Oil Pollution of the Sea Act, 1956

Definitions.

3.—In this Act—

“barge” includes a lighter or like vessel;

“Convention of 1954” means the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954;

“discharge” in relation to oil or an oily mixture means any discharge or escape howsoever caused;

“harbour authority” means—

(a) in the case of a harbour to which the Harbours Act, 1946 (No. 9 of 1946), applies, the harbour authority under that Act,

(b) in the case of a harbour under the control and management of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, the Commissioners, and

(c) in any other case, the person entitled to charge rates in respect of vessels entering or using the harbour;

“harbour master” includes a person appointed by a harbour authority for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Act;

“inspector” means a surveyor of ships or a person appointed under section 20;

“master”, in relation to a vessel, means the person having the command or charge of the vessel for the time being;

“mile” means a nautical mile of six thousand and eighty feet;

“the Minister” means the Minister for Industry and Commerce;

“oil” means oil of any description, and includes spirit produced from oil, and coal tar;

“occupier”, in relation to anything which has no occupier, means the owner, and, in relation to a railway wagon or road vehicle, means the person in charge of it;

“petroleum spirit” means petroleum to which the Petroleum Acts, 1871 and 1879, apply;

“place on land” includes anything resting on the bed or shore of the sea or inland waters and also includes anything afloat, other than a vessel, if anchored or attached to the bed or shore;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister;

“transfer” in relation to oil means transfer in bulk;

other terms have the same meanings as in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.