Merchant Shipping Act 1995

261 Improvement notices

(1) If an inspector appointed under section 256(6) is of the opinion that a person—

(a) is contravening one or more of the relevant statutory provisions, or

(b) has contravened one or more of those provisions in circumstances that make it likely that the contravention will continue or be repeated,

he may serve on that person a notice under this section, (referred to in the following sections of this Part as an improvement notice).

(2) An improvement notice shall—

(a) state that the inspector is of the said opinion, specify the provision or provisions as to which he is of that opinion, and give particulars of the reasons why he is of that opinion, and

(b) require the person on whom the notice is served to remedy the contravention in question or (as the case may be) the matters occasioning it within such period as may be specified in the notice.

(3) The period specified in pursuance of subsection (2)(b) above shall not expire before the end of the period within which a notice can be given under section 264 requiring questions relating to the improvement notice to be referred to arbitration.

(4) In this and the following sections of this Part “the relevant statutory provisions” means—

(a) sections 43, 44, 46 to 55, 85, 86, 88 (and Schedule 2), 89 (and Schedule 3), 90, 99, 109, 115, 116, 121 to 126, 128, 129, 130, 131 to 151 and 272; and

(b) the provisions of any instrument of a legislative character having effect under any of those provisions.