IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 14 of 2010
MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 2010
REVISED
Updated to 14 April 2026
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 2010
. 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
International Protection Act 2026
(9/2026), enacted 22 April 2026, and all statutory instruments up to and
including the
Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Rules 2026
(S.I. No. 148 of 2026), made 14 April 2026, 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
to revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
14
of
2010
MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 2010
REVISED
Updated to 14 April 2026
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1. Short title and collective citation.
2. Definitions.
3. Expenses.
4. Offence by body corporate and summary proceedings.
5. Laying of orders, regulations and rules before Houses of Oireachtas.
PART 2
Construction, Radio, Navigation and Tracking and Bulk Carrier Rules and Categorisation
of Vessels
6. Definitions — Act of 1952.
7. Construction rules.
8. Radiocommunications rules.
9. Navigation and tracking rules.
10. Exemption of certain ships from certain provisions of Act of 1952.
11. Increase of fines, etc. (Act of 1952).
12. Cargo ship construction and survey rules.
13. Cargo ship safety certificate.
14. Bulk carrier rules.
15. Categorisation of vessels under safety regulations.
PART 3
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR CERTAIN VESSELS
Chapter 1
Chemical Tanker Rules
16. Definitions (
Chapter 1
).
17. Application (
Chapter 1
).
18. Chemical tanker rules.
19. Certification and endorsement (
Chapter 1
).
20. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 1
).
21. Compliance (
Chapter 1
).
22. Transfer of ship (
Chapter 1
).
23. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 1
).
24. Offences (
Chapter 1
).
Chapter 2
Liquefied Gas Carriage Rules
25. Definitions (
Chapter 2
).
26. Application (
Chapter 2
).
27. Liquefied gas carriage rules.
28. Certification and endorsement (
Chapter 2
).
29. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 2
).
30. Compliance (
Chapter 2
).
31. Transfer of ship (
Chapter 2
).
32. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 2
).
33. Offences (
Chapter 2
).
Chapter 3
Nuclear Carriage Rules
34. Definitions (
Chapter 3
).
35. Application (
Chapter 3
).
36. Nuclear carriage rules.
37. Certification.
38. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 3
).
39. Compliance (
Chapter 3
).
40. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 3
).
41. Offences (
Chapter 3
).
Chapter 4
High-Speed Craft
42. Definitions (
Chapter 4
).
43. Application (
Chapter 4
).
44. High-speed craft rules.
45. Certification and endorsement of high-speed craft (
Chapter 4
).
46. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 4
).
47. Compliance (
Chapter 4
).
48. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 4
).
49. Offences (
Chapter 4
).
Chapter 5
Tendering Operations Regulations
50. Definitions (
Chapter 5
).
51. Application (
Chapter 5
).
52. Tendering operations regulations.
53. Issue of permit to tender.
54. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 5
).
55. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 5
).
56. Offences (
Chapter 5
).
Chapter 6
Safe Manning Regulations
57. Definitions (
Chapter 6
).
58. Application (
Chapter 6
).
59. Safe manning regulations.
60. Safe manning document.
61. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 6
).
62. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 6
).
63. Offences (
Chapter 6
).
Chapter 7
Unsafe ships
64. Application (
Chapter 7
).
65. Detention.
66. Notice of detention.
PART 4
Access for Persons with Reduced Mobility to Passenger Vessels
67. Definitions (
Part 4
).
68. Regulations.
69. Codes of practice.
70. Use of codes of practice in criminal proceedings.
71. Authorised persons.
72. Powers of authorised persons.
73. Fixed payment notice (
Part 4
).
Part 5
Raising of Sunken Vessels
74. Definitions (
Part 5
).
75. Power to raise sunken vessel.
76. Disposal of a raised vessel.
77. Costs.
78. Immunities from claims.
79. Obstruction.
80. Notification to receiver of wreck.
81. Foreign vessels raised under
Part 5
.
PART 6
Safety Measures
82. Rules for life-saving appliances and arrangements.
83. Approval of service stations.
84. Fire protection rules.
85. Entry into log-book of boat-drill, etc.
86. Prohibition on proceeding to sea on international voyage without approved signalling
lamp or device.
