provisions and extent

6. 1. Schedule 1

      Amendments of Part I of Merchant Shipping Act 1894.

   2. Schedule 2

      Registration of Fishing Vessels: Supplementary Provisions.

   3. Schedule 3

      Mortgages of Registered Fishing Vessels.

   4. Schedule 4

      Amendments relating to Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage.

   5. Schedule 5

      Miscellaneous Amendments of Merchant Shipping Acts.

   6. Schedule 6

      Minor and Consequential Amendments.

   7. Schedule 7

      Repeals.

   8. Schedule 8

      Transitional Provisions and Savings.