Merchant Shipping Act 1995

s.107 Return to be furnished by masters of ships as to passengers. Prosecution

Fail to provide required passenger returnAny Person
Fail to submit passenger return or provide false informationAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.108 Returns of births and deaths in ships, etc.

s.108 Safety directions

amended 4 times

11 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.087 Provisions supplementary to section 85: dangerous goods.

s.088 Safety of submersible and supporting apparatus.

s.089 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.091 Special provisions

s.094 Meaning of “dangerously unsafe ship”.

s.095 Power to detain dangerously unsafe ship.

s.096 References of detention notices to arbitration.

s.097 Compensation in connection with invalid detention of ship.

s.102 Power to exclude drunken passengers from certain passenger ships.

s.106 Unauthorised persons: offences relating to safety.

Part 5

Fishing Vessels

12 of 19 sections shown

s.110 Payments of seamen’s wages. Regulated

Pay fishing vessel crew wages in fullEmployer

s.112 Accounts of wages and catch. Prosecution

Provide wage and catch accounts to fishing vessel crewAny Person

Fine up to £500

s.115 Hours of work. Prosecution

Breach fishing vessel working hours regulationsEmployer
Fail to comply with hours of work regulations for fishing vessel seamenEmployer

Fine up to £2,500

s.116 Production of crew certificates and other documents of qualification. Prosecution

Fail to produce crew qualification documents on demandAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.117 Drunkenness on duty.

s.118 Unauthorised liquor. Imprisonment

Take or possess unauthorised liquor on a UK fishing vesselAny Person

s.121 Fishing vessel construction rules. Prosecution

Contravene fishing vessel construction rules or exemption conditionsAny Person
Fail to comply with fishing vessel construction rulesAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.123 Fishing vessel certificates. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State must issue a fishing vessel certificate upon applicationCrown / Minister / Government department

s.124 Provisions supplementary to section 123. Prosecution

Fail to return expired or cancelled fishing vessel certificateAny Person

Fine up to £500

s.125 Prohibition on going to sea without appropriate certificate. Prosecution

Take fishing vessel to sea without required certificateAny Person

Unlimited fine · amended 1 time (opens in a new tab)

s.126 Notice of alterations. Prosecution

Fail to give notice of vessel alterationsAny Person
Fail to notify alterations to a fishing vessel certificateAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.127 Training in safety matters. Prosecution

Go to sea without required safety trainingAny Person
Take a fishing vessel to sea without required safety trainingAny Person

Unlimited fine

7 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.109 Regulations relating to crew agreements.

s.111 Regulations relating to wages: deductions.

s.113 Restriction on assignment of and charge upon wages.

s.114 Right, or loss of right, to wages in certain circumstances.

s.119 Disciplinary offences.

s.120 Power to grant exemptions from this Chapter.

s.122 Fishing vessel survey rules.

Part 6

Prevention of Pollution

51 of 70 sections shown

s.128 Prevention of pollution from ships etc. Imprisonment

Contravene a pollution‑prevention order for a shipAny Person

2 years imprisonment · amended 9 times (opens in a new tab)

s.129 Further provision for prevention of pollution from ships.

s.130 Regulation of transfers between ships in territorial waters. Imprisonment

Contravene regulations on ship-to-ship transfersAny Person
Illegal transfer of cargo or fuel between ships in UK watersAny Person

2 years imprisonment · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)

s.130 General.

amended 2 times

s.130 Waste management plans.

amended 2 times

s.130 Charges for and use of waste reception facilities.

amended 2 times

s.130 Supplementary. Imprisonment

Fail to comply with Merchant Shipping regulationsAny Person

2 years imprisonment · amended 2 times

s.130 Interpretation of Chapter IA.

amended 2 times

s.131 Discharge of oil from ships into certain United Kingdom waters. Prosecution

Discharge oil from ship into UK watersOccupier

Unlimited fine · amended 14 times (opens in a new tab)

s.135 Restrictions on transfer of oil at night. Prosecution

Transfer oil at night without required noticeOccupier

Fine up to £1,000 · amended 5 times (opens in a new tab)

s.136 Duty to report discharge of oil into waters of harbours. Prosecution

Fail to report oil discharge from a ship into harbour watersAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.137 Shipping casualties.

