(1)The following ships are exempt from this Part of this Act, namely—
(a)sailing ships under eighty tons register engaged solely in the coasting trade;
(b)ships exempted from this Part of this Act under subsection (2) of this section;
(c)ships solely engaged in fishing;
(d)pleasure yachts.
(2)The Board of Trade may, on such conditions as they think fit, exempt from this Part of this Act—
(a)any ship plying on international voyages between the near neighbouring ports of two or more countries, if the Board of Trade and the Governments of those countries are satisfied that the sheltered nature and conditions of the voyages between those ports make it unreasonable or impracticable to apply the provisions of this Part of this Act to ships so plying;
(b)any ship plying on any other voyage between near neighbouring ports if the Board of Trade are satisfied as aforesaid; and
(c)any class of steamers under eighty tons register engaged solely in the coasting trade, so long as they do not carry cargo.