Merchant Shipping Act 1995

[F1 255R Interpretation etc. U.K.

(1) Expressions used in this Part shall be construed in accordance with Article 1 of the Wrecks Convention.

(2) In this Part—

• “accident” means a collision of ships, a stranding, another incident of navigation or another event (whether on board a ship or not) which results in material damage to a ship or its cargo or in an imminent threat of material damage to a ship or its cargo,

• “insurer” shall be construed in accordance with section 255J(7),

• “wreck removal insurance” has the meaning given by section 255J(7),

• “wreck removal insurance certificate” has the meaning given by section 255J(7),

• “wreck removal notice” means a notice under section 255D,

• “the Wrecks Convention” has the meaning given by section 255A(1), and

• “Wrecks Convention State” has the meaning given by section 255A(1).

(3) References in this Part to entering or leaving a port in a State include references to arriving at or leaving an offshore facility in the territorial sea of that State (except in section 255L).

(4) References in this Part to ships registered in a State include unregistered ships entitled to fly the flag of that State.

(5) In determining for the purposes of this Part whether a wreck poses a hazard the Secretary of State must take into account the matters set out in Article 6 of the Wrecks Convention (determination of hazard).

(6) The Secretary of State shall from time to time by order describe the United Kingdom's Convention area.

(7) If Her Majesty by Order in Council declares that any State specified in the Order is a party to the Wrecks Convention, the Order shall, while in force, be conclusive evidence of that fact.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 9A inserted (5.2.2015 for the insertion of ss. 255A, 255J, 255N, 255R for specified purposes, 14.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Wreck Removal Convention Act 2011 (c. 8), ss. 1(2), 2(2); S.I. 2015/133, arts. 2, 3