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Updated to 1 July 2025 (Act No. 5 of 2025 and S.I. No. 292 of 2025)

All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.

Merchant Shipping Act 2010
No. 14 of 2010

Contents

Commencement

SectionCommencement DateCommencement Information
Ss. 1-86 3 July 2010 Commenced on enactment
S. 87 4 July 2014 Merchant Shipping Act 2010 (Section 87) (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 241 of 2014), art. 2
Ss. 88-93 3 July 2010 Commenced on enactment

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision Affecting Provision
Commencement Date		 Commencement Source
Transfer of certain functions under Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 1(2), 3, schedule 1 29 July 2011 Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), art. 1(2)
S. 2 amended Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014 (43/2014), ss. 1(3), 68, sch. 4 Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3)
S. 42 amended Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(a) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 43(1)(a) substituted Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(b) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
Part 3 ch. 6 (ss. 57-63) application restricted European Union (International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention) (Safe Manning) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 52 of 2024), reg. 4 16 February 2024 European Union (International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention) (Safe Manning) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 52 of 2024)
  European Union (International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention) (Safe Manning) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 315 of 2023), regs. 1(2), 4 1 July 2023 European Union (International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention) (Safe Manning) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 315 of 2023), reg. 1(2)
S. 57 amended Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(c) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 58(1) substituted Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(d) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 74 references to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) to be construed as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 40(2) Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3)
S. 75 references to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) to be construed as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 40(2) Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3)
S. 78 references to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) to be construed as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 40(2) Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3)
S. 82(2) amended Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(i)(I) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 82(2)(o) amended Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(i)(II) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 82(2)(p) amended Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(i)(III) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 82(2)(q), (r) inserted Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(i)(IV) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 82(9)(a) amended Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(ii)(I) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 82(9)(d) amended Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(ii)(II) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 84(1) substituted Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(f)(i) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 84(10) amended Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(f)(ii) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 84(12) amended Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(f)(iii) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 87(1) substituted Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(g) 1 June 2025 Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025)
S. 92 references to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) to be construed as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 40(2) Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3)

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 59 Merchant Shipping (Solas V – Safe Manning and Watchkeeping) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 61 of 2025)
  Merchant Shipping (SOLAS V – Safe Manning and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 314 of 2023)
S. 82 Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. No. 250 of 2024)
  Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2023 (S.I. No. 109 of 2023)
  Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. No. 466 of 2022)
  Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. No. 49 of 2022)
  Merchant Shipping (Pilot Transfer Arrangements) Rules 2020 (S.I. No. 686 of 2020)
  Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) Rules 2020 (S.I. No. 640 of 2020)
  Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 438 of 2018)
S. 84 Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (Amendment) Rules 2025 (S.I. No. 62 of 2025)
  Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. No. 250 of 2024)
  Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (No. 2) Rules 2023 (S.I. No. 380 of 2023)
  Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Rules 2023 (S.I. No. 379 of 2023)
  Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2023 (S.I. No. 109 of 2023)
  Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. No. 49 of 2022)
  Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) Rules 2020 (S.I. No. 640 of 2020)
S. 87 Merchant Shipping (Health and Safety General Duties and Reporting of Marine Incidents) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 441 of 2023)
  Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Shipowners’ Liabilities and Repatriation) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 88 of 2020)
  Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Flag State Inspection and Certification) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 376 of 2014)
  Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Shipowners' Liabilities and Repatriation) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 375 of 2014)
  Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Accommodation, Recreational Facilities, Food, Catering and Ships Cooks) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 374 of 2014)
  Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Seafarer Employment Agreement and Wages) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 373 of 2014)
  Merchant Shipping (Medical Examinations) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 246 of 2014)
S. 90 Merchant Shipping (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 336 of 2012)