Mercantile Marine Act, 1955

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Penalty for unduly assuming Irish character.

13.—(1) If a person uses the proper national colours or assumes Irish national character on board a ship which is not an Irish ship, for the purpose of making the ship appear to be an Irish ship, the ship shall be subject to forfeiture under this Act, unless the assumption has been made for the purpose of escaping capture by an enemy or by a foreign ship of war in the exercise of some belligerent right.

(2) In proceedings to enforce the forfeiture, the burden of proving title to use the proper national colours and assume Irish national character shall be upon the person using or assuming them.