Merchant Shipping Act 1983.

This Act provides for the registration of ships, nationality and flag, marking and some matters relating to ships as property, such as transfer and mortgage. The Act applies to every description of vessel used, or capable of being used, in navigation by water, including fishing vessels but excluding certain categories of vessels listed in the definition of section 2. The Register of Ships, established under section 2, shall keep be kept in accordance with section 3 and following. Survey and measurement of ship shall be carried out in accordance with sections 11, whereas section 12 provides for marking of ships. As soon as practicable after the registration of a ship the Registrar shall grant to the owner or owners a certificate of registry in the prescribed form (sect. 16). Section 18 provides for provisional registration. Section 39 defines liabilities of an unregistered ship. Section 61 defines regulation making powers of the Minister. (61 sections completed by 2 Schedules)