lrc_1894_act_60

(LRC Revised)

1 Articles / Provisions · Ireland

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LRC Revised Act

Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (LRC Revised) Open official source

1894 (57 & 58 Vict.) c. 60

MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 1894

REVISED

Updated to 29 July 2025

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the

Merchant Shipping Act 1894

. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under

the

Law Reform Commission Act 1975

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation

of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the

Statute Law Revision Act 2025

(10/2025), enacted 23 July 2025, and all statutory instruments up to and

including the

Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Survey) Regulations 2025

(S.I. No. 381 of 2025), made 29 July 2025, were considered in the preparation of

this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,

the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,

undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature

of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from

any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

1894 (57 & 58 Vict.) c. 60

MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 1894

REVISED

Updated to

29 July 2025

CONTENTS

PART I

Registry

Qualification for owning British

Ships

Qualification for owning

British ship

(Repealed)

Obligation to register British

Ships

Obligation to register

British ships

(Repealed)

Exemptions from registry

(Repealed)

Procedure for Registration

Registrars of British ships

(Repealed)

Survey and measurement of

ship

(Repealed)

Marking of ship

(Repealed)

Application for registry

(Repealed)

Declaration of ownership on

registry

(Repealed)

10.

Evidence on first

registry

(Repealed)

11.

Entry of particulars in

(Repealed)

12.

Documents to be retained

by registrar

(Repealed)

13.

Port of registry

(Repealed)

Certificate of Registry

14.

Certificate of registry

(Repealed)

15.

Custody of certificate

(Repealed)

16.

Penalty for use of

improper certificate

(Repealed)

17.

Power to grant new

certificate

(Repealed)

18.

Provision for loss of

certificate

(Repealed)

19.

Endorsement of change of

master on certificate

(Repealed)

20.

Endorsement of change of

ownership on certificate

(Repealed)

21.

Delivery up of

certificate of ship lost or ceasing to be British owned

(Repealed)

22.

Provisional certificate

for ships becoming British-owned abroad

(Repealed)

23.

Temporary passes in lieu

of certificates of registry

(Repealed)

Transfers and Transmissions

24.

Transfer of ships or

shares 30.Power of court to prohibit transfer

(Repealed)

25.

Declaration of transfer

(Repealed)

26.

Registry of transfer

(Repealed)

27.

Transmission of property

in ship on death, bankruptcy, marriage, &c

(Repealed)

28.

Order for sale on

transmission to unqualified person

(Repealed)

29.

Transfer of ship or sale

by order of court

(Repealed)

30.

Power of court to

prohibit transfer

(Repealed)

Mortgages

31.

Mortgage of ship or

(Repealed)

32.

Entry of discharge of

mortgage

(Repealed)

33.

Priority of mortgages

(Repealed)

34.

Mortgagee not treated as

owner

(Repealed)

35.

Mortgagee to have power

of sale

(Repealed)

36.

Mortgage not affected by

bankruptcy

(Repealed)

37.

Transfer of mortgages

(Repealed)

38.

Transmission of interest

in mortgage by death, bankruptcy, marriage, &c

(Repealed)

Certificates of Mortgage and

Sale

39.

Powers of mortgage and

sale may be conferred by certificate

(Repealed)

40.

Requisites for

certificates of mortgage and sale

(Repealed)

41.

Restrictions on

certificates of mortgage and sale

(Repealed)

42.

Contents of certificates

of mortgage and sale

(Repealed)

43.

Rules as to certificates

of mortgage

(Repealed)

44.

Rules as to certificates

of sale

(Repealed)

45.

Power of Commissioners

of Customs in case of loss of certificate of mortgage or sale

(Repealed)

46.

Revocation of

certificates of mortgage and sale

(Repealed)

Name of Ship

47.

Rules as to name of ship

(Repealed)

Registry of Alterations, Registry

anew, and Transfer of Registry

48.

Registry of alterations

(Repealed)

49.

Regulations for registry

of alteration

(Repealed)

50.

Provisional certificate

and endorsement where ship is to be registered anew

(Repealed)

51.

Registry anew on change

of ownership

(Repealed)

52.

Procedure for registry

anew

(Repealed)

53.

Transfer of registry

(Repealed)

54.

Restrictions on

re-registration of abandoned ships

(Repealed)

Incapacitated Persons

55.

Provision for cases of

infancy or other incapacity

(Repealed)

Trusts and Equitable Rights

56.

Notice of trusts not

received

(Repealed)

57.

Equities not excluded by

Act

(Repealed)

Liability of Beneficial Owner

58.

Liability of owners

(Repealed)

Managing Owner

59.

Ship's managing owner or manager to

be registered

(Repealed)

Declarations, Inspection of Register,

and Fees

60.

Power of registrar to dispense with

declarations and other evidence

(Repealed)

61.

Mode of making declarations

(Repealed)

62.

Application of fees

(Repealed)

Returns, Evidence, and Forms

63.

Returns to be made by

registrars

(Repealed)

64.

Evidence of register

book, certificate of registry, and other documents

(Repealed)

65.

Forms of documents, and

instructions as to registry

(Repealed)

Forgery and false

Declarations

66.

Forgery of documents

(Repealed)

67.

False declarations

(Repealed)

National Character and Flag

68.

National character of

ship to be declared before clearance

(Repealed)

69.

Penalty for unduly

assuming British character

(Repealed)

70.

Penalty for concealment

of British or assumption of foreign character

(Repealed)

71.

Penalty for acquiring

ownership if unqualified

(Repealed)

72.

Liabilities of ships not

recognised as British

(Repealed)

73.

National colours for

ships, and penalty on carrying improper colours

(Repealed)

74.

Penalty on ship not

showing colours

(Repealed)

75.

Saving for Admiralty

(Repealed)

Forfeiture of Ship

76.

Proceedings on

forfeiture of ship

(Repealed)

Measurement of Ship and

Tonnage

77.

Rules for ascertaining

(Repealed)

78.

Allowance for

engine-room space in steamships

(Repealed)

79.

Deductions for

ascertaining tonnage

(Repealed)

80.

Provisions as to

deductions in case of certain steamships

(Repealed)

81.

Measurement of ships

with double bottoms for water ballast

(Repealed)

82.

Tonnage once ascertained

to be the tonnage of ship

(Repealed)

83.

Fees for measurement

(Repealed)

84.

Tonnage of ships of

foreign countries adopting tonnage regulations

(Repealed)

85.

Space occupied by deck

cargo to be liable to dues

(Repealed)

86.

Surveyors and

regulations for measurement of ships

(Repealed)

87.

Levy of tonnage rates

under Local Acts on the registered tonnage

Ports of Registry in Place under

Foreign Jurisdiction Act

88.

Foreign ports of

registry

(Repealed)

Registry in Colonies

89.

Powers of governors in

colonies

(Repealed)

90.

Terminable certificates

of registry for small ships in colonies

(Repealed)

Application of Part I

91.

Application of Part I

(Repealed)

PART II

Masters and Seamen

Certificates of Competency

92.

Certificates of

competency to be held by officers of ships

(Repealed)

93.

Grades of certificates of

competency

94.

Examinations for

certificates of competency

(Repealed)

95.

Examinations by Board of

Trade in certain cases

(Repealed)

96.

Engineers certificates of

competency

97.

Fees on examination

98.

Grant of certificates on

passing examination

99.

Certificates of service

for naval officers

100.

Form and record of

certificate

101.

Loss of certificate

102.

Colonial certificates

of competency

103.

Production of

certificates of competency to superintendent

104.

Forgery, &c. of

certificate of competency

Apprenticeship to the Sea

Service

105.

Assistance given by

superintendents as to apprenticeship

106.

Apprenticeships of

paupers in Great Britain and Ireland

107.

Attestation of pauper

apprenticeship

108.

Special provisions as

to apprenticeship to the sea service

109.

Production of

indentures to superintendent before voyage in foreign-going ship

Licences to supply Seamen

110.

Licence for supply of

seamen

111.

Penalty for engaging

seamen without licence

112.

Penalty for receiving

remuneration from seamen for engagement

Engagement of Seamen

113.

Agreements with crew

114.

Form, period, and

conditions of agreements with crew

115.

Special provisions as to

agreements with crew of foreign-going ships

116.

Special provisions as

to agreements with crew of home trade ships

117.

Changes in crew of

foreign-going ship to be reported

118.

Certificate as to

agreements with crew of foreign-going ships

119.

Certificate as to

agreements with crew of home trade ships

120.

Copy of agreement to be

made accessible to crew

121.

Forgery, &c. of

agreements with crew

122.

Alterations in agreements

with crew

123.

Seamen not to be bound

to produce agreement

124.

