Source: http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;ident=cea7d75b-229c-476e-88fe-1e7c4a78cc96;orderBy=date-rev,loadTime;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22977a0eb4-e902-420e-abbd-6b95a7d270b1%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0;rec=0
Timestamp: 2013-06-20 11:47:13
Document Index: 692503105

Matched Legal Cases: ['art8', 'art47', 'art99', 'art126', 'art135', 'art146', 'art134']

- Merchant Shipping Act 1995
ContentsMerchant Shipping Act 1995(No. 19 of 1995)Long TitleEnacting FormulaPart I PRELIMINARY1 Short title and commencement2 Interpretation3 Exemption of naval ships, etc4 Appointment of Director of Marine5 Appointment of surveyors6 Delegation of powers by AuthorityPart II SINGAPORE REGISTRY7 Application of this Part8 Conditions for registration of ships9 Register of Singapore ships10 Marking of ship11 Application for initial registry12 Provisional registry13 Entry of particulars in register14 Fees and tonnage taxes on registration15 Documents to be retained by Registrar16 Certificate of registry17 Use, custody and delivery up of certificate18 Transfer of ship and registration of bill of sale19 Transfer to person qualified to own Singapore ship20 Transfer to person not qualified to own Singapore ship21 Transmission of property in ship on marriage, bankruptcy, death, etc22 Order for sale on transmission to unqualified person23 Transfer of ship or sale by order of court24 Power of High Court to prohibit transfer25 Mortgage of ship or share26 Obligation of mortgagor before execution and registration of mortgage27 Entry of discharge of mortgage28 Priority of mortgages29 Mortgagee not deemed to be owner30 Powers of mortgagee31 Transfer of mortgages32 Transmission of interest in mortgage in certain circumstances33 Notice of trusts not received and equities not excluded34 Alteration of ship35 Procedure for registry anew36 National colours for Singapore ships37 Penalty for not showing colours38 Certified copy or transcript of register39 Correction of errors in register40 Rectification of register by High Court41 Delivery up of certificate on loss, etc., of ship42 Voluntary closure of registry43 Power of Minister to close registry and cancel certificate of registry44 Rules as to name of ship45 Regulations on evidence of seaworthiness, etcPart III MANNING AND CERTIFICATION46 Application of this Part47 Manning and certification48 Prohibition of going to sea undermanned49 Unqualified persons going to sea as qualified officers50 Production of certificates and other documents of qualification51 Certificate obtained by fraudPart IV CREW MATTERS52 Application of this Part and interpretation53 Crew agreements54 Regulations relating to crew agreements, engagement and discharge of seamen55 Discharge of seamen when ship ceases to be registered in Singapore56 Payment of seaman’s wages57 Account of seaman’s wages58 Regulations relating to wages and accounts59 Settlement of disputes60 Restriction on attachment or assignment of and charge upon seamen’s wages61 Assignment or sale of salvage invalid62 Allotment notes63 Right of person named in allotment note to sue in his own name64 Right, or loss of right, to wages in certain circumstances65 Compensation to seaman improperly discharged66 Wages on termination of service by illness67 Protection of certain rights and remedies68 Remedies of master for remuneration, disbursements, etc69 Powers of court in case of unreasonable delay in paying seaman’s wages70 Provisions and water71 Complaints about provisions or water72 Other complaints73 Medical stores74 Medical treatment on board ship75 Expenses of medical treatment, etc., during voyage76 Drunkenness, etc., on board ship77 Continued or concerted disobedience, neglect of duty, etc78 Offences committed by certain other persons79 Defence of drug taken for medical purposes80 Disciplinary offences81 Appeal against fine for disciplinary offences82 Prohibition of double prosecution83 Payment of fines for disciplinary offences84 Civil liability for smuggling85 Relief and repatriation of seaman left behind86 Limit of employer’s liability under section 8587 Custody, etc., of property of deceased seamen88 Disposal of property of deceased seamen89 Official and other log-books90 Discharge books91 Returns of births and deaths in ships, etc92 Handing over of documents on change of master93 Stowaways94 Master’s power of arrest95 Penalty for receiving remuneration from seamen for engagement96 Restriction on employment of young persons on board ship97 Extension to foreign shipsPart V SURVEY AND SAFETY98 Application of this Part99 Prohibition on going to sea without certificates100 Powers of Minister to make regulations101 Overloaded ships102 Penalty for carrying passengers in excess103 Observance of collision regulations104 Defect or deficiency in ship, etc105 Cancellation of certificate or exemption certificate106 Duty of ship to assist the other in case of collision107 Report of accidents, etc., to Director108 Appointment of inspector to report on accident, etc109 