1Assistance to persons providing sea transport services.
(1)For the purposes of maintaining and improving sea transport services serving the Highlands and Islands (hereinafter referred to as " the purposes of this Act ") the Secretary of State may assist in accordance with this Act persons—
(a)who provide, and are wholly or mainly engaged in providing, such services,
(b)who provide such services and are local authorities within the meaning of the [1 Edw. 8 & 1 Geo. 6. c. 28.] Harbours, Piers and Ferries (Scotland) Act, 1937, or
(c)who propose to provide such services.
(2)In the foregoing subsection " sea transport services " means public transport services (including such services ancillary thereto as are necessary for the proper functioning thereof) provided in an undertaking which consists of, or includes to a substantial extent, the provision of public transport by sea.