Engagement of seamen

in colonial and foreign ports

Agreements with Lascars

125.

Agreements with lascars.

Saving for 4 Geo.4 c.80 ss.25, 26, &c

Rating of Seamen

126.

Rating of seamen

Discharge of Seamen

127.

Discharge before

superintendent

128.

Certificate of

discharge and return of certificate to officer on discharge

129.

Reports of seaman's

character

130.

False or forged

certificate of discharge or report of character

Payment of Wages

131.

Payment of wages before

superintendent

132.

Master to deliver account

of wages

133.

Deductions from wages of

seamen

134.

Time of payment of

wages for foreign-going ships

135.

Time of payment of

wages for home trade ships

136.

Settlement of wages

137.

Decision of questions by

superintendents

138.

Power of superintendent

to require production of ship's papers

139.

Rule as to payment of

British seamen in foreign money

Advance and Allotment of

Wages

140.

Advance notes

restricted

141.

Regulations as to

allotment notes

142.

Allotments through

savings banks

143.

Right of suing on

allotment notes

144.

Time for payment of

allotment note

(Repealed)

Seamen's Money Orders and Savings

Banks

145.

Remittance of seamen's

wages, &c. by seamen's money orders

146.

Power to pay when order

is lost

147.

Penalty for issuing

money orders with fraudulent intent

148.

Power for Board of Trade

to establish savings banks

149.

National Debt

Commissioners to receive deposits, &c

150.

Application of deposits

of deceased depositor

151.

Expenses of savings

banks

152.

Accounts and copy of

regulations to be laid before Parliament

153.

Public officers to be

exempt from legal proceedings, except in case of wilful default

154.

Forgery of documents,

&c. for purpose of obtaining money in seamen's savings bank

Rights of Seamen in respect of

Wages

155.

Right to wages, &c.

when to begin

156.

Right to recover wages,

and salvage not to be forfeited

157.

Wages not to depend on

freight

158.

Wages on termination of

service by wreck or illness

159.

Wages not to accrue

during refusal to work or imprisonment

160.

Forfeiture of wages,

&c. of seaman when illness caused by his own default

161.

Costs of procuring

punishment may be deducted from wages

162.

Compensation to seamen

improperly discharged

163.

Restriction on sale of,

and charge upon, wages

Mode of recovering Wages

164.

Summary proceedings for

wages 165.166. 167.

165.

Restrictions on suits

for wages

166.

Wages not recoverable

abroad in certain cases

167.

Remedies of master for

wages, disbursements, &c

Power of Courts to rescind

Contracts

168.

Power of court to

rescind contract between owner or master and seaman or apprentice

Property of deceased Seamen

169.

Property of seamen who

die during voyage

170.

Dealing with and account

of property of seamen who die during voyage

171.

Penalty for

non-compliance with provisions as to property of deceased seamen

172.

Property of deceased

seamen left abroad but not on board ship

173.

Dealing with property

of deceased seamen by officers abroad

174.

Recovery of wages,

&c. of seamen lost with their ship

175.

Property of seamen dying

at home

176.

Payment over of

property of deceased seamen by Board of Trade

177.

Dealing with deceased

seaman's property when he leaves a will

178.

Claims by creditors

179.

Dealing with unclaimed

property of deceased seaman

180.

Forgery of documents,

&c. for purpose of obtaining property of deceased seamen

181.

Forgery of documents,

&c. for purpose of obtaining property of deceased seamen

Reimbursement of Relief to Seamen's

Families

182.

Relief to seamen's

families to be chargeable on a certain proportion of their wages

183.

Notice to owner, and

enforcement of charge

Destitute Seamen

184.

Penalty on masters of

ships leaving certain seamen in distress in the United Kingdom

185.

Relief of destitute

lascars

Leaving Seamen Abroad

186.

Discharge of seamen

in foreign countries

(Repealed)

187.

Penalty for forcing

seamen on shore or leaving them behind

(Repealed)

188.

Seamen not to be

discharged or left abroad unless sanction or certificate obtained

(Repealed)

189.

Accounts and payment

of wages in case of seamen left abroad

(Repealed)

Distressed Seamen

190.

Regulations as to

relief and maintenance of distressed seamen

(Repealed)

191.

Provisions for

maintenance and relief of distressed seamen

(Repealed)

192.

Masters of ships

compelled to take distressed seamen

(Repealed)

193.

Recovery of expenses

of relief of distressed seamen

(Repealed)

194.

Payment of expenses

out of Mercantile Marine Fund

(Repealed)

Volunteering into the Navy

195.

Seamen allowed to leave

their ships in order to enter the Navy

196.

Money and effects of

seamen volunteering into Navy

197.

Wages of seamen received

into Navy

Provisions, Health, and

Accommodation

198.

Complaints as to

provisions or water

199.

Allowance for short

or bad provisions

(Repealed)

200.

Regulations respecting

medicines, anti-scorbutics, &c

201.

Weights and measures on

board

202.

Inspection of

medicines, medical stores, and anti-scorbutics

203.

Medical inspection of

seamen

204

Appointment of medical

inspector

205.

Appointment of medical

inspector, and regulations as to supply of anti-scorbutics in colonies

206.

Inspection of

provisions and water for crew of certain ships

207.

Expenses of medical

attendance in case of illness

(Repealed)

208.

Recovery of expenses

from owner

(Repealed)

209.

Certain ships to carry

medical practitioners

210.

Accommodation for

seamen

Facilities for making

Complaint

211.

Facilities for making

Complaint

Protection of Seamen from

Imposition

212.

Assignment or sale of

salvage invalid

213.

No debt exceeding 5s.

recoverable till end of voyage

214.

Seamen's

lodging-houses

215.

Penalty for overcharges

by lodging-house keepers

216.

Penalty for detaining

seamen's effects

217.

Penalty for solicitations

by lodging-house keepers

218.

Penalty for being on

board ship without permission before seamen leave

219.

Application of

provisions of previous section to foreign ships

Provisions as to Discipline

220.

Misconduct

endangering life or ship

(Repealed)

221.

Desertion and absence

without leave

222.

Conveyance of

deserter on board ship

(Repealed)

223.

Provisions as to arrest

and imprisonment applying out of the United Kingdom

224.

Power of court to

order offender to be taken on board ship

(Repealed)

225.

General offences

against discipline

226.

Summary remedies not to

affect other remedies

227.

Penalty for false

statement as to last ship or name

228.

Entry of offences in

official log

229.

Entries and certificates

of desertion abroad

230.

deserters

231.

Facilities for proving desertion in proceedings for forfeiture of

wages

232.

Application of

forfeitures

233.

Decision of questions

of forfeiture and deductions in suits for wages

234.

Ascertainment of amount

of forfeiture out of wages

235.

Deduction from wages,

and payments to superintendents, &c of fines

(Repealed)

236.

Penalty for enticing to

desert and harbouring deserters

237.

Penalty on stowaways,

and discipline of stowaways and seamen carried under compulsion

238.

Deserters from

foreign ships

(Repealed)

Official Logs

239.

Official logs to be kept

and to be evidence

240.

Entries required in

official log-book

241.

Offences in respect of

official logs

242.

Delivery of official

logs to superintendent of mercantile marine office

243.

Official logs to be gent

home in case of transfer of ship, and in case of loss

Local Marine Boards

244.

Continuance and

constitution of local marine board

245.

Control of Board of

Trade over local marine boards

Mercantile Marine Offices

246.

Establishment and control

of mercantile marine offices

247.

Business of mercantile

marine office

248.

Embezzlement by

officers of local marine boards

249.

Power to dispense with

transaction of certain matters at mercantile marine offices

250.

Prohibition on taking

fees at mercantile marine office

Registration of and Returns

respecting Seamen

251.

Establishment of

(Repealed)

252.

(Repealed)

253.

Lists of the crew

254.

Return of births and

deaths in British ships

(Repealed)

255.

Return in case of

transfer or loss of ship

256.

Transmission of

documents to registrar by superintendents and other officers

257.

Deposit of documents at

foreign ports and in colonies

258.

Documents to be handed

over to successor on change of master

Sites for Sailors Homes

259.

Corporations, &c.

may grant sites for sailors homes

Application of Part II

260.

Application of Part II

to ships registered in the United Kingdom

261.

Application of Part II to

ships registered elsewhere than in the United Kingdom

262.

Partial application of

Part II to ships of lighthouse authorities and pleasure yachts

263.

Partial application of

Part II to fishing boats

264.

Application of Part II

to colony by colonial legislatures

265.

Conflict of laws

266.

Unregistered ship deemed

to be registered in United Kingdom for certain purposes

PART III

Passenger and Emigrant

Ships

1.—Definitions

Definition of Passenger Steamer and

Passenger

267.

