Part II of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988, which establishes a new system for the registration of fishing vessels, comes into force on 1st December 1988.

This Order specifies how certain references in documents made under the law in force before commencement of the 1988 Act are to be construed after commencement. References in documents made before commencement to 1/16th shares in fishing vessels are, after commencement, to be construed as references to 4/64th shares; and references in mortgages and similar documents to registration of fishing vessels under Part I or Part IV of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (“the 1894 Act”) are to be construed as references to registration under Part II of the 1988 Act.

The Order provides that no fishing vessels may be registered under the law in force before commencement during the period of 14 days immediately preceding commencement.

The Order also provides that no entries relating to fishing vessels are to be made in registers of ships kept under Part I of the 1894 Act except entries closing the registry.