Registration of Merchant Ships (Amendment) Act, 1996 (No. 5 of 1996).

The principal Act provides for the establishment an International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE) for the registration under the flag of Belize of vessels of any type, class, size or weight engaged in any kind of trade, service or international maritime activity, including pleasure vessels. The Senior Deputy Registrar appointed pursuant to section 4 of the principal Act as amended shall have the same powers as the Registrar except the powers contained in section 3. All vessels accepted for registration shall be granted first a provisional registration for 6 months (sect. 6). The application for such registration shall be made in the prescribed form to the Head Office or any designated office and shall be accompanied by a duly notarised power of attorney in favour of the vessel's agent (sect. 5). Every application for a permanent registration shall be submitted to the Head Office and be accompanied by the documents specified (sect. 5). Section 17 relative to the compulsory appointment of a shipping agent in Belize is completely renewed. (22 sections)