Definition of

"passenger" and "passenger steamer"

Definition of Emigrant Ship,

268.

"Emigrant ship" &c.

to which Part applies

269.

Scale for determining

length of voyages

270.

Definition of colonial

voyage

2.—Passenger Steamers

Survey of Passenger Steamers

271.

Annual survey of

passenger steamers

272.

Mode of survey and

declaration of survey

273.

Transmission of

declaration

274.

Issue of passenger

steamer's certificate

275.

Appeal to court of

survey

276.

Transmission of

certificate

277.

Fees for

certificate

278.

Duration of

certificates

279.

Cancellation of

certificate

280.

Delivery up of

certificate

281.

Posting up of

certificate

282.

Penalty for forgery of

certificate or declaration

283.

Penalty for carrying

passengers in excess

284.

Colonial certificates

for passenger steamers

General Equipment of Passenger

Steamers

285.

Equipment of passenger

steamers with compasses, hose, deck shelters, and safety appliances

286.

Prohibition of increasing

weight on safety valve

Keeping Order in Passenger

Steamers

287.

Offences in connexion

with passenger steamers

288.

Power to exclude

drunken passengers on home trade passenger steamers

3.—Emigrant Ships

Survey of Emigrant Ships

289.

Preliminary survey of

emigrant ship

Equipments

290.

Equipment with

compasses, chronometers, fire engine, anchors, &c

Number of, and Accommodation for,

Passengers

291.

Regulations as to

carrying of passengers generally

(Repealed)

292.

Limit of number of

steerage passengers to be carried on emigrant ships

293.

Regulations as to

accommodation of steerage passengers

294.

Stowage of goods

Provisions, Water, and Medical

Stores

295.

Supply of provisions and

water

296.

Mode of carrying

water

297.

Provision for touching

at intermediate ports to take in water

298.

Issue of water or

provisions during voyage

299.

Power of Board of

Trade to exempt ships

(Repealed)

300.

Medical stores

Dangerous Goods, and Carriage of

Cattle

301.

Regulations as to

carnage of dangerous goods, and of horses and cattle

302.

Carriage of military

stores

Medical Officer, Staff, and

Crew

303.

Medical practitioners

304.

Steerage passengers

stewards, cooks, and interpreters

305.

Crew of emigrant

ship

Medical Inspection

306.

Medical inspection of

steerage passengers and crew

307.

Re-landing of persons for

medical reasons

308.

Return of passage money

to persons re-landed for medical reasons

Master's Bond

309.

Bond to be given by

master of emigrant ship

310.

Evidence of bond

Passengers Lists

311.

Passengers lists

312.

Lists of passengers

embarked after clearance

313.

Attempt to gain passage

without payment

Certificate for Clearance

314.

Certificate for

clearance

315.

Facilities to be given

for the inspection of ships

316.

Ships putting back to

replenish provisions, &c

317.

Emigrant ships putting

back to be reported to emigration officer

318.

Appeal to Court of

Survey

319.

Forfeiture of ship

proceeding to sea without certificate for clearance

Passengers Contracts

320.

Contract tickets for

passengers

321.

Summary remedy for

breach of contract

322.

Penalty for failure to

produce contract ticket

323.

Penalty for altering,

or inducing anyone to part with, contract ticket

Regulations as to Steerage

Passengers

324.

Sanitary and other

regulations by Order in Council

325.

Discipline on board

326.

Sale of spirits

prohibited on emigrant ships

Maintenance after Arrival

327.

Maintenance of steerage

passengers after arrival

Detention and Wrongful Landing of

Passengers

328.

Return of passage money

and compensation to passengers when passage not provided according to contract

329.

Subsistence in case of

detention

330.

Penalty for landing

steerage passengers at wrong place

Provisions in case of Wreck

331.

Provisions in case of

an emigrant ship being wrecked or damaged in or near British Islands

332.

Expenses of rescue and

conveyance of wrecked passengers

333.

Forwarding of

passengers by governors or consuls

334.

Recovery of expenses

incurred in conveying wrecked passengers and forwarding passengers

335.

Validity of insurance

of passage money

Voyages to the United Kingdom

336.

List of steerage

passengers brought to the British Islands

337.

Number of steerage

passengers on ships bringing passengers to British Islands

338.

Provisions and water in

ships carrying steerage passengers to British Islands

Registration of Births and

Deaths

339.

Application to foreign

ships carrying passengers of provisions respecting registration of births and deaths

Saving of Right of Action

340.

Saving for right of

action on contract for passage

Passage Brokers

341.

Passage broker

342.

Passage brokers to

enter into bond and obtain licence

343.

Granting of licences to

passage brokers

344.

Forfeiture of

licence

345.

Passage brokers

agents

346.

List of agents and

runners to be exhibited by brokers, and sent to emigration officers

List of agents and runners to be

exhibited by brokers, and sent to emigration officers

347.

Emigrant runner

348.

Emigrant runner's

licence

349.

Renewal of badge

350.

Penalties on persons

acting without licence or badge, using badge not lawfully issued, or employing

unlicensed person

351.

Penalties on emigrant

runners for certain acts of misconduct

352.

Emigrant runners

commission and fees

Frauds in procuring

Emigration

353.

Frauds in procuring

passages

354.

Penalties for fraud in

connexion with assisting emigration

Emigration Officers

355.

Emigration officers and

assistants

Legal Proceedings

356.

Recovery of fines

357.

Recovery of passage and

subsistence money, compensation, and damages

358.

Protection of persons

executing Act

Supplemental

359.

Owner responsible for

default in absence of agreement

360.

Forms and fees

361.

Posting of abstracts of

Part III in emigrant ships

362.

Byelaws by harbour

authority

363.

Exemption from survey

of foreign passenger steamer or emigrant ship in certain cases

Application of Part III as regards

Emigrant Ships

364.

Application to certain

voyages

365.

Limited application of

Part III of Act to colonial voyages

366.

Modification of

provisions of Part III in their application to British possessions

367.

Power of governors of

colonies as to numbers of steerage passengers

368.

Power for legislature

of India to apply Part III

PART IV

Fishing Boats

Application of Part IV,

369.

Application of Part IV,

370.

Definitions: "Fishing

boat"; "Second hand"; "Voyage"

371.

Ascertainment of

tonnage of fishing boat

(Repealed)

372.

Extent of Part IV

(Repealed)

Fishing Boats Register

373.

Registry of British

fishing boat

(Repealed)

374.

Effect of registry of

fishing boat

(Repealed)

375.

Rules as to boats and

life-buoys of fishing boats

(Repealed)

Discipline

376.

Offences by seamen and

apprentices

377.

Civil right unaffected

by criminal provisions

378.

Application of

forfeitures

379.

Deserters and others

may be sent back to their boats

380.

Apprehension of seamen

guilty of certain offences

381.

Dealing with seaman who

refuses to proceed to sea, &c

382.

Notice by seaman that

he intends to absent himself

383.

Calculation of

wages

384.

Facilities for

proving desertion so far as concerns forfeiture of wages

Provisions as to Deaths, Injuries,

Ill-treatment, Punishments, and Casualties in Fishing Boats

385.

Record and report of

death, injury, ill-treatment, punishment, casualties, &c

386.

Inquiry as to death,

injury, ill-treatment, punishment, &c

Settlement of Disputes

387.

Decision of disputes by

superintendent

Provisions for ascertaining Profits

of Fishing Boats

388.

Accounts to be rendered

by owners

Agreements for Fishing Vessels in

Scotland

389.

Agreements for

fishing vessels in Scotland

(Repealed)

Fees and Control of

Superintendents

390.

Fees payable on

engagements and discharges

391.

Control of Board of

Trade

Apprenticeship and Agreements with

Boys

392.

Restriction on

apprenticeships and agreements in the case of young boys

393.

Boys to be properly

apprenticed or have proper agreements

394.

Assistance by

superintendents

395.

Apprenticeships and

agreements with boys to be made before superintendent

396.

Enforcement by

superintendents of indentures or agreements

397.

Powers of

superintendent under indenture or agreement

398.

Prohibition on taking

money for apprenticeships and boys agreements

Engagement of Seamen

399.

Agreements with

crew

400.

Form, period, and

condition of agreement

401.

Mode of entering into

agreements

402.

Agreements by owner or

for service in two or more fishing boats

403.

Fishing boats running

agreements

404.

Endorsement of

engagements and discharge on running agreements

405.

Report of crew

406.

Statement of change of

crew in case of running agreements

407.

Alterations, &c. in

agreements to be attested

408.

Offences as to

agreements with the crew

Payment of Wages and Discharge of

Seamen

409.