s.141 Application of sections 137 to 140 to certain foreign and other ships.

amended 11 times (opens in a new tab)

s.142 Oil records. Prosecution

Fail to carry required oil record bookAny Person
Make false entry in oil record bookAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.143 Prosecutions and enforcement of fines.

s.144 Power to detain ships for section 131 offences.

amended 17 times (opens in a new tab)

s.145 Interpretation of section 144

amended 39 times (opens in a new tab)

s.146 Enforcement and application of fines.

amended 18 times (opens in a new tab)

s.150 Annual Report. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State must report annually on sea pollution and functionsCrown / Minister / Government department

s.152 Meaning of “the Bunkers Convention”, “the Liability Convention” and related expressions.

s.153 Liability for oil pollution in case of tankers. Regulated

Liability for oil pollution damage and clean-up costsAny Person

amended 9 times (opens in a new tab)

s.153 Liability for pollution by bunker oil Regulated

Liability for pollution or threats caused by ship bunker oilAny Person

amended 5 times

s.154 Liability for oil pollution in other cases. Regulated

Liability for oil pollution damage and clean-up costsAny Person

s.155 Exceptions from liability under sections 153 , 153A and 154.

amended 7 times (opens in a new tab)

s.156 Restriction of liability for pollution from oil or bunker oil.

s.156 Liability under section 153, 153A or 154: supplementary provisions

amended 7 times

s.157 Limitation of liability under section 153.

amended 7 times (opens in a new tab)

s.158 Limitation actions.

s.160 Concurrent liabilities of owners and others.

s.162 Extinguishment of claims.

amended 15 times (opens in a new tab)

s.163 Compulsory insurance against liability for pollution. Prosecution

Enter or leave port without required insurance certificateAny Person
Operate ship without valid pollution insurance certificateAny Person

Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)

s.163 Compulsory insurance against liability for pollution from bunker oil Prosecution

Fail to have a valid bunkers insurance certificateAny Person
Operate a large ship without bunker oil pollution insuranceAny Person

Unlimited fine · amended 2 times

s.164 Issue of certificate by Secretary of State. Prosecution

Fail to deliver up a certificate when requiredAny Person

Fine up to £2,500 · amended 6 times (opens in a new tab)

s.165 Rights of third parties against insurers.

s.166 Jurisdiction of United Kingdom courts and registration of foreign judgments.

amended 6 times (opens in a new tab)

s.167 Government ships.

s.168 Limitation of liability under section 153A or 154.

amended 10 times (opens in a new tab)

s.170 Interpretation.

s.171 Transitory text of this Chapter and power to make transitional provisions.

s.172 Meaning of the “Liability Convention”, “the Fund Convention” and related expressions.

s.173 Contributions by importers of oil and others. Prosecution

Fail to provide security for oil fund contributionsAny Person

Unlimited fine · amended 7 times (opens in a new tab)

s.174 Power to obtain information. Imprisonment

Fail to provide required information or provide false informationAny Person
Unauthorised disclosure of oil informationAny Person

12 months imprisonment · amended 3 times (opens in a new tab)

s.177 Jurisdiction and effect of judgments.

s.178 Supplemental

s.179 Subrogation.

s.180 Supplementary provisions as to proceedings involving the Fund.

s.181 Interpretation.

s.182 Transitory text of this Chapter and power to make transitional provisions.

s.182 Introductory.

amended 1 time

s.182 Power to give effect to Convention.

amended 1 time

s.182 Power of Secretary of State to make orders.

amended 1 time

19 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.132 Defences of owner or master charged with offence under section 131.

s.133 Defences of occupier charged with offence under section 131

s.134 Protection for acts done in exercise of certain powers of harbour authorities, etc.

s.136 Discharges etc. authorised under other enactments.

s.138 Right to recover in respect of unreasonable loss or damage.

s.138 Application of sections 137 and 138 to pollution by substances other than oil.

s.139 Offences in relation to section 137.

s.140 Service of directions under section 137.

s.147 Enforcement of Conventions relating to oil pollution.

s.148 Power of Secretary of State to grant exemptions.

s.149 Application to Government ships.

s.151 Interpretation.

s.159 Restriction on enforcement after establishment of limitation fund.

s.161 Establishment of limitation fund outside United Kingdom.

s.169 Saving for recourse actions.

s.175 Liability of the Fund.

s.176 Limitation of Fund’s liability under section 175.

s.176 Liability of the Supplementary Fund

s.176 Limitation of the Supplementary Fund’s liability under section 176A

Part 7

Liability of Shipowners and Others

5 of 11 sections shown

s.183 Scheduled convention to have force of law.

s.184 Application of Schedule 6 to carriage within British Islands.

s.185 Limitation of liability for maritime claims.

s.186 Exclusion of liability.

s.190 Time limit for proceedings against owners or ship.

