Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014

PART 2

Registration of Ships

Irish Register of Ships

9. (1) The Minister shall establish and maintain a register of Irish ships to be known as the Irish Register of Ships (in this Act referred to as the Register) for the registration of ships under this Act.

(2) The Register shall consist of different Parts, as deemed necessary by the Minister and as specified by the Minister in regulations, to facilitate the registration of different types or descriptions of ships, of different particulars of ships and for different purposes and circumstances.

(3) The Minister may prescribe the types and particulars of ships to be registered in each Part of the Register.

(4) Subject to section 10 the Register shall be administered on behalf of the Minister by an officer or officers of the Minister so designated, by officers of the Revenue Commissioners or by officers of other Ministers of the Government with the approval of the Minister, the Revenue Commissioners or those other relevant Ministers, as the case may be.

(5) The Register shall be maintained in such form (including electronic form) as the Minister may determine from time to time.

(6) The Minister may amend the form of the Register as he or she deems appropriate, including the addition of new Parts, or to give effect to technical changes required by European Union law, international treaties or conventions, and for the proper administration of the Register.

(7) Where a ship is registered on a Part of the Register, the Minister may register the ship on a different Part provided the ship fulfils the requirements for that Part and the ship is only registered on one Part of the Register.

(8) Prior to completion of registration, a ship shall be assigned a number for the purpose of facilitating compliance with the requirements of section 26 .

(9) Subject to compliance with the standards or conditions or both of registration, registration on the Register may be granted for an initial period of up to 5 years and, subject to compliance with any conditions applying under section 18 (10) and a renewal of registration in accordance with section 19 , subsequent registrations of a ship may be granted for periods of up to 10 years.

(10) A person shall have access to the Register in accordance with regulations made by the Minister and such regulations may include—

(a) the nature and extent of such access,

(b) different categories of access, and

(c) the amount of any fee to be charged for such access.

(11) The Minister may amend the Register where—

(a) an error has occurred, or

(b) sufficient evidence is produced to satisfy the Minister that an entry is incorrect.

(12) On making an amendment under subsection (11), the Minister shall issue a replacement certificate of registry to expire on the date entered on the Register for the original certificate.

(13) Where the Minister proposes to amend an entry under subsection (11)(b), the Minister shall advise the owner of the ship of the proposed correction, who may make a submission not later than 21 days of such notice.