Account of wages

410.

Certificate of

discharge

411.

Compensation to seamen

improperly discharged

412.

Provision as to

discharge, &c. to apply in the case of any sort of agreement

Certificates of Skippers and Second

Hands

413.

Skippers and second

hands to hold certificate of competency

414.

Granting of certificate

of competency

415.

Certificate of

service

416.

Registers of

certificated skippers and second hands

Conveyance of Fish from

Trawlers

417.

Board of Trade

regulations as to conveyance of fish from trawlers

PART V

Safety

Prevention of Collisions

418.

Collision

regulations

419.

Observance of collision

regulations

420.

Inspection as to lights

and fog signals

421.

Saving for local rules

of navigation in harbours, &c

422.

Duty of vessel to

assist the other in case of collision

423.

Collisions to be

entered in official log

424.

Application of

collision regulations to foreign ships

Report of Accidents and Loss of

Ship

425.

Report to Board of

Trade of accidents to steamships

(Repealed)

426.

Notice of loss of

British ship to be given to the Board of Trade

(Repealed)

Life-saving Appliances

427.

Rules as to

life-saving appliances

(Repealed)

428.

Duties of owners and

masters as to carrying life-saving appliances

(Repealed)

429.

Appointment of

consultative committee for framing rules

(Repealed)

430.

Penalty for breach of

rules

(Repealed)

431.

Survey of ship with

respect to life-saving appliances

(Repealed)

General Equipment

432.

Adjustment of compasses

and provision of hose

433.

Placing undue weight on

safety valve

Signals of Distress

434.

Signals of distress

(Repealed)

435.

Provision of signals

of distress, inextinguishable lights, and life-buoys

(Repealed)

Provision of signals of distress,

inextinguishable lights, and life-buoys

436.

Ship's draught of water

to be recorded

437.

Marking of deck-lines

(Repealed)

438.

Marking of load-line

(Repealed)

439.

Ships with submerged

load-lines deemed unsafe

(Repealed)

440.

Time, &c. for

marking of load-line in case of foreign-going vessels

(Repealed)

441.

Time, &c. for

marking of load-line in case of coasting vessels

(Repealed)

442.

Penalty for offences

in relation to marking of load-line

(Repealed)

443.

Regulations as to

load-line

(Repealed)

444.

Provision as to

colonial ships with respect to load-lines

(Repealed)

445.

Provision as to

foreign ships with respect to load-lines

(Repealed)

Dangerous Goods

446.

Restrictions on carnage

of dangerous goods

447.

Penalty for

misdescription of dangerous goods

448.

Power to deal with

goods suspected of being dangerous

449.

Forfeiture of dangerous

goods improperly sent or carried

450.

Saving for other

enactments relating to dangerous goods

Loading of Timber

451.

Loading of Timber

(Repealed)

Carriage of Grain

452.

Obligation to take

precautions to prevent grain cargo from shifting

(Repealed)

453.

Precautions against

shitting of grain cargo laden in port in Mediterranean or Black Sea, or on coast of

North America

(Repealed)

454.

Notice by master of

kind and quantity of grain cargo

(Repealed)

455.

Power of Board of Trade

for enforcing provisions as to carriage of grain

(Repealed)

456.

Definition of grain,

(Repealed)

Unseaworthy Ships

457.

Sending unseaworthy

ship to sea a misdemeanor

(Repealed)

458.

Obligation of shipowner

to crew with respect to use of reasonable efforts to secure seaworthiness

459.

Power to detain unsafe

ships, and procedure for detention

460.

Liability for costs and

damages

461.

Power to require from

complainant security for costs

462.

Application to foreign

ships of provisions as to detention

463.

Survey of ships alleged

by seamen to be unseaworthy

PART VI

Special Shipping Inquiries and Courts

Inquiries and Investigations as to

Shipping Casualties

464.

Shipping casualties

(Repealed)

465.

Preliminary inquiry

into shipping casualties

(Repealed)

466.

Formal investigation of

shipping casualties

(Repealed)

467.

List of assessors

468.

Inquiry in case of loss

of life from fishing vessel's boat

(Repealed)

Power as to Certificates of Officers,

469.

Power of Board of Trade

as to certificate

470.

Power of court of

investigation or inquiry as to certificates

471.

Inquiry into conduct of

certificated officer

(Repealed)

472.

Removal of master by

Admiralty Court

473.

Delivery of certificate

cancelled or suspended

(Repealed)

474.

Power of Board of Trade

to restore certificate

(Repealed)

Re-hearing of Investigations and

Inquiries

475.

Re-hearing of inquiries

and investigations

Supplemental Provisions as to

Investigations and Inquiries

476.

Investigations before

stipendiary magistrate

477.

Power to appoint wreck

commissioners

478.

Authority for colonial

court to make inquiries into shipping casualties and conduct of officers

479.

Rules as to

investigations and inquiries

Naval Courts on the High Seas and

Abroad

480.

Cases in which naval

courts may be summoned

481.

Constitution of naval

courts

482.

Functions of naval

courts

483.

Powers of naval

courts

484.

Report of proceedings

of naval courts

485.

Penalty for preventing

complaint or obstructing investigation

486.

Application of

provisions as to naval courts

Courts of Survey

487.

Constitution of court

of survey

488.

Power and procedure of

court of survey

489.

Rules for procedure of

court of survey, &c

Scientific Referees

490.

Reference in difficult

cases to scientific persons

Payments to Officers of

Courts

491.

Payments to officers of

courts

PART VII

Delivery of Goods

492.

Definitions under Part

VII

493.

Power of shipowner to

enter and land goods on default by owner of goods

494.

Lien for freight on

landing goods

495.

Discharge of lien

496.

Provisions as to

deposits by owners of goods

497.

Sale of goods by

warehouseman

498.

Application of proceeds

of sale

499.

Warehouseman's rent and

expenses

500.

Warehousemen's

protection

501.

Saving for powers under

local Acts

PART VIII

Liability of Shipowners

502.

Limitation of

shipowner's liability in certain cases of loss of, or damage to, goods

(Repealed)

503.

Limitation of owner's

liability in certain cases of loss of life, injury, or damage

(Repealed)

504.

Power of courts to

consolidate claims against owners, &c

(Repealed)

505.

Part owners to account

in respect of damages

(Repealed)

506.

Insurances of certain

risks not invalid

(Repealed)

507.

Proof of passengers on

board ship

(Repealed)

508.

Liability in certain

cases not affected

(Repealed)

509.

Extent of Part VIII

(Repealed)

PART IX

Wreck and Salvage

Vessels in Distress

510.

Definition of "wreck"

and "salvage"

(Repealed)

511.

Duty of receiver where

vessel in distress

(Repealed)

512.

Powers of the receiver

in case of vessels in distress

(Repealed)

513.

Power to pass over

adjoining lands

(Repealed)

514.

Power of receiver to

suppress plunder and disorder by force

(Repealed)

515.

Liability for damage in

case of a vessel plundered

(Repealed)

516.

Exercise of powers of

receiver in his absence

(Repealed)

517.

Examination in respect

of ships in distress

(Repealed)

Dealing with Wreck

518.

Provision as to wreck

found in the United Kingdom

(Repealed)

519.

Penalty for taking

wreck at time of casualty

(Repealed)

520.

Notice of wreck to be

given by receiver

(Repealed)

521.

Claim of owners to

wreck

(Repealed)

522.

Immediate sale of wreck

by receiver in certain cases

(Repealed)

Unclaimed Wreck

523.

Right of Crown to

unclaimed wreck

(Repealed)

524.

Notice of unclaimed

wreck to be given to persons entitled

(Repealed)

525.

Disposal of unclaimed

wreck

(Repealed)

526.

Disputed title to

unclaimed wreck

(Repealed)

527.

Delivery of unclaimed

wreck by receivers not to prejudice title

(Repealed)

528.

Power to Board of Trade

to purchase rights to wreck

(Repealed)

529.

Admiral not to

interfere with wreck

(Repealed)

Removal of Wrecks

530.

Removal of wreck by

harbour or conservancy authority

(Repealed)

531.

Power of lighthouse

authority to remove wreck

(Repealed)

532.

Powers of removal to

extend to tackle, cargo, &c

(Repealed)

533.

Power for Board of

Trade to determine certain questions between authorities

(Repealed)

534.

Powers to be cumulative

(Repealed)

Offences in respect of Wreck

535.

Taking wreck to foreign

port

(Repealed)

536.

Interfering with

wrecked vessel or wreck

(Repealed)

537.

Summary procedure for

concealment of wreck

(Repealed)

Marine Store Dealers

538.

Marine store dealer to

have his name and trade painted on his shop

(Repealed)

539.