Notification of loss of ship110 Owner and master liable in respect of unsafe ship111 Master or seaman may claim discharge if ship is unsafe112 Obligation of shipowner to crew with respect to use of reasonable efforts to secure seaworthiness113 Detention of unsafe ship114 Owner liable for unsafe operation of ship115 Conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals116 Regulations for survey of ships and issue of certificatesPart VI INQUIRIES AND INVESTIGATIONS117 Inquiry into fitness or conduct of officers118 Inquiries and investigations into shipping casualties119 Formal investigations into shipping casualties120 Re-hearing of and appeal from inquiries and investigations121 Regulations as to inquiries, formal investigations and appeals122 Failure to deliver cancelled or suspended certificate123 Power to restore certificate124 Payment to persons holding inquiries or investigations and assessorsPart VII DELIVERY OF GOODS125 Interpretation of this Part126 Powers of shipowner to land goods127 Lien for freight on landing goods128 Discharge of lien129 Provisions as to deposits by owners of goods130 Sale of goods by wharfinger and warehouseman131 Application of proceeds of sale132 Wharfinger’s and warehouseman’s rent and expenses133 Wharfinger’s and warehouseman’s protectionPart VIII LIABILITY OF SHIPOWNERS134 Interpretation of this Part135 Exclusion of shipowner’s liability in certain cases of loss of or damage to goods136 Limitation of shipowner’s liability in certain cases of loss of life, injury or damage137 Power of High Court to consolidate claims against owners, etc138 Part owners to account in respect of damages139 Insurances of certain risks not invalid140 Proof of passengers on board ship141 Extension to other persons of provisions relating to shipowners142 Unregistered ships and ships in course of completion or construction143 Release of ship144 Restriction on enforcement after giving securityPart IX WRECK AND SALVAGE145 Interpretation of this Part146 Receiver of wrecks147 Duty of receiver where ship in distress148 Powers of receiver in case of ships in distress149 Power to pass over adjoining lands150 Power of receiver to suppress plunder and disorder by force151 Exercise of powers of receiver in his absence152 Examination in respect of ships in distress153 Rules to be observed by persons finding wreck154 Penalty for taking wreck at time of casualty155 Notice of wreck to be given by receiver156 Claims of owners to wreck157 Immediate sale of wreck by receiver in certain cases158 Right of Government to unclaimed wreck159 Unclaimed wreck160 Delivery of unclaimed wreck by receiver not to prejudice title161 Removal of wreck by receiver162 Powers of removal extend to tackle, cargo, etc163 Taking wreck to foreign port164 Interfering with wrecked ship or wreck165 Summary procedure for concealment of wreck166 Salvage payable for saving life167 Salvage of cargo or wreck168 Determination of salvage disputes169 Determination of disputes as to salvage summarily170 Appeal in case of salvage disputes171 Valuation of property by receiver172 Detention of property liable to salvage by receiver173 Sale of detained property174 Apportionment of salvage by receiver175 Apportionment of salvage by High Court176 Jurisdiction of High Court in salvage177 Receiver’s feesPart X LEGAL PROCEEDINGS178 Provision as to jurisdiction in case of offences179 Jurisdiction over ships lying off coast180 Jurisdiction in case of offences on board ship181 Presumption of jurisdiction182 Court for trial of offences183 Sums ordered to be paid leviable by distress on ship184 Depositions to be received in evidence when witness cannot be produced185 Proof of attestation not required186 Admissibility of documents in evidence187 Service of documents188 Mode of making declarations189 Continuing offences190 Liability of beneficial owners191 Offences by body corporate192 Offences under this Act193 Forgery, etc., of documents and fraudulent use194 False declaration, etc195 Interfering with person in carrying out duty, etc196 Misleading officer, refusal to answer questions, produce documents, etc197 Offences relating to markings of ship198 Unauthorised presence on board ship199 Taking person performing duty to sea200 General penalties201 Persons appointed or authorised under this Act deemed public servants202 Costs of detention of unsafe ships203 Security for costs of detention of unsafe ships204 Immunity of Government, Authority and their employees, etcPart XI MISCELLANEOUS205 Powers of Director, etc206 Powers of inspector207 Power of arrest208 Power of High Court to remove master209 Enforcing detention of ship210 Issue of new document211 Issue of certified copies or extracts212 Copy of Act and regulations to be kept on Singapore ships213 Powers of Minister to prescribe fees, recovery of fees and application of moneys214 Documents to be in approved form215 Exemption216 Regulations217 Repeal and transitional provisions Related Subsidiary Legislation |
The closest version currently available is that of 14/07/1995.
