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

Contents

• Commencement
• Amendments and other effects
• SIs made under the Act

Commencement

Section	Commencement Date	Commencement Information
Whole Act	19 November 1953	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act, 1952 (Commencement) Order 1953 (S.I. No. 338 of 1953), art. 2

Amendments and other effects

How Affected	Affecting Provision
Act included in collectively cited Merchant Shipping Acts	S. 1(2)
	Pilotage (Amendment) Act 1962 (2/1962), s. 6(2)
	Merchant Shipping Act 1966 (20/1966), s. 21(1)
	Merchant Shipping (Load Lines) Act 1968 (17/1968), s. 32(3)
	Merchant Shipping (Certification of Seamen) Act 1979 (37/1979), s. 15(3)
	Merchant Shipping Act 1981 (33/1981), s. 15(3)
	Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Act 1983 (18/1983, s. 4(2)
	Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1983 (27/1983), s. 12(5)
	Merchant Shipping Act 1992 (2/1992), s. 1(3)
	Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993 (34/1993), s. 1(3)
	Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1994 (23/1994), s. 1(5)
	Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act 1996 (35/1996), s. 1(3)
	Merchant Shipping (Commissioners of Irish Lights) Act 1997 (37/1997), s. 9(2)
	Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1998 (20/1998), s. 6(2)
	Sea Pollution (Hazardous Substances) (Compensation) Act 2005 (9/2005), s. 1(2)
	Maritime Safety Act 2005 (11/2005), s. 1(3)
	Merchant Shipping Act 2010 (14/2010), s. 1(2)
	Local Government Reform Act 2014 (1/2014), s. 1(15)
	Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014 (43/2014), s. 1(2)
	Harbours Act 2015 (61/2015), s. 1(3)
	Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) (Amendment) Act 2022 (8/2022), s. 16(2)
Convention substituted for Safety Convention throughout Act	20/1966, ss. 2(1), 21(2)
Application of Act extended	20/1966, ss. 2(2), 21(2)
References to Safety Convention construed as Convention of 1974	33/1981, ss. 2(2), 15(2)
S. 3 rstrct.	20/1966, s.3 (5) (c)
S. 3(1) amended	8/2022, s. 15
	43/2014, ss. 1(3), 69
	14/2010, s.6(1)(a)-(c)
S. 3(1) definition of "declaration of survey" restricted	20/1966, s. 3(5)(c)
S. 3 (1) definition of Merchant Shipping Acts rep.	20/1966, s. 20(4)
S. 3(1)(a) am.	43/2014, ss. 1(3), 68, sch. 4
S. 5 application extended, restricted	20/1966, ss. 3(4), 4(6)(b)
S. 5 functions transferred and references construed	S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1
S. 6 appl.	14/2010, s. 90(2)
	S.I. No. 322 of 2011, regs. 1(2), 14(3)
S. 6 application extended, restricted	20/1966, ss. 3(5)(a), 4(6)
S. 6 functions transferred and references construed	S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1
S. 10 substituted	14/2010, s.7 (1)
S. 10 application restricted	14/2010, s. 51(3)(b)
S. 10 application of rules made under restricted	14/2010, s.43 (2)(a)(i)
S. 10 application extended	20/1966, s.9
S. 10(1) construed	2/1992, ss. 1 (2), 29
S. 10(1)(b) power to prescribe survey fees in regulations under	14/2010, s. 90(1)(b)
S. 10(1), (2) construed	33/1981, ss. 2(4), 15(2)
S. 11, 12 & 13 repealed	14/2010, s. 82(10)(b)
S. 13 fees prescribed	S.I. No. 475 of 1998, arts. 1, 3, schedule 1, pt. 5
S. 14 repealed	14/2010, s. 85(5)(b)
S. 15 substit.	14/2010, s. 8(1)
S. 15 rules appl. rstrct.	14/2010, s.43 (2)(a)(i)
S. 15 appl. rstrct.	14/2010, s. 51(3)(b)
S. 15 offence provision	14/2010, s. 88