Marine store dealer to

keep proper books

(Repealed)

540.

Marine store dealer not

to purchase from person under sixteen

(Repealed)

541.

Marine store dealer not

to cut up cable, &c

(Repealed)

542.

Permit to be advertised

before dealer proceeds to act thereon

(Repealed)

Marking of Anchors

543.

Marking of anchors

(Repealed)

Salvage

544.

Salvage payable for

saving life

(Repealed)

545.

Salvage of life from

foreign vessels

(Repealed)

546.

Salvage of cargo or

wreck

(Repealed)

Procedure in Salvage

547.

Determination of

salvage disputes

(Repealed)

548.

Determination of

disputes as to salvage summarily

(Repealed)

549.

Appeal in case of

salvage disputes

(Repealed)

550.

As to arbitrators in

Ireland

(Repealed)

551.

Valuation of property

by receiver

(Repealed)

552.

Detention of property

liable for salvage by a receiver

(Repealed)

553.

Sale of detained

property by receiver

(Repealed)

554.

Agreement as to salvage

(Repealed)

555.

Apportionment of

salvage under 200l. by receiver

(Repealed)

556.

Apportionment of

salvage by Admiralty courts

(Repealed)

Salvage by Her Majesty's

Ships

557.

Salvage by Her

Majesty's ships

(Repealed)

558.

Salvage by Her

Majesty's ships abroad

(Repealed)

559.

Provisions as to bond

to be executed

(Repealed)

560.

Execution of bond

(Repealed)

561.

Enforcement of bond

(Repealed)

562.

Saving for other

salvage rights

(Repealed)

563.

Exemption from stamp

duty

(Repealed)

564.

Punishment for forgery

and false representations

(Repealed)

Jurisdiction of High Court in

Salvage

565.

Jurisdiction of High

Court in salvage

(Repealed)

Appointment of Receivers of

Wreck

566.

Appointment of

receivers of wreck

(Repealed)

Fees of Receivers of Wreck

567.

Receivers fees

(Repealed)

568.

Remuneration for

services by coastguard

(Repealed)

Duties on Wreck

569.

Provisions as to

duties, &c. on wrecked goods

(Repealed)

Supplemental

570.

Powers of sheriff in

Scotland

(Repealed)

571.

Saving for Cinque ports

(Repealed)

PART X

Pilotage

Preliminary

572.

Application of Part X

(Repealed)

573.

Pilotage authority

(Repealed)

574.

Continuance of existing

pilotage authorities

(Repealed)

Powers of Board of Trade as to

Pilotage Districts and Authorities

575.

Constitution of new

pilotage authorities

(Repealed)

576.

Transfer of pilotage

jurisdiction

(Repealed)

577.

Direct representation

of pilots, &c. on pilotage authority

(Repealed)

578.

Exemption from

compulsory pilotage

(Repealed)

579.

Power of Board of Trade

to give facilities with respect to licences, rates, &c

(Repealed)

580.

Making and confirming

provisional orders

(Repealed)

Byelaws by Pilotage

Authorities

581.

Power of pilotage

authorities as to exemptions from compulsory pilotage

(Repealed)

582.

Power of pilotage

authorities to make byelaws

(Repealed)

583.

Confirmation of byelaws

(Repealed)

584.

Appeal against byelaws

or regulations not made under this Act

(Repealed)

Returns by Pilotage

Authorities

585.

Returns by pilotage

authorities to Board of Trade

(Repealed)

Licensing of Pilots

586.

Registration of pilot

licences

(Repealed)

587.

Copies of pilotage

provisions to be furnished to pilot

(Repealed)

588.

Licensed pilot to

produce licence to employer

(Repealed)

589.

Production and return

of licence to pilotage authority

(Repealed)

590.

Penalty on fraudulent

use of licence

(Repealed)

Recovery of Pilotage Dues and other

Rights of Pilots

591.

Recovery of pilotage

dues

(Repealed)

592.

Receiving or offering

improper rates of pilotage

(Repealed)

593.

Pilotage rate for

leading ships

(Repealed)

594.

Allowance to licensed

pilot taken out of his district

(Repealed)

595.

Penalty on making a

false declaration to pilot as to draught of ship

(Repealed)

596.

Occasions on which

unqualified pilots may act

(Repealed)

597.

Power of qualified to

supersede unqualified pilot

(Repealed)

598.

Penalties as to

employment of unqualified pilot

(Repealed)

Pilotage Certificates for Masters and

Mates

599.

Grant of pilotage

certificates to masters and mates

(Repealed)

600.

Appeal by master or

mate to Board of Trade

(Repealed)

601.

Withdrawal of

certificate

(Repealed)

602.

Fees for pilotage

certificates

(Repealed)

Compulsory Pilotage

603.

Compulsory pilotage

(Repealed)

604.

Home trade passenger

ships to carry pilots

(Repealed)

605.

Exemption from

compulsory pilotage

(Repealed)

Offences, and suspension and

dismissal, of Pilots

606.

Offences of pilots

(Repealed)

607.

Penalty on pilot

endangering ship, life, or limb

(Repealed)

608.

Penalty on pilot

obtaining charge of a ship by misrepresentation

(Repealed)

609.

Powers of pilotage

committee to suspend or dismiss pilot

(Repealed)

610.

Appeals from suspension

or dismissal

(Repealed)

Pilot Boats and Pilot Signals

611.

Approval of pilot boats

(Repealed)

612.

Characteristics of

pilot boats

(Repealed)

613.

Display of pilot flag,

when pilot is on board vessel

(Repealed)

614.

Penalty on ordinary

boat displaying pilot flag

(Repealed)

615.

Signals to be displayed

by ships requiring a pilot

(Repealed)

Trinity House

616.

Power of Trinity House

to alter regulations

(Repealed)

Sub-Commissioners (Trinity

House)

617.

Power of Trinity House

to appoint sub-commissioners

(Repealed)

Licensing of Pilots by Trinity

House

618.

Licensing of pilots by

Trinity House within certain limits

(Repealed)

619.

Regulations as to

pilots licences

(Repealed)

620.

Pilot's liability

limited

(Repealed)

621.

Power to revoke and

suspend licences

(Repealed)

Compulsory Pilotage (Trinity

House)

622.

Compulsory pilotage

districts of Trinity House

(Repealed)

623.

Constant supply of

pilots at Dungeness

(Repealed)

624.

Ships from London

coining past Dungeness to take the first pilot

(Repealed)

625.

Exemption from

compulsory pilotage

(Repealed)

Rates of Pilotage (Trinity

House)

626.

Rates of pilotage

(Repealed)

627.

Pilotage dues for

foreign ships for port of London

(Repealed)

628.

Receipt and application

of pilotage dues payable by foreign ships

(Repealed)

629.

Settlement of

difference as to draught of ship

(Repealed)

Pilot Fund (Trinity House)

630.

Payments to be made to

the pilot fund

(Repealed)

631.

Application of fund

(Repealed)

632.

Appointment of

sub-commissioners by Trinity Houses of Hull and Newcastle

(Repealed)

Saving for Liability of Owners and

Masters

633.

Limitation of liability

of owner or masters where pilotage is compulsory

(Repealed)

PART XI

Lighthouses

General Management

634.

Management of

lighthouses, buoys, and beacons

635.

Returns and information

to Board of Trade

636.

Power of Board of Trade

to inspect on complaint made

637.

Inspection by Trinity

House

Construction of Lighthouses,

638.

General powers of

lighthouse authorities

639.

Powers as to land

640.

Restrictions on

exercise of lighthouse powers by Commissioners

641.

Power of Trinity House

to direct lighthouse works to be done

642.

Additions to

lighthouses

Light Dues

643.

Continuance of light

dues

644.

Dues for new

lighthouses

(Repealed)

645.

Revision of light dues

by Order in Council

(Repealed)

646.

Regulation of light

dues by lighthouse authorities

(Repealed)

647.

Publication of light

dues and regulations

648.

Application and

collection of light dues

649.

Recovery of light

dues

650.

Distress on ship for

light dues

651.

Receipt for light

dues

Local Lighthouses

652.

Inspection of local

lighthouses

653.

Control of local

lighthouse authorities by general lighthouse authorities

654.

Surrender of local

lighthouses

655.

Light dues for local

lights

656.

Application of local

light dues

657.

Reduction of local

light dues

Expenses of General Lighthouse

Authorities

658.

Payment of lighthouse

expenses out of Mercantile Marine Fund

659.

Establishments of

general lighthouse authorities

660.

Estimates or accounts

of expenses sent to Board of Trade

661.

Advances by Treasury

for lighthouse expenses

662.

Mortgage of Mercantile

Marine Fund for lighthouse expenditure

663.