LIABILITY OF SHIPOWNERSInterpretation of this Part134. In this Part, “owner” —
(a)in section 135, includes every person whose liability is excluded by section 141; and
(b)in any other provision of this Part, except where it secondly appears in section 138, includes every person whose liability is limited by section 141.Exclusion of shipowner’s liability in certain cases of loss of or damage to goods135. The owner of a Singapore ship or any share therein shall not be liable to make good to any extent whatever any loss or damage happening without his actual fault or privity in the following cases:
(a)where any goods, merchandise or other thing whatsoever taken in or put on board his ship are lost or damaged by reason of fire on board the ship; or
(b)where any gold, silver, diamonds, watches, jewels or precious stones taken in or put on board his ship, the true nature and value of which have not at the time of shipment been declared by the owner or shipper thereof to the owner or the master of the ship in the bills of lading or otherwise in writing, are lost or damaged by reason of any robbery, embezzlement, making away with or secreting thereof.Limitation of shipowner’s liability in certain cases of loss of life, injury or damage136.—(1) The owner of a ship shall not, where all or any of the following occurrences take place without his actual fault or privity:
(a)where any loss of life or personal injury is caused to any person being carried in the ship;
(b)where any damage or loss is caused to any goods, merchandise or other things whatsoever on board the ship;
(c)where any loss of life or personal injury is caused to any person not carried in the ship through the act or omission of any person (whether on board the ship or not) in the navigation or management of the ship or in the loading, carriage or discharge of its cargo or in the embarkation, carriage or disembarkation of its passengers, or through any other act or omission of any person on board the ship; and
(d)where any loss or damage is caused to any property (other than any property mentioned in paragraph (b)) or any right is infringed through the act or omission of any person (whether on board the ship or not) in the navigation or management of the ship, or in the loading, carriage or discharge of its cargo or in the embarkation, carriage or disembarkation of its passengers, or through any other act or omission of any person on board the ship,be liable to damages beyond the following amounts:
(i)in respect of loss of life or personal injury, either alone or together with such loss, damage or infringement as is mentioned in paragraphs (b) and (d), an aggregate amount not exceeding in the currency of Singapore the equivalent of 3,100 gold francs for each ton of the ship’s tonnage; and
(ii)in respect of such loss, damage or infringement as is mentioned in paragraphs (b) and (d), whether there is loss of life or personal injury or not, an aggregate amount not exceeding in the currency of Singapore the equivalent of 1,000 gold francs for each ton of the ship’s tonnage:
Provided that for the purpose of ascertaining the limit of the owner’s liability in accordance with sub-paragraph (i), the tonnage of a ship of less than 300 tons shall be deemed to be 300 tons.(2) For the purposes of this section —
(a)the tonnage of a mechanically propelled ship shall be its net tonnage with the addition, if any, of engine-room space deducted for the purpose of ascertaining that tonnage, and the tonnage of any other ship shall be its net tonnage;
(b)if the tonnage of a ship cannot be ascertained in accordance with paragraph (a), the Director shall, if so directed by the court, certify what, on the evidence specified in the direction, would in his opinion be the tonnage of the ship if ascertained in accordance with that paragraph; and
(c)a gold franc shall be taken to be a unit consisting of 651/2 milligrams of gold of millesimal fineness 900.(3) The Minister may, from time to time, by order published in the Gazette, specify the amounts which for the purposes of this section are to be taken as equivalent to 3,100 and 1,000 gold francs, respectively.(4) The limits set by this section to the liabilities mentioned herein shall apply to the aggregate of such liabilities which are incurred on any distinct occasion, and shall so apply in respect of each distinct occasion without regard to any liability incurred on another occasion.(5) The application of this section to any liability shall not be excluded by reason only that the occurrence giving rise to the liability was not due to the negligence of any person.(6) Nothing in this section shall apply to any liability in respect of loss of life or personal injury caused to, or loss of or damage to any property or infringement of any right of, a person who is on board or employed in connection with a ship under a contract of service with all or any of the persons whose liabilities are limited by this section, if that contract is governed by the law of any country outside Singapore and that law either does not set any limit to that liability or sets a limit exceeding that set to it by this section.Power of High Court to consolidate claims against owners, etc137.—(1) Where any liability is alleged to have been incurred by the owner of a ship in respect of any occurrence in respect of which his liability is limited under section 136, and several claims are made or apprehended in respect of that liability, then the owner may apply to the High Court, and the Court may —
(a)determine the amount of the owner’s liability;
(b)distribute that amount rateably among the several claimants;
(c)stay any proceedings pending in any other court in relation to the same matter; and
(d)proceed in such manner and subject to such regulations as to —
making persons interested parties to the proceedings;
the exclusion of any claimants who do not come in within a certain time;
requiring security from the owner; and
payment of any costs,as the Court thinks just.(2) In making any distribution in accordance with subsection (1), the High Court may, if it thinks fit, postpone the distribution of such part of the amount to be distributed as it thinks appropriate, having regard to any claim that may later be established before a court of any country outside Singapore.(3) No lien or other right in respect of any ship or property shall affect the proportions in which any amount is distributed among several claimants under this section.Part owners to account in respect of damages138. All sums paid for or on account of any loss or damage in respect of which the liability of owners is limited under this Part, and all costs incurred in relation thereto, may be brought into account among part owners of the same ship in the same manner as money disbursed for the use thereof.