Shipping Act (CAP. 22.09).

This Act makes provision with respect to the registration of ships in Tonga; certification of seafarers; terms and conditions of the employment of seamen and apprentices; health and accomodation requirements on board; the responsibility of ship owner and master as regards carriage of passengers; appointment, obligations and powers of surveyors in terms of safety; collisions, accidents at sea and limitation of liability; and the liability of ship owner for wreck and salvage. It also provides rules for navigation by ships registered in Tonga and any ship in Tongan waters and for matters related to navigation. Section 203 prohibits any ship or boat to engage in coastal trade or in any commercial activity in the territorial waters of Tonga except under a licence granted by the Minister of Marine and Port.
The Act shall not apply, in principal, to a fishing vessel but the Minister may make Regulations for matters specified in this Act that apply also to fishing vessels including the registration of small ships. "Fishing vessel" is defined as a vessel used for catching fish or other living resources of the sea, but does not include: (a) a vessel engaged in transporting or harvesting algae or aquatic plants; or (b) a vessel used solely to transport, store or process fish or other living resources of the sea, or to provide any combination of those uses. Every ship in respect of which an application for registration is made, shall before registry be marked in accordance with the Shipping (Registration) Regulations.