Merchant Shipping Act 1995 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 10 · Legal Proceedings
197. Offences relating to markings of ship
Feedback & supportThe markings required by this Act to be made on or in a ship must be permanently continued, and no alteration is to be made, except in the manner provided by this Act.
ship
“ship” means any kind of vessel used in navigation by water, however propelled or moved and includes —(a)a barge, lighter or other floating vessel;(b)an air-cushion vehicle, or other similar craft, used wholly or primarily in navigation by water; and(c)an off-shore industry mobile unit;
An owner or a master of a ship who, without reasonable cause, neglects to cause the ship to be so marked, or to keep it so marked; shall be guilty of an offence.
owner
“owner”, in relation to goods, means every person who is for the time being entitled, either as owner or agent for the owner, to the possession of the goods, subject in the case of a lien (if any) to that lien;
Any person who, without reasonable cause, conceals, removes, alters, defaces, obliterates or suffers any other person under the firstmentioned person’s control to conceal, remove, alter, deface or obliterate any of the marks mentioned in subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.