S. 15(1)(c) power to prescribe survey fees in regulations under	14/2010, s. 90(1)(b)
S. 15(4) repealed	S.I. No. 271 of 1985, art. 2
S. 15(4) substituted	20/1966, ss. 12, 21(2)
S. 15(7) (8) appl.	20/1966, s.11 (2)
S. 15(13) procedure for non compliance with notice under	14/2010, s. 89
S. 16(2) am.	14/2010, s. 8(2)(a)
S. 17(1) rep.*	2/1992, ss. 1 (2), 4 (1), sch.
S. 17(1) am.	14/2010, s. 8(2)(b)
S. 18 substit.	14/2010, s. 9(1)
S. 18 rules appl. rstrct.	14/2010, s.43 (2)(a)(i)
S. 18 appl. rstrct.	14/2010, s. 51(3)(b)
S. 18 offence provision	14/2010, s. 88
S. 18(2) construed	33/1981, ss. 10, 15(2)
S. 18(9) procedure prescribed	14/2010, s. 89
S. 19 rep.	14/2010, s. 9(2)
S. 19 (1) am.	33/1981, ss. 11 (a), 15 (2)
S. 19 (1A) ins.	33/1981, ss. 11 (b), 15 (2)
S. 20 appl. rstrct.	14/2010, s. 43 (2)(b), 51(3)(b)
S. 20(1) am.	14/2010, ss. 9(3)(a), 11(a)
S. 20(3) am.	14/2010, s. 9(3)(a)
S. 20(3) Minister may issue exemption cert under in certain circumstances	20/1966, s. 14
S. 21 (2) am.	14/2010, s. 11(b)
S. 22 appl. rstrct.	14/2010, s. 43(2)(c)
S. 22 (1) am.	14/2010, s. 11(c)
S. 22 (2) am.	14/2010, s. 11(c)
S. 22(2) Minister may issue exemption cert under in certain circumstances	20/1966, s. 14
S. 23 appl. rstrct.	14/2010, s. 43 (2)(c)
S. 23(1) am.	14/2010, ss. 8(2)(c), 9(3)(a), 9(3)(b)
S. 23(2) am.	14/2010, s. 9(3)(a)
S. 23(2) Minister may issue exemption cert under in certain circumstances	20/1966, s. 14
S. 23(2)(a) am.	14/2010, s. 8(2)(c), 9(3)(b)
S. 23(3) am.	14/2010, ss. 8(2)(c), 9(3)(a), 9(3)(b)
S. 24 am.	14/2010, s. 9(3)(a)
S. 25(2) am.	14/2010, s. 9(3)(a)
S. 25(2) application extended	20/1966, s.5 (1)
S. 25(3) am.	14/2010, s. 11(d)
S. 25(4) construed	20/1966, s. 5(2)
S. 26 appl. rstrct.	14/2010, s. 43 (2)(g)(i)
S. 26(1)(b)(ii) am.	14/2010, ss. 8(2)(c), 9(3)(b)
S. 26(1)(b)(ii) application restricted	20/1966, s.20 (2)
S. 26(4) substit.	14/2010, s. 11(e)(i)
S. 26(5) del.	14/2010, s. 11(e)(ii)
S. 26(7) am	14/2010, s. 11(e)(iii)
S. 27(2) applied with modifications	20/1966, s. 3(5)(b)
S. 27(3) am.	14/2010, s. 8(2)(c), 9(3)(b)
S. 27(3) application restricted	20/1966, s.13(b)
S. 27 (4) am.	14/2010, s. 8(2)(c), 9(3)(b)
S. 27 (9) appl.	14/2010, ss. 19(7), 28(7), 37(7)(a), 45(7)(a), 60(3)
S. 28(1) amended	20/1966, s.20 (4)
S. 28(1) application extended	14/2010, ss. 19(7), 28(7), 37(7)(a), 45(7)(a), 60(3)
S. 28(2) application extended	14/2010, ss. 19(8), 28(8), 37(7)(b), 45(7)(b), 60(4)
S. 28(3)(c) substit.	14/2010, s. 8(2)(d)
S. 28(3)(d) substit.	14/2010, s. 8(2)(d)
S. 30(3) am.	14/2010, ss. 8(2)(c), 9(3)(a), 9(3)(b)
S. 31(2)(b) am.	14/2010, s. 8(2)(c), 9(3)(b)
Ss. 32, 34 rep.	17/1968, s.31, sch.
S. 32(2) amended	20/1966, s. 20(4)(c)
S. 35 ext.	20/1966, s.17
S. 35(1) am.	14/2010, s. 11(f)(i)
S. 35(3) am.	14/2010, s. 11(f)(ii)
S. 35(4) am.	14/2010, s. 11(f)(iii)
S. 36(2) am.	14/2010, s. 11(g)
S. 37(1) am.	14/2010, s. 11(h)(i)
S. 37(2) am.	14/2010, s. 11(h)(i)
S. 37(5) substit.	14/2010, s. 11(h)(ii)
S. 37(6) am.	14/2010, s. 11(h)(iii)
S. 37(7) am.	14/2010, s. 11(h)(iv)
S. 38(a) substit.	14/2010, s. 11(i)(i)
S. 38(3) substit.	14/2010, s. 11(i)(ii)
S. 39(4) substit.	14/2010, s. 11(j)(i)
S. 39(5) del.	14/2010, s. 11(j)(ii)
S. 39(6) substit.	14/2010, s. 11(j)(iii)
S. 39(7) construed	33/1981, ss. 2(5), 15(2)
S. 40(2) am.	14/2010, s. 11(k)
S. 41(2) am.	14/2010, s. 11(l)
S. 42(2) am.	14/2010, s. 11(m)
S. 46 substit.	14/2010, s. 10(1)
S. 46(1) application restricted	20/1966, s.16
Sch. 2, pars. 2-4 rep.	20/1966, s. 20(4)

