Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014

False declarations concerning ownership, etc., of ships, and liability

45. (1) A person who makes a declaration or produces any document or other evidence under this Act and thereby—

(a) wilfully makes, or assists in making, or procures to be made any false statement knowing it to be false concerning the title to or ownership of, or the interest existing in any ship, or any share in a ship, or

(b) utters, produces or makes use of any declaration or document containing any statement knowing it to be false,

commits an offence.

(2) A person who makes a false declaration in relation to his or her qualification or the qualification of any other person to own a registered ship or any share therein, commits an offence.

(3) A ship or share in a ship in respect of which any false declaration is made to which subsection (2) refers, shall be removed from the Register under section 21 to the extent of the interest of the declarant, and also of any person on behalf of whom such declaration was made.

(4) A person who makes a declaration in pursuance of this Act concerning the title to, ownership of or the interest existing in a ship or a share in a ship, shall be held liable in like manner as an owner for matters arising from such ownership or interest.

(5) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a class A fine, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €50,000.