(1)Part XII of the M1Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (which makes provision in relation to legal proceedings and related matters) shall apply for the purposes of this Act as it applies for the purposes of that Act.
(2)Proceedings for an offence under section 6 shall not be instituted—
(a)in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of State; or
(b)in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland or the Secretary of State.
(3)Without prejudice to section 291 of the M2Merchant Shipping Act 1995 in its application to this Act, any document required or authorised by or under any enactment to be served for the purpose of the institution of, or otherwise in connection with, proceedings for an offence under section 6(1) shall, where it is to be served on a person who was, at the time of the alleged offence—
(a)the owner of the ship in question, or
(b)such a charterer by demise or manager of that ship as is mentioned in subsection (2) of that section,
be treated as duly served on that person if—
(i)sent to him by post at his last-known address (whether of his residence or of a place where he carries on business), or
(ii)left for him at that address,
or if the document is served on the master of the ship in question.