Merchant Shipping Act 1995

Financial Provisions

302 Fees

(1) The Secretary of State may, with the consent of the Treasury, make regulations prescribing fees to be charged in respect of—

(a) the issue or recording in pursuance of this Act of any certificate, licence or other document; or

(b) the doing of any thing in pursuance of this Act.

(2) In the case of fees for the measurement of a ship’s tonnage the fees may be prescribed as maximum fees.

(3) All fees received by the Secretary of State under this Act shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

303 Expenses of Commissioners of Customs and Excise

(1) All expenses incurred by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise in the conduct of proceedings or otherwise in carrying into effect the provisions of this Act shall be treated as expenses relating to the revenue of customs and excise and shall be paid accordingly.

(2) The Secretary of State may, however, with the consent of the Treasury, repay all or any part of such of the expenses paid in accordance with subsection (1) above as are chargeable under this Act on money provided by Parliament.

304 Expenses charged on money provided by Parliament

(1) The following expenses and other amounts shall be payable out of money provided by Parliament—

(a) the expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under this Act;

(b) the salaries, pensions, gratuities and allowances of surveyors of ships, Departmental inspectors and superintendents;

(c) the sums required for the contribution from the United Kingdom towards maintaining, in accordance with the Safety Convention, a service in the North Atlantic for the study and observation of ice and for the ice patrol;

(d) the expenses of obtaining depositions, reports and returns respecting wrecks and casualties;

(e) such sums as the Secretary of State may, in his discretion, think fit to pay in respect of claims on account of the proceeds of wreck;

(f) the expenses incurred in respect of receivers of wrecks and the performance of their duties;

(g) such expenses as the Secretary of State directs for—

(i) establishing and maintaining on the coasts of the United Kingdom proper lifeboats with the necessary crews and equipment;

(ii) affording assistance towards the preservation of life and property in cases of shipwreck and distress at sea; or

(iii) rewarding the preservation of life in such cases;

(h) any other amounts which are by virtue of any provision of this Act payable out of money provided by Parliament.

(2) In subsection (1)(c) above “the Safety Convention” means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea signed in London on 1st November 1974.

305 Payments to be made into Consolidated Fund

(1) The following sums shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund—

(a) all fees, charges and expenses payable in respect of the survey and measurement of ships;

(b) any fees received by receivers of wrecks;

(c) any sums received by the Secretary of State under this Act or which are, by any provision of it, required to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

(2) All fees mentioned in this section shall be paid at such time and in such manner as the Secretary of State directs.