MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT ACT

NO. 5 OF 1976

[ASSENTED TO 4 MARCH, 1976][DATE OF 
COMMENCEMENT: 17 MARCH, 1976]

(English text signed by the State President)

ACT

To amend the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1951, 
relating to the definitions; so as to substitute metric measures 
for certain other measures for the purposes of the Act; to 
authorize the Minister to exempt any person from any provision 
of the regulations; to make different provision relating to the 
constitution and functions of the National Marine Advisory 
Council; to grant to the Minister certain powers in respect of 
certain wrecks and ships; to increase the amounts of certain 
fines; to extend and modify the power of the Minister to make 
regulations; and to provide for incidental matters.

1.   Amends section 2 (1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 57 
of 1951, as follows:— paragraph (a) substitutes the definition of 
“clearance”; paragraph (b) substitutes the definition of 
“international load line ship”; paragraph (c) substitutes the 
definition of “load line ship”; paragaph (d) substitutes the 
definition of “local load line ship”; paragraph (e) substitutes the 
definition of “medical practitioner”; paragaph (f) substitutes the 
definition of “officer of customs”; paragraph (g) substitutes the 
definition of “savings bank”; and paragraph (h) substitutes the 
definition of “superior court”.

2.   Amends section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 57 of 
1951, by inserting paragraph (cA).

3.   Amends section 6 of the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 57 of 
1951, as follows:— paragraph (a) substitutes subsection (1); 
and paragraph (b) substitutes subsection (4).

4.   Amends section 73 of the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 57 of 
1951, by substituting subsections (1) and (2).

5.   Amends section 80 (2) of the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 
57 of 1951, by substituting paragraph (a).

6.   Substitutes section 157 of the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 
57 of 1951.

7.   Amends section 294 of the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 57 
of 1951, by substituting subsection (2).

8.   Substitutes section 301 of the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 
57 of 1951.

9.   Inserts section 304A in the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 57 
of 1951.

10.   Substitutes section 313 of the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 
57 of 1951.

11.   Amends section 356 (1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 
No. 57 of 1951, as follows:—paragraph (a) substitutes 
paragraph (xxxvi); paragraph (b) inserts paragraph (xxxviA); 
and paragraph (c) substitutes paragraphs (xxxix), (xl) and (xli).

12.   Short title.—This Act shall be called the Merchant 
Shipping Amendment Act, 1976.