Advances by Public

Works Loan Commissioners

664.

Accounts of general

lighthouse authorities

665.

Power to grant

pensions

Offences in connexion with

Lighthouses, &c

666.

Injury to lighthouses,

667.

Prevention of false

lights

Commissioners of Northern

Lighthouses

668.

Incorporation of

Commissioners of Northern Lights

Provision as to Channel

Islands

669.

Restriction on exercise

of powers in Channel Islands

Lighthouses, &c. in

Colonies

670.

Dues for colonial

lighthouses, &c

671.

Collection and recovery

of colonial light dues

672.

Payment of colonial

light dues to Paymaster-General

673.

Application of colonial

light dues

(Repealed)

674.

Advances for

construction and repair of colonial lighthouses, &c

675.

Accounts of colonial

light dues

PART XII

Mercantile Marine Fund

676.

Sums payable to the

Mercantile Marine Fund

677.

Application of

Mercantile Marine Fund

678.

Subsidy from Parliament

to Mercantile Marine Fund

(Repealed)

679.

Accounts and audit

PART XIII

Legal Proceedings

680.

Prosecution of

offences

681.

Application of Summary

Jurisdiction Acts in certain cases

682.

Appeal on summary

conviction

683.

Limitation of time for

summary proceedings

Jurisdiction

684.

Provision as to

jurisdiction in case of offences

685.

Jurisdiction over ships

lying off the coasts

686.

Jurisdiction in case of

offences on board ship

687.

Offences committed by

British seamen at foreign ports to be within Admiralty jurisdiction

Damage occasioned by Foreign

Ship

688.

Power to arrest foreign

ship that has occasioned damage

Provisions in case of Offences

Abroad

689.

Conveyance of offenders

and witnesses to United Kingdom or British possession

690.

Inquiry into cause of

death on board ship

691.

Depositions to be

received in evidence when witness cannot be produced

Detention of Ship and Distress on

Ship

692.

Enforcing detention of

ship

693.

Sums ordered to be paid

leviable by distress on ship

Evidence, Service of Documents, owl

Declarations

694.

Proof of attestation

not required

695.

Admissibility of

documents in evidence

696.

Service of

documents

697.

Proof, &c. of

exemption

698.

Declarations

Application of Penalties and Costs of

Prosecutions

699.

Application of

penalties

700.

Expenses of prosecution

of misdemeanor

(Repealed)

701.

Payment of costs of

prosecution of offences committed in Admiralty jurisdiction

Procedure in Scotland

702.

Offences punishable as

misdemeanors

703.

Summary proceedings

704.

Form of complaint

705.

Warrants on summary

proceedings

706.

Backing arrestments

707.

Form of decree for

payment of money

708.

Sentence and penalties

in default of defender's appearance

709.

Orders not to be

quashed for want of form and to be final

710.

General rules, so far

as applicable, to extend to penalties and proceedings in Scotland

Prosecution of Offences in

Colonies

711.

Prosecution of offences

in British possession

Application of Part XIII

712.

Application of Part

XIII

PART XIV

Supplemental

General Control of Board of

Trade

713.

Superintendence of

merchant shipping by Board of Trade

714.

Returns as to merchant

shipping to Board of Trade

715.

Production of

log-books, &c. by superintendents

716.

Application of fees,

fines, &c

717.

Legal proceedings

718.

Expenses incurred by

Commissioners of Customs

Documents and Forms

719.

Proof of documents

720.

Power of Board of Trade

to prescribe forms

721.

Exemption from stamp

duty

722.

Offences as to use of

forms

Powers for enforcing Compliance with

Act

723.

Powers for seeing that

Act is complied with

Surveyors of Ships

724.

Appointment of

surveyors

725.

Power of surveyor for

purpose of survey of ships

726.

Returns by surveyors to

Board of Trade

727.

Appointment of

surveyors in colonies

Board of Trade Inspectors

728.

Appointment of

inspectors to report on accidents, &c

729.

Powers of

inspectors

730.

Penalty for obstructing

inspectors in the execution of their duty

Exemption from Rates and Harbour

Dues

731.

Exemption from

rates

732.

Exemption from harbour

dues

Exemption from harbour dues

733.

Registration of private

code of signals

Application of Act to Foreign Ships

by Order in Council

734.

Application by Order in

Council of provisions of Merchant Shipping Acts to foreign ships

Powers of Colonial

Legislature

735.

Power of colonial

legislatures to alter provisions of Act

736.

Regulation of coasting

trade by colonial legislature

Provision for Foreign Places where

Her Majesty has Jurisdiction

737.

Provision for foreign

places where her Majesty has jurisdiction

Orders in Council

738.

Provision as to Orders

in Council

Transmission and Publication of

Documents

739.

Notices, &c. to be

in writing and provision as to sending by post

740.

Publication in London

Gazette

Exemption of Her Majesty's

Ships

741.

Exemption of Her

Majesty's ships

Definitions and Provisions as to

Application of Act

742.

Definitions

743.

Application of Act to

ships propelled by electricity, &c

744.

Application of Act to

certain fishing vessels

Repeal and Savings

745.

Repeal

746.

Savings

Short Title and Commencement

747.

Short Title and

Commencement

748.

Commencement

(Repealed)

FIRST SCHEDULE

Part I

Part II - Documents of which the Forms

are to be prescribed by the Commissioners of Customs and sanctioned by the Board of

Trade

SECOND SCHEDULE

Measurement of Tonnage

THIRD SCHEDULE

Table of Maximum Fees to be paid for

the Measurement of Merchant Ships

FOURTH SCHEDULE

Table of Maximum Fees to be paid by

Applicants for Examination

FIFTH SCHEDULE

Regulations to be observed with

respect to Anti-Scorbutics

SIXTH SCHEDULE

Regulations to be observed with

respect to Accommodation on board Ships

SEVENTH SCHEDULE

Constitution of Local Marine

Boards

EIGHTH SCHEDULE

Particulars to be registered by Master

of a Ship concerning a Birth at Sea

NINTH SCHEDULE

Part I - Maximum Fees to be paid for

Passenger Steamer's Certificate

Part II - Maximum Fees for Survey of

Emigrant Ships

TENTH SCHEDULE

(Repealed)

Regulations as to Number of Persons

carried on Emigrant Ships

ELEVENTH SCHEDULE

(Repealed)

Regulations as to the Accommodation

for Steerage Passengers

TWELFTH SCHEDULE

(Repealed)

Water and Provisions

THIRTEENTH SCHEDULE

(Repealed)

Conditions for Carriage of Horses and

Cattle in Emigrant Ships

FOURTEENTH SCHEDULE

(Repealed)

Forms under Part III (Passenger and

Emigrant Ships)

FIFTEENTH SCHEDULE

(Repealed)

Number and Dimensions of Boats for

Fishing Boats entered in the Fishing Boat Register

SIXTEENTH SCHEDULE

Maximum Fees for Inspection of Lights

and Fog Signals

SEVENTEENTH SCHEDULE

Life Saving Appliances

EIGHTEENTH SCHEDULE

Precautions as to Grain Cargo

NINETEENTH SCHEDULE

Part I - Statements in the case of

Salvage by Her Majesty's Ships

Part II - Salvage Bond

TWENTIETH SCHEDULE

Maximum Fees and Remuneration of

Receivers

TWENTY-FIRST SCHEDULE

(Repealed)

Maximum Rates of Pilotage to be

Demanded and Received by Qualified Pilots for piloting Ships within the under-mentioned

Limits

TWENTY-SECOND SCHEDULE

(Repealed)

Repeal

1894 (57 & 58 Vict.) c. 60

MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 1894

REVISED

Updated to

29 July 2025

CHAPTER

LX.

An Act

to consolidate Enactments relating to Merchant Shipping. [25th August 1894.]

Annotations

Modifications (not altering

text)

Collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 2010

applied

with modifications (3.07.2010) by

Merchant Shipping Act 2010

(14/2010), ss.

13(2), 51(3), commenced on enactment.

Cargo ship safety

certificate.

13.

— ...

(2) The provisions of the

Merchant Shipping Acts relating to the issue, the period of validity, the granting

of an extension or the cancellation of a safety equipment certificate, a radio

certificate or a cargo ship safety construction certificate apply to a cargo ship

safety certificate, in respect of the certificate concerned, as if it were the

certificate.

...

Application (Chapter

5).

51.

— ...

(3) The following

provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts do not apply to a vessel’s tender,

namely—

(a) section 271 of the

Principal Act,

(b) section 10, 15, 18 or

20 of the Act of 1952,

Act of 1992,

(d) section 8 of the Act

of 1992 or that section as applied by the European Communities (Passenger Ships)

Regulations 2004 ( S.I. No. 716 of 2004 ), and

(e) section 82 or 84 of

this Act.