SIs made under the Act

Section	SIs made under the Act
S. 4	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 270 of 2013)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 553 of 2008)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) Order 1992 (S.I. No. 307 of 1992)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) Order 1985 (S.I. No. 272 of 1985)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Counties of Acceptance) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 320 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) Order 1972 (S.I. No. 179 of 1972)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) (No. 2) Order 1969 (S.I. No. 211 of 1969)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) Order 1969 (S.I. No. 13 of 1969)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) (No. 3) Order 1968 (S.I. No. 178 of 1968)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) (No. 2) Order 1968 (S.I. No. 94 of 1968)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) Order 1968 (S.I. No. 34 of 1968)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Acceptance) Order 1967 (S.I. No. 112 of 1967)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Application) Order 1964 (S.I. No. 161 of 1964)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Application) Order 1963 (S.I. No. 239 of 1963)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Application) Order 1961 (S.I. No. 167 of 1961)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Application) Order 1960 (S.I. No. 10 of 1960)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Application) Order 1958 (S.I. No. 224 of 1958)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Application) Order 1955 (S.I. No. 197 of 1955)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Application) Order 1954 (S.I. No. 130 of 1954)
	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Countries of Application) Order 1953 (S.I. No. 343 of 1953)
S. 5	Merchant Shipping (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 336 of 2012)
	Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 594 of 2010)
	Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 475 of 1998)
	Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1992 (S.I. No. 156 of 1992)
	Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 347 of 1987)
	Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 402 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1981 (S.I. No. 42 of 1981)
	Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1968 (S.I. No. 185 of 1968)
	Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Survey Fees) Order 1967 (S.I. No. 150 of 1967)
	Merchant Shipping (Fees) (Amendment) Order 1966 (S.I. No. 265 of 1966)
	Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1963 (S.I. No. 266 of 1963)
S. 9	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 1953 (S.I. No. 344 of 1953)
S. 10	Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. No. 250 of 2024)
	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)
	Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 1994 (S.I. No. 131 of 1994)
	Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (Amendment) Rules 1990 (S.I. No. 86 of 1990)
	Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) (Amendment) Rules 1989 (S.I. No. 97 of 1989)
	Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Rules 1985 (S.I. No. 279 of 1985)
	Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) Rules 1985 (S.I. No. 274 of 1985)
	Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) (Amendment) Rules 1985 (S.I. No. 273 of 1985)
	Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 300 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) Rules 1967 (S.I. No. 98 of 1967)
	Merchant Shipping (Construction) Rules 1953 (S.I. No. 339 of 1953)
S. 10(1)	Merchant Shipping (Ro-Ro Passenger Ship Survivability) (Amendment) Rules 2004 (S.I. No. 709 of 2004)
	Merchant Shipping (Ro-Ro Passenger Ship Survivability) Rules 1998 (S.I. No. 429 of 1998)
	Merchant Shipping (Ro-Ro Passenger Ship Survivability) (Amendment) Rules 1995 (S.I. No. 40 of 1995)
	Merchant Shipping (Ro-Ro Passenger Ship Survivability) Rules 1994 (S.I. No. 251 of 1994)
S. 10(4)	Merchant Shipping (SOLAS V - Navigation Bridge Visibility) (Construction) Rules 2021 (S.I. No. 280 of 2021)
S. 15	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 (Radio Installations Survey) Rules 2022 (S.I. No. 222 of 2022)
	Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. No. 49 of 2022)
	Merchant Shipping (Radio) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 452 of 2018)
	Merchant Shipping (Radio) (Amendment) Rules 1998 (S.I. No. 554 of 1998)
	Merchant Shipping (Radio) Rules 1992 (S.I. No. 224 of 1992)
	Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Rules 1992 (S.I. No. 28 of 1992)
	Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 1985 (S.I. No. 281 of 1985)
	Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) (Amendment) Rules 1984 (S.I. No. 192 of 1984)
	Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations Survey) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 313 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 308 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Radio) Rules 1967 (S.I. No. 103 of 1967)
	Merchant Shipping (Radio) Rules 1953 (S.I. No. 340 of 1953)
S. 18	Merchant Shipping (Solas V - Navigational Equipment) (No. 2) Rules 2024 (S.I. No. 312 of 2024)
	Merchant Shipping (Solas V – Navigational Equipment) Rules 2024 (S.I. No. 311 of 2024)
	Merchant Shipping (Navigation and Tracking) (Heading Systems and Testing of Steering Gear) Rules 2020 (S.I. No. 589 of 2020)
	Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Survey) (Amendment) Rules 1994 (S.I. No. 29 of 1994)
	Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Survey) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 312 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Direction-Finders) Rules 1953 (S.I. No. 342 of 1953)
S. 19	Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Survey) (Amendment) Rules 1994 (S.I. No. 29 of 1994)
	Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Survey) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 312 of 1983)
S. 19(1)(A)	Merchant Shipping (Navigational Equipment) (Amendment) Rules 1990 (S.I. No. 84 of 1990)
	Merchant Shipping (Navigational Equipment) Rules 1985 (S.I. No. 280 of 1985)
S. 19(1A)	Merchant Shipping (Automatic Pilot and Testing of Steering Gear) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 317 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Navigational Equipment) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 309 of 1983)
S. 28(2)	Merchant Shipping (Accepted Safety Convention Certificates) Regulations 1983 (S.I. No. 318 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Accepted Safety Convention Certificates) Regulations 1967 (S.I. No. 111 of 1967)
	Merchant Shipping (Accepted Safety Convention Certificates) Regulations 1953 (S.I. No. 345 of 1953)
S. 33	Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) (Amendment) Rules 1994 (S.I. No. 12 of 1994)
	Merchant Shipping (Closing of Openings in Hulls and in Watertight Bulkheads) Rules 1988 (S.I. No. 371 of 1988)
	Merchant Shipping (Closing of Openings in Enclosed Superstructures and in Bulkheads Above the Bulkhead Deck) Rules 1988 (S.I. No. 370 of 1988)
	Merchant Shipping (Closing of Openings in Hulls and in Watertight Bulkheads) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 315 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Closing of Openings in Hulls and in Watertight Bulkheads) Rules 1967 (S.I. No. 109 of 1967)
	Merchant Shipping (Closing of Openings in Hulls and in Watertight Bulkheads) Rules 1953 (S.I. No. 346 of 1953)
S. 35	Merchant Shipping (Navigational Warnings) (Amendment) Rules 1992 (S.I. No. 444 of 1992)
	Merchant Shipping (Navigational Warnings) Rules 198 (S.I. No. 310 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Navigational Warnings) Rules 1967 (S.I. No. 108 of 1967)
S. 36	Signals of Distress (Ships and Water Craft on the Water) Rules 1977 (S.I. No. 234 of 1977)
	Signals of Distress (Ships and Seaplanes on the Water) Rules 1965 (S.I. No. 186 of 1965)
	Signals of Distress (Ships and Seaplanes on the Water) Rules 1953 (S.I. No. 395 of 1953)
S. 36(1)	Signals of Distress (Ships) Rules 2012 (S.I. No. 170 of 2012)
S. 38	Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Rules 2023 (S.I. No. 488 of 2023)
	Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Rules 1992 (S.I. No. 391 of 1992)
	Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 306 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) (Amendment) Rules 1968 (S.I. No. 179 of 1968)
	Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Rules 1967 (S.I. No. 105 of 1967)
	Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Rules 1953 (S.I. No. 347 of 1953)
S. 39(3)	Merchant Shipping (Grain) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 307 of 1983)
	Merchant Shipping (Grain) Rules 1967 (S.I. No. 102 of 1967)
	Merchant Shipping (Grain) Rules 1953 (S.I. No. 348 of 1953)
Sch. 2, para 3	Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 1953 (S.I. No. 344 of 1953)
	Merchant Shipping (Fees) Order 1954 (S.I. No. 267 of 1954)

* This repeal does not appear to have been commenced at the time of enactment of the Merchant Shipping Act 2010 which amends s. 17(1)