Merchant Shipping Act 2003 (No. 3 of 2003).

This Act makes provision for the survey of ships and the registration and marking of ships as Sierra Leone ships and provides rules relative to a wide variety regarding ships and navigation such as property and related rights, operation of ships, keeping of logbooks, limitation of liability, etc.
The Act sets out criteria for a ship to be registered as a Sierra Leone ship in the Register of Ships to be kept with the Register of Ships to be appointed by the Minister. The Registrar shall keep such register as he or she considers necessary including a register for merchant ships and a register for fishing vessels. Specific indications are given for the marking of fishing vessels. The Act also defines duties of the master or owner of a vessel in respect to safeguarding the environment.