Functions under

collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

transferred and references to

“Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources” and

“Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources” construed

(1.01.2006) by

Maritime Transport, Safety and Security (Transfer of

Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2005

(S.I. No.

842 of 2005), arts. 3, 4 and sch. 1 part 1, in effect as per art. 1(2), subject to

transitional provisions in arts. 5-9.

2. (1) The administration and

business in connection with the performance of any functions transferred by this

Order are transferred to the Department of Transport.

(2) References to the Department of

Communications, Marine and Natural Resources contained in any Act or instrument

made thereunder and relating to any administration and business transferred by

paragraph (1) of this Article shall, from the commencement of this Order, be

construed as references to the Department of Transport.

3. The functions conferred on the Minister for

Communications, Marine and Natural Resources—

(a) by or under the Acts specified in Part 1

...

of the Schedule to this Order are transferred to

the Minister for Transport.

(2) References to the Minister for

Communications, Marine and Natural Resources contained in any Act or instrument

made thereunder and relating to any functions transferred by this Article shall,

from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister

for Transport.

...

Schedule

Article 4(1)

Part 1

Acts

...

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to

2005

...

References to certain

repealed provisions construed (6.02.1997) by

Merchant Shipping (Liability of

Shipowners and Others) Act 1996

(35/1996), s. 39, S.I. No. 215 of 1997.

Adaptation of certain

references.

39.

—A reference in any

enactment to a provision of the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1993, being a

provision that is repealed by this Act and which corresponds to a provision of

this Act, shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as a

reference to the said provision of this Act.

Passenger steamer

construed (14.05.1967) by

Merchant Shipping Act 1966

(20/1966), s. 19(2),

S.I. No. 54 of 1967.

Amendment of section 271 of

Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.

19.

— ...

(2) References in the Merchant

Shipping Acts to a passenger steamer shall be construed as including any ship

while on or about to proceed on a voyage or excursion in any case where a

passenger steamer's certificate is required to be in force in respect of her.

References to Act

construed (22.12.1955) by

Mercantile Marine Act 1955

(29/1955), s. 2(2),

(3), commenced on enactment. Note that this Act is repealed by

Merchant

Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014

(43/2014), s. 7 and sch. 1, not

commenced as of date of revision.

Interpretation.

— ...

(2) References in any enactment to

the Act of 1894 shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as

including a reference to this Act.

(3) References in any enactment to

Part I of the Act of 1894 shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be

construed as a reference to this Act.

Application of Act

extended (22.12.1955) by

Mercantile Marine Act 1955

(29/1955), s. 17,

commenced on enactment. Note that this Act is repealed by

Merchant Shipping

(Registration of Ships) Act 2014

(43/2014), s. 7 and sch. 1, not commenced

as of date of revision.

Registry of State-owned

ships.

17.

—(1) The Government may,

by order, provide for the registry of State-owned ships under this Act, and,

subject to any exceptions and modifications which may be made by the Government by

order, either generally or as respects any special class of State-owned ships, the

Act of 1894 and this Act shall apply to ships registered in accordance with any

such order as if they were registered in the manner provided by this Act.

(2) The Government may revoke or

amend an order under this section.

Application of

collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

restricted (19.11.1953) by

Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1952

(29/1952), ss. 44, 45,

46, S.I. No. 338 of 1953. Section 46 was substituted (3.07.2010) by

Merchant

Shipping Act 2010

(14/2010), s. 10(1), commenced on enactment.

Removing persons in case of

danger.

44.

—Where the Minister for

the purpose of enabling persons to be removed from any place in consequence of a

threat to their lives has permitted more persons to be carried on board a ship

than are permitted under the Merchant Shipping Acts apart from this section, the

carriage of that excess of persons shall not be an offence under those Acts.

Power of Minister to exempt

from safety requirements.

45.

—(1) The Minister may

exempt any ships or classes of ships from any requirements of the rules for

life-saving appliances or any rules or regulations made under this Act, either

absolutely or subject to such conditions as he thinks fit.

(2) Without prejudice to the

preceding provisions of this section, where a ship not normally engaged on

international voyages is required to undertake a single international voyage, the

Minister may, if he is of opinion that the ship complies with safety requirements

that are adequate for that voyage, exempt the ship from any of the safety

requirements imposed by or under the Merchant Shipping Acts.

[Exemption of certain ships

from certain provisions of Act of 1952.

46.

—(1) Nothing in this

Act—

(

) prohibiting or

preventing a ship from proceeding to sea unless there are in force in relation to

the ship, or are produced, the appropriate certificates issued by the Minister

under this Act or the appropriate accepted Safety Convention certificates,

(

) conferring powers on a

surveyor of ships for the purpose of verifying the existence, validity or

correctness of any Safety Convention certificate or that the conditions on which

any such certificate was issued are complied with,

(

) requiring information

about a ship’s stability to be carried on board, or

(

) imposing a penalty for

the contravention of any rules relating to openings in ships’ hulls and watertight

bulkheads,

unless in the case of information

about a ship’s stability the Minister otherwise orders, applies to any troopship.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1)

affects the exemption conferred by section 741 of the Principal Act on ships

belonging to the State.

(3) Notwithstanding that any

provision of this Act is expressed to apply to ships not registered in the State

while they are within any port in the State, that provision does not apply to a

ship that would not be within any such port but for stress of weather or any other

circumstance, that neither the master nor the owner of the ship could have

prevented or forestalled.

]

References to consular

officer construed (23.10.1945) by

Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 To 1921,

Adaptation Order 1945

(S.R. & O. No. 273 of 1945), art. 2. Note

definition of consular officer in

Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act

2014

(43/2014), s. 2, not commenced as of date of revision.

Adaptation of " consular

officer " in Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1921

(1) The expression "

consular officer " in the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1921 (exclusive of Part

IV of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906), shall be construed as including the

persons to whom this Article applies as well as the persons included in the

expression apart from this Order, and the expression shall be so construed

notwithstanding any qualification in relation to nationality attached thereto.

(2) This Article applies to the

following persons

(a) a person who is employed in

the Civil Service of the Government and who is an envoy extraordinary and minister

plenipotentiary, a high commissioner, a chargé d'affaires, a counsellor of

legation, a secretary of a legation or high commissioner's office, or an attaché,

(b) a person who is employed in

the Civil Service of the Government and who is a consul-general, a consul or a

vice-consul,

individually or by reference to a class, by the Minister for External Affairs

after consultation with the Minister for Industry and Commerce to exercise

consular functions for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to

1921.

Application of Act

modified to conform with Genoa Convention on employing children and young persons

at sea (1.01.1921) by

Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act

1920

(10 & 11 Geo. 5) c. 65, s. 1(1), (2), (5), commenced as per s.

5(2).

Restrictions on the employment

of women, young persons, and children in industrial undertakings.

—(1) No child shall be

employed in any industrial undertaking.

(2) No child shall be employed in

any ship except to the extent to which and in the circumstances in which such

employment is permitted under the Convention set out in Part IV. of the Schedule

to this Act.

...

(5) There shall be included in

every agreement with the crew entered into under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894,

a list of the young persons under the age of sixteen years who are members of the

crew, together with particulars of the dates of their birth, and, in the case of a

ship in which there is no such agreement, the master of the ship shall, if young

persons under the age of sixteen years are employed therein, keep a register of

those persons with particulars of the dates of their birth and of the dates on

which they become or cease to be members of the crew, and the register so kept

shall at all times be open to inspection.

...

C10

Application of

collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

restricted (1.06.1907) by

Merchant Shipping Act 1906

(6 Edw. 7) c. 48, s. 65(2), commenced as per

s. 86(2). Note: functions of Board of Trade transferred to Department of Industry

and Commerce (2.06.1924) by

Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924

(16/1924),

s. 1(vii) and sch. sixth part, S.R.& O. No. 4 of 1924. Name of Department of

Industry and Commerce most recently changed to Department of Enterprise, Trade and

Employment (10.11.2020) by

Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Alteration of

Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020

(S.I. No. 519 of

2020), in effect as per reg. 1(2).

Provisions as to failure to

join ship and desertion.

65.

— ...

(2) Where it is shown to the

satisfaction of the superintendent that a seaman lawfully engaged has wilfully or

through misconduct failed to join his ship, the superintendent shall report the

matter to the Board of Trade, and that Board may direct that any of the seaman's

certificates of discharge shall be withheld for such period as they may think fit,

and, while a seaman's certificate of discharge is so withheld, the

Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, and any other person having the custody

of the necessary documents, may, notwithstanding anything in the Merchant Shipping

Acts, refuse to furnish copies of any of his certificates of discharge or

certified extracts of any particulars of service or character.