PART 7
Maritime Labour Convention 2006
87. Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
PART 8
Miscellaneous
88. Prohibition on obstruction of surveyor of ships.
89. Application to Circuit Court — compliance order and appeals.
90. Fees — Certificates and inspections under Act and surveys under Act of 1952.
91. Fees — Merchant Shipping (Certification of Seamen) Act 1979.
92. Confirmation of acts of Marine Casualty Investigation Board.
93. Medical fitness of pilots and repeal.
Acts Referred to
Disability Act 2005
2005, No. 14
Employment Equality Act 1998
1998, No. 21
Harbours Act 1996
1996, No. 11
Maritime Safety Act 2005
2005, No. 11
Mercantile Marine Act 1955
1955, No. 29
Merchant Shipping (Certification of Seamen) Act 1979
1979, No. 37
Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000
2000, No. 14
Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1998
1998, No. 20
Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1952
1952, No. 29
Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993
1993, No. 34
Merchant Shipping Act 1894
1894, c. 60
Merchant Shipping Act 1906
1906, c. 48
Merchant Shipping Act 1966
1966, No. 20
Merchant Shipping Act 1981
1981, No. 33
Merchant Shipping Act 1992
1992, No. 2
Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 2000
Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 2005
Sea Pollution (Hazardous Substances) (Compensation) Act 2005
2005, No. 9
Number
14
of
2010
MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 2010
REVISED
Updated to 14 April 2026
AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION IN RELATION TO GIVING FURTHER EFFECT TO THE INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA SIGNED IN LONDON ON 1 NOVEMBER 1974 AND ITS
PROTOCOLS, PROVIDING ACCESS TO PASSENGER VESSELS FOR PERSONS WITH REDUCED MOBILITY,
TO ENABLE SUNKEN VESSELS TO BE RAISED, TO GIVE THE FORCE OF LAW TO THE MARITIME LABOUR
CONVENTION 2006 ADOPTED AT GENEVA ON 23 FEBRUARY 2006, TO AMEND THE MERCHANT SHIPPING
ACTS 1894 TO 2005 AND TO AMEND AND EXTEND PART IV OF THE HARBOURS ACT 1996 AND TO
PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
[3
rd July
, 2010]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS
AS FOLLOWS
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
Functions transferred and references to “Department of Finance” and “Minister for Finance” construed (29.07.2011) by
Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order
2011
(S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 2, 3, 5 and sch. 1 part 2, in effect as per art. 1(2),
subject to transitional provisions in arts. 6-9.
2. (1) The administration and
business in connection with the performance of any functions transferred by this
Order are transferred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
(2) References to the Department
of Finance contained in any Act or instrument made thereunder and relating to the
administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, on and after the
commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Public
Expenditure and Reform.
3. The functions conferred on the Minister for Finance by or under the provisions
of —
(
a
) the enactments
specified in Schedule 1, and
(
b
) the statutory
instruments specified in Schedule 2,
are transferred to the Minister
for Public Expenditure and Reform.
...
5. References to the Minister for Finance contained in any Act or instrument under
an Act and relating to any functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement
of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Public Expenditure and
Reform.
...
Schedule 1
Enactments
...
Part 2
1922 to 2011 Enactments
Number and Year
Short Title
Provision
(1)
(2)
(3)
...
...
...
No. 14 of 2010
Merchant Shipping Act 2010
Sections 52(1), 59(1)(d), 68(5), 83(3), 87(6) and 90
...
...
...
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
Functions transferred and references to “Department of Finance” and “Minister for Finance” construed (29.07.2011) by
Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order
2011
(S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 2, 3, 5 and sch. 1 part 2, in effect as per art. 1(2),
subject to transitional provisions in arts. 6-9.
2. (1) The administration and
business in connection with the performance of any functions transferred by this
Order are transferred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
(2) References to the Department
of Finance contained in any Act or instrument made thereunder and relating to the
administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, on and after the
commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Public
Expenditure and Reform.
3. The functions conferred on the Minister for Finance by or under the provisions
of —
(
a
) the enactments
specified in Schedule 1, and
(
b
) the statutory
instruments specified in Schedule 2,
are transferred to the Minister
for Public Expenditure and Reform.
...
5. References to the Minister for Finance contained in any Act or instrument under
an Act and relating to any functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement
of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Public Expenditure and
Reform.
...
Schedule 1
Enactments
...
Part 2
1922 to 2011 Enactments
Number and Year
Short Title
Provision
(1)
(2)
(3)
...
...
...
No. 14 of 2010
Merchant Shipping Act 2010
Sections 52(1), 59(1)(d), 68(5), 83(3), 87(6) and 90
...
