Maritime Safety Act 2005

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Prohibition on disruptive behaviour on vessels.

31.—(1) A person on board a vessel in Irish waters or an Irish ship in waters anywhere who, without justification, engages in behaviour that is likely to cause serious offence or annoyance to any person on board the vessel, at any time after having been requested by a member of the crew of the vessel to cease such behaviour, is guilty of an offence.

(2) A person on board a vessel in Irish waters or an Irish ship in waters anywhere who engages in behaviour of a threatening, abusive or insulting nature whether by word or gesture with intent to cause a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might be occasioned is guilty of an offence.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction—

(a) in the case of an offence under subsection (1), to a fine not exceeding €2,000, or

(b) in the case of an offence under subsection (2), to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both.