Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order makes provision for the registration as British ships, for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1988 (the Acts), of a special class of Government ships, namely those in the service of the Ministry of Defence the commercial management of which the Secretary of State for Defence has entrusted to some other person pursuant to a contract.
Article 3 amends the Merchant Shipping (Ministry of Defence Ships) Order 1989 (the 1989 Order), which provides for the registration of and application of the Acts generally to Government ships, in order to exclude such ships from the application of the 1989 Order.
Articles 4 to 7 make regulations as to registry.
Articles 8 to 12 make certain exceptions and modifications to the Acts as respects Ministry of Defence commercially managed ships.