...
...
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1. Short title and collective citation.
2. Definitions.
3. Expenses.
4. Offence by body corporate and summary proceedings.
5. Laying of orders, regulations and rules before Houses of Oireachtas.
PART 2
Construction, Radio, Navigation and Tracking and Bulk Carrier Rules and Categorisation
of Vessels
6. Definitions — Act of 1952.
7. Construction rules.
8. Radiocommunications rules.
9. Navigation and tracking rules.
10. Exemption of certain ships from certain provisions of Act of 1952.
11. Increase of fines, etc. (Act of 1952).
12. Cargo ship construction and survey rules.
13. Cargo ship safety certificate.
14. Bulk carrier rules.
15. Categorisation of vessels under safety regulations.
PART 3
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR CERTAIN VESSELS
Chapter 1
Chemical Tanker Rules
16. Definitions (
Chapter 1
).
17. Application (
Chapter 1
).
18. Chemical tanker rules.
19. Certification and endorsement (
Chapter 1
).
20. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 1
).
21. Compliance (
Chapter 1
).
22. Transfer of ship (
Chapter 1
).
23. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 1
).
24. Offences (
Chapter 1
).
Chapter 2
Liquefied Gas Carriage Rules
25. Definitions (
Chapter 2
).
26. Application (
Chapter 2
).
27. Liquefied gas carriage rules.
28. Certification and endorsement (
Chapter 2
).
29. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 2
).
30. Compliance (
Chapter 2
).
31. Transfer of ship (
Chapter 2
).
32. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 2
).
33. Offences (
Chapter 2
).
Chapter 3
Nuclear Carriage Rules
34. Definitions (
Chapter 3
).
35. Application (
Chapter 3
).
36. Nuclear carriage rules.
37. Certification.
38. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 3
).
39. Compliance (
Chapter 3
).
40. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 3
).
41. Offences (
Chapter 3
).
Chapter 4
High-Speed Craft
42. Definitions (
Chapter 4
).
43. Application (
Chapter 4
).
44. High-speed craft rules.
45. Certification and endorsement of high-speed craft (
Chapter 4
).
46. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 4
).
47. Compliance (
Chapter 4
).
48. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 4
).
49. Offences (
Chapter 4
).
Chapter 5
Tendering Operations Regulations
50. Definitions (
Chapter 5
).
51. Application (
Chapter 5
).
52. Tendering operations regulations.
53. Issue of permit to tender.
54. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 5
).
55. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 5
).
56. Offences (
Chapter 5
).
Chapter 6
Safe Manning Regulations
57. Definitions (
Chapter 6
).
58. Application (
Chapter 6
).
59. Safe manning regulations.
60. Safe manning document.
61. Duties of owners and masters (
Chapter 6
).
62. Powers of surveyors (
Chapter 6
).
63. Offences (
Chapter 6
).
Chapter 7
Unsafe ships
64. Application (
Chapter 7
).
65. Detention.
66. Notice of detention.
PART 4
Access for Persons with Reduced Mobility to Passenger Vessels
67. Definitions (
Part 4
).
68. Regulations.
69. Codes of practice.
70. Use of codes of practice in criminal proceedings.
71. Authorised persons.
72. Powers of authorised persons.
73. Fixed payment notice (
Part 4
).
Part 5
Raising of Sunken Vessels
74. Definitions (
Part 5
).
75. Power to raise sunken vessel.
76. Disposal of a raised vessel.
77. Costs.
78. Immunities from claims.
79. Obstruction.
80. Notification to receiver of wreck.
81. Foreign vessels raised under
Part 5
.
PART 6
Safety Measures
82. Rules for life-saving appliances and arrangements.
83. Approval of service stations.
84. Fire protection rules.
85. Entry into log-book of boat-drill, etc.
86. Prohibition on proceeding to sea on international voyage without approved signalling
lamp or device.
PART 7
Maritime Labour Convention 2006
87. Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
PART 8
Miscellaneous
88. Prohibition on obstruction of surveyor of ships.
89. Application to Circuit Court — compliance order and appeals.
90. Fees — Certificates and inspections under Act and surveys under Act of 1952.
91. Fees — Merchant Shipping (Certification of Seamen) Act 1979.
92. Confirmation of acts of Marine Casualty Investigation Board.
93. Medical fitness of pilots and repeal.
Number
14
of
2010