C11

Board of Trade enabled to

exempt ships from collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

(1.06.1907) by

Merchant Shipping Act 1906

(6 Edw. 7) c. 48, s. 78, commenced as per s.

86(2).

Dispensing powers of the Board

of Trade.

78.

—(1) The Board of Trade

may, if they think fit, and upon such conditions (if any) as they think fit to

impose, exempt any ship from any specified requirement contained in, or pre

scribed in pursuance of, the Merchant Shipping Acts, or dispense with the

observance of any such requirement in the case of any ship, if they are satisfied

that that requirement has been substantially complied with in the case of that

ship, or that compliance with the requirement is unnecessary in the circumstances

of the case, and that the action taken or provision made as respects the

subject-matter of the requirement in the case of the ship is as effective as, or

more effective than, actual compliance with the requirement.

(2) The Board of Trade shall

annually lay before both Houses of Parliament a special report stating the cases

in which they have exercised their powers under this section during the preceding

year, and the grounds upon which they have acted in each case.

C12

References to provisions

of collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

construed (1.06.1907) by

Merchant Shipping Act 1906

(6 Edw. 7) c. 48, s. 84(2), commenced as per

s. 86(2).

Interpretation and

construction.

84.

— ...

(2) Any reference in this Act to

any provision of the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1900, which has been amended

by any subsequent Act or is amended by this Act, shall be construed as a reference

to the provision as so amended.

Editorial Notes

Power to raise sunken vessel for purposes of prosecution under

collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 2010

prescribed

(3.07.2010) by

Merchant Shipping Act 2010

(14/2010), s. 75, commenced on

enactment.

Act retained (8.05.2007)

Statute Law Revision Act 2007

(28/2007), s. 2 and sch. 1 part 4,

commenced on enactment.

Health and Safety

Authority required to keep collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

(included in definition of associated statutory provisions) under review and make

proposals (1.09.2005) by

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005

(10/2005), s. 57, S.I. No. 328 of 2005.

Power to seize and detain evidence for purposes of prosecution under

collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1993

prescribed

(1.03.1994) by

Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993

(34/1993),

ss. 10(1)(c) and 62, S.I. No. 32 of 1994.

Power of inspection and examination for purposes of collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1992

prescribed (1.08.1992) by

Merchant Shipping Act 1992

(2/1992), s. 25(1), S.I. No. 205 of 1992.

Minister empowered to

amend collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

to give effect to amendment

of the

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea

signed in

London on behalf of the Government on 1 November 1974 (25.01.1983) by

Merchant

Shipping Act 1981

(33/1981, s. 3, S.I. No. 15 of 1983.

In relation to offences

common to

Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959

and this Act, they may be

prosecuted and punished under either Act as provided (1.10.1959) by

Fisheries

(Consolidation) Act 1959

(14/1959), s. 224(4), commenced as per s.

2(1).

Power of Minister to

prescribe fees for surveys and services under

Merchant Shipping Acts

provided (14.06.1939) by

Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act 1939

(12/1939),

s. 5, commenced on enactment.

Penalty for failure to comply with collectively cited

Merchant

Shipping Acts 1894 to 1900

prescribed (1.06.1907) by

Merchant Shipping

Act 1906

(6 Edw. 7 c. 48), s. 21, commenced as per s. 86(2); repealed

(1.08.1992) by

Merchant Shipping Act 1992

(2/1992), s. 4(1) and sch., not

commenced as of date of revision.

E10

Double punishment for any misconduct under collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1900

prohibited (1.06.1907) by

Merchant Shipping Act 1906

(6 Edw. 7 c. 48), s. 44(5), commenced as per

s. 86(2).

E11

Previous affecting provision: requirement to withhold and power to

revoke safety certificates under collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894

to 2005

prescribed (21.07.2009) by

European Communities (Marine

Equipment) Regulations 2009

(S.I. No. 259 of 2009), reg. 6, in effect as

per reg. 2; revoked (4.12.2014) by

European Union (Marine Equipment)

Regulations 2014

(S.I. No. 540 of 2014), reg. 11, in effect as per reg.

1(2).

E12

Previous affecting

provision: provision made for withholding or withdrawal of safety certificates

under the International Conventions and relevant provisions of the collectively

cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

under certain circumstances (6.02.2003) by

European Communities (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2003

(S.I. No. 38 of

2003), reg. 6; revoked (21.07.2009) by

European Communities (Marine Equipment)

Regulations 2009

(S.I. No. 259 of 2009), reg. 10(a), in effect as per reg.

E13

Previous affecting provision: power to withhold or withdraw safety

certificates under collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1998

prescribed (23.12.1998) by

European Communities (Marine Equipment) Regulations

1998

(S.I. No. 545 of 1998), reg. 6; revoked (6.02.2003) by

European

Communities (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2003

(S.I. No. 38 of 2003 ),

reg. 11(a).

E14

Previous affecting

provision: Minister empowered to authorise a recognised organisation to carry out

surveys or inspections under Act under certain conditions (2.03.1998) by

European Communities (Ship Inspection and Survey Organisations) Regulations

1998

(S.I. No. 56 of 1998), reg. 4(1)(a), in effect as per reg. 1(2);

revoked (15.07.2003) by

European Communities (Ship Inspection and Survey

Organisations) Regulations 2003

(S.I. No. 301 of 2003), reg. 9.

E15

Previous affecting

provision: functions under collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

transferred and references construed (31.03.1987) by

Communications (Transfer

of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987

(S.I.

No. 91 of 1987), arts. 3, 4 and sch. part I, in effect as per art. 1(2);

superseded as per C-note above.

E16

Previous affecting

provision: functions under collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

transferred and references construed (27.07.1959) by

Transport, Fuel and Power

(Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order

1959

(S.I. No. 125 of 1959), arts. 3, 4 and sch. I part I item 6, in effect

as per art. 2; superseded as per E-note above.

E17

Previous affecting

provision: power pursuant to collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

exercised (1.01.1955) by

Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1954

(S.I. No. 267

of 1954), in effect as per art. 1(2); revoked (1.01.1964) by

Merchant Shipping

(Fees) Order 1963

(S.I. No. 266 of 1963), art. 4, in effect as per art.

1(2).

E18

Previous affecting

provision: powers pursuant to collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

exercised (21.08.1949) by

Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order, 1940 (Amendment)

Order 1949

(S.I. No. 236 of 1949), in effect as per art. 1(2); revoked

(1.01.1955) by

Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1954

(S.I. No. 267 of 1954),

art. 5, in effect as per art. 1(2).

E19

Previous affecting

provision: powers pursuant to collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts

exercised (7.08.1940) by

Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1940

(S.I. No. 36

of 1940), in effect as per art. 1; revoked (1.01.1955) by

Merchant Shipping

(Fees) Order 1954

(S.I. No. 267 of 1954), art. 5, in effect as per art.

1(2).

E20

Previous affecting

provision: power pursuant to

Merchant Shipping Act 1894

exercised

(21.03.1929) by

Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1929

(unnumbered).

E21

Previous affecting

provision: power pursuant to

Merchant Shipping Act 1894

exercised (date

unknown) by

Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order No. 2 1925

(unnumbered); revoked

(21.03.1929) by

Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1929

(unnumbered), art. 3,

in effect as per art. 1.

E22

Passengers deemed to be carried from or to State for purposes of

returns under collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1900

(1.06.1907) by

Merchant Shipping Act 1906

(6 Edw. 7 c. 48), s. 15,

commenced as per s. 86(2).

E23

Double punishment for any misconduct under collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1900

prohibited (1.06.1907) by

Merchant Shipping Act 1906

(6 Edw. 7 c. 48), s. 44(5), commenced as per

s. 86(2).

E24

Previous affecting provision: method of calculating tonnage of

steamship for purposes of collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to

1900

prescribed (1.06.1907) by

Merchant Shipping Act 1906

(6 Edw. 7

c. 48), s. 69, commenced as per s. 86(2); repealed (6.02.1997) by

Merchant

Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act 1996

(35/1996), s. 3 and

sch. 4, S.I. No. 215 of 1997.

E25

Functions under collectively cited

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to

1900

made subject to control of Board of Trade (1.06.1907) by

Merchant

Shipping Act 1906

(6 Edw. 7 c. 48), s. 74(1), commenced as per s. 86(2).

Note: functions of Board of Trade transferred to Department of Industry and

Commerce (2.06.1924) by

Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924

(16/1924), s.

1(vii) and sch. sixth part, S.R.& O. No. 4 of 1924. Name of Department of