Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014

Ports of registry

30. (1) The ports mentioned in Schedule 3 are the ports of registry for the registration of ships for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Where the Minister considers that a port—

(a) which is not mentioned in Schedule 3 , should be a port of registry having regard to any or all of the following—

(i) the demand that exists for the port to be a port of registry,

(ii) the importance of the location for commercial shipping traffic or business, fishing, recreational or other maritime activity,

(iii) the geographical location of the port, and

(iv) the level of maritime activity with regard to shipping at the port,

he or she may by order prescribe the port as a port of registry for the purposes of this Act, or

(b) which is mentioned in Schedule 3 or prescribed under paragraph (a), should cease to be a port of registry having regard to—

(i) the demand that exists for the port to be a port of registry, which may include the consideration of the number of ship registration transactions that relate to the port, and

(ii) the level of maritime activity with regard to shipping at the port,

he or she may by order provide that the port ceases to be a port of registry for the purposes of this Act.