6 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.187 Damage or loss: apportionment of liability.

s.188 Loss of life or personal injuries: joint and several liability.

s.189 Loss of life or personal injuries: right of contribution.

s.191 Limitation of liability.

s.192 Application to Crown and its ships.

s.192 Compulsory insurance or security

Part 8

Lighthouses

22 of 33 sections shown

s.193 General and local lighthouse authorities.

s.194 Returns and information to Secretary of State. Regulated

General lighthouse authorities must provide information to the Secretary of StateAny Person

s.195 General function of management of lighthouses, etc. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Lighthouse authorities must manage lighthouses, buoys and beaconsStatutory regulator

s.197 General powers of general lighthouse authority.

s.197 General lighthouse authorities: commercial activities

amended 2 times

s.198 Inspection of local lighthouses. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

General Lighthouse Authorities must inspect local lighthouses and buoysStatutory regulator

s.199 Control of local lighthouse authorities. Regulated

Obtain consent for maritime navigation aids and comply with directionsAny Person

s.201 Powers of harbour authorities.

s.202 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.203 Individual transfers of local lighthouses to harbour authorities.

s.204 Surrender of local lighthouses.

s.205 Light dues leviable by general lighthouse authorities.

s.206 Information to determine light dues. Regulated

Provide information to determine light dues when requestedAny Person

s.207 Recovery of general light dues. Regulated

Pay general light dues for shipsLandlord

s.209 Receipt for general light dues and its production. Regulated

Produce light dues receipts to avoid ship detentionAny Person

s.210 Light dues leviable by local lighthouse authorities.

s.213 Estimates or accounts of expenses to Secretary of State. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State must approve lighthouse authority spendingCrown / Minister / Government department

s.214 Pension rights of certain employees.

s.216 Limit on borrowings under section 215.

s.219 Damage etc. to lighthouses etc. Prosecution

Damage or interfere with a lighthouse, buoy or beaconAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.220 Prevention of false lights. Prosecution

Fail to comply with a prevention notice for a false lightAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.221 Exemption from taxes, duties, rates etc.

11 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.196 Joint discharge of functions.

s.200 Powers of inspection by Secretary of State.

s.208 Distress on ship for general light dues.

s.211 General Lighthouse Fund: expenses and receipts.

s.212 Establishments of general lighthouse authorities.

s.215 Borrowing powers of general lighthouse authorities.

s.217 Guarantees by Secretary of State.

s.218 Accounts of general lighthouse authorities.

s.222 Exemption from harbour dues.

s.222 Disclosure of information to general lighthouse authorities.

s.223 Interpretation, etc.

Part 9

Wreck Removal Convention

21 of 21 sections shown

s.255 “The Wrecks Convention”

amended 2 times

s.255 Wreck reports Prosecution

Fail to report a ship wreckAny Person
Fail to report a wreck after an accidentAny Person

Unlimited fine · amended 2 times

s.255 Locating and marking wrecks Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State must ensure wrecks are located and markedCrown / Minister / Government department

amended 2 times

s.255 Removal by registered owner Prosecution

Fail to remove a wreck after official noticeAny Person
Fail to remove wreck after receiving noticeAny Person

Unlimited fine · amended 2 times

s.255 Imposition of conditions about removal Prosecution

Fail to comply with wreck removal conditionsAny Person

Unlimited fine · amended 2 times

s.255 Removal in default Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State may remove wrecks or direct authorities to do soCrown / Minister / Government department

amended 2 times

s.255 Liability for costs

amended 2 times

s.255 Limitation period

amended 2 times

s.255 Expenses of general lighthouse authorities

amended 2 times

s.255 Wreck removal insurance

amended 2 times

s.255 Failure to insure

amended 2 times

s.255 Detention of ships

amended 2 times

s.255 Production of certificates Prosecution

Fail to carry or produce wreck removal insurance certificateAny Person

Unlimited fine · amended 2 times

s.255 Issue of certificates

amended 2 times

s.255 Cancellation of certificates Prosecution

Fail to deliver up wreck removal insurance certificateAny Person

Fine up to £2,500 · amended 2 times

s.255 Third parties' rights against insurers

amended 2 times

s.255 Electronic certificates

amended 2 times

s.255 Interpretation etc.

amended 2 times

s.255 Government ships

amended 2 times

s.255 Saving

amended 2 times

s.255 Power to amend

amended 2 times

Part 9

Salvage and Wreck

21 of 32 sections shown

s.224 Salvage Convention 1989 to have force of law.

s.226 Detention of property liable for salvage by receiver. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Receiver must detain property until salvage is paid or court process issuesStatutory regulator

s.228 Apportionment of salvage under £5,000 by the receiver. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Receiver must distribute salvage payments under £5,000 among claimantsStatutory regulator

s.229 Apportionment of salvage by the court. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Courts must resolve salvage payment disputes exceeding £5,000Tribunal / Court

s.232 Duty of receiver where vessel in distress. Prosecution

Disobey receiver's direction in vessel distressAny Person

Fine up to £1,000 · amended 1 time (opens in a new tab)

s.233 Powers of receiver in case of vessel in distress. Prosecution

Refuse to comply with receiver’s assistance requestAny Person

Fine up to £1,000 · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)

s.234 Power to pass over adjoining land. Prosecution

Impede passage over adjoining land to assist a vesselOccupier
Obstruct passage over adjoining land for vessel rescueOccupier

Fine up to £1,000

s.235 Liability for damage in case of plundered vessel.

s.236 Duties of finder etc of wreck. Prosecution

Fail to give notice when finding a wreckAny Person
Fail to report found wreck to receiverAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.237 Provisions as respects cargo, etc. Prosecution

Conceal or refuse to deliver wreck cargoAny Person
Fail to deliver wrecked cargo to the authorised receiverAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.238 Receiver to give notice of wreck. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Receiver of Wreck must record and notify Lloyd’s of found itemsStatutory regulator

s.240 Immediate sale of wreck in certain cases.

amended 15 times (opens in a new tab)

s.242 Notice of unclaimed wreck to be given to persons entitled. Regulated

s.243 Disposal of unclaimed wreck. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Receiver must dispose of unclaimed wreck after one yearStatutory regulator

s.245 Taking wreck to foreign port. Imprisonment

Take wreck to foreign port and sellAny Person

s.246 Interfering with wrecked vessel or wreck. Prosecution

Interfere with wrecked vessel or wreckAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.250 Remuneration for services of coastguard. Regulated

Pay for coastguard services provided to protected shipwrecked propertyAny Person

s.251 Release of goods from customs and excise control. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Commissioners must permit the return or forwarding of wrecked goodsStatutory regulator

s.252 Powers of harbour and conservancy authorities in relation to wrecks.

s.253 Powers of lighthouse authorities in relation to wrecks.

s.255 Interpretation.

amended 6 times (opens in a new tab)

11 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.225 Valuation of property by receiver.

s.227 Sale of detained property by receiver.

s.230 Salvage claims against the Crown and Crown rights of salvage and regulation thereof.

s.231 Application of, and discharge of functions under, sections 232, 233 234 and 235.

s.239 Claims of owners to wreck.

s.241 Right of Crown to unclaimed wreck.

s.244 Effect of delivery of wreck etc under this Part.

s.247 Powers of entry etc.

s.248 Functions of Secretary of State as to wreck.

s.249 Expenses and fees of receivers.

s.254 Referral of questions as to powers between authorities.

Part 10

Enforcement Officers and Powers

11 of 12 sections shown

s.256 Appointment of inspectors and surveyors.

s.256 Scottish officers

amended 6 times

s.257 Powers to require production of ships documents. Prosecution

Fail to produce ship documents when requiredAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.258 Powers to inspect ships and their equipment, etc. Prosecution

Obstruct a ship surveyor or fail to move a ship into dockAny Person
Obstruct ship inspection or ignore inspector's requirementAny Person

Unlimited fine · amended 24 times (opens in a new tab)

s.259 Powers of inspectors in relation to premises and ships.

amended 25 times (opens in a new tab)

s.260 Provisions supplementary to section 259. Imprisonment

Obstruct maritime inspector or fail to comply with inspection requirementsAny Person
Obstruct maritime inspector or give false informationAny Person

2 years imprisonment · amended 13 times (opens in a new tab)

s.261 Improvement notices.

s.263 Provisions supplementary to sections 261 and 262.

amended 9 times (opens in a new tab)

s.264 References of notices to arbitration.

s.265 Compensation in connection with invalid prohibition notices.

s.266 Offences.

1 other section in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.262 Prohibition notices.

Part 11

Accident Investigations and Inquiries

6 of 7 sections shown

s.267 Investigation of marine accidents. Prosecution

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State must appoint marine accident inspectorsCrown / Minister / Government department

Unlimited fine · amended 3 times (opens in a new tab)

s.268 Formal investigation into marine accidents. Prosecution

Fail to surrender cancelled or suspended certificateAny Person

Fine up to £1,000 · amended 1 time (opens in a new tab)

s.269 Re-hearing of and appeal from investigations.

s.271 Inquiries into deaths of crew members and others.

s.272 Reports of and inquiries into injuries. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Superintendent or officer may hold inquiry into fishing vessel injuriesStatutory regulator

s.273 Transmission of particulars of certain deaths on ships. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Coroners must report specific ship-related deaths to the Registrar GeneralCrown / Minister / Government department

1 other section in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.270 Rules as to investigations and appeals.

Part 12

Legal Proceedings

11 of 19 sections shown

s.274 Time limit for summary offences. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

CROWN and REGULATORS must adhere to time limits for maritime prosecutionsCrown / Minister / Government department

s.277 Offences by officers of bodies corporate. Regulated

Officer liability for corporate maritime offenceDirector or Officer

s.277 Accessories and abettors Regulated

Aid or abet a merchant shipping offenceAny Person
Assist or encourage a maritime offenceAny Person

amended 3 times

s.278 Offences by partners, etc. in Scotland. Regulated

Partner liable for partnership's shipping offenceAny Person

s.279 Jurisdiction in relation to offences.

s.280 Jurisdiction over ships lying off coasts.

s.281 Jurisdiction in case of offences on board ship.

s.282 Offences committed by British seamen. Regulated

Commit a UK offence abroad as a master or seamanAny Person

s.283 Return of offenders. Prosecution

Fail to transport offender or witness as requiredAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.284 Enforcing detention of ship. Prosecution

Breach of ship detention noticeAny Person
Proceed to sea after detention noticeAny Person

Unlimited fine · amended 120 times (opens in a new tab)

s.291 Service of documents.

8 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.275 Time limit for summary orders.

s.276 Summary offences: Scotland.

s.285 Sums ordered to be paid leviable by distress on the ship.

s.286 Depositions of persons abroad admissible.

s.287 Admissibility in evidence and inspection of certain documents.

s.288 Admissibility of documents in evidence.

s.289 Inspection and admissibility in evidence of copies of certain documents.

s.290 Proof, etc of exemptions.

Part 13

Supplemental

17 of 28 sections shown

s.292 General functions of Secretary of State.

s.293 Functions of Secretary of State in relation to marine pollution.

s.297 Wreck commissioners, etc.

s.298 Transmission of documents to Registrar General.

s.299 Returns, etc to Secretary of State. Prosecution

Fail to give information or assistance to ship surveyorsAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.300 Forms. Prosecution

Print, sell or use a false shipping formAny Person
Use or forge official forms under the Merchant Shipping ActAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.302 Fees.

s.302 Funding of maritime services.

amended 2 times

s.303 Expenses of Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

amended 10 times (opens in a new tab)

s.306 Regulations, rules and orders, etc.

s.306 Power to make ambulatory references to international instruments

amended 10 times

s.308 Application of Act to government ships.

s.309 Application of Act to ships chartered by demise to the Crown.

s.311 Application of Act to certain structures, etc.

amended 12 times (opens in a new tab)

s.313 Definitions.

s.313 Meaning of “qualifying foreign ship”.

amended 12 times

s.316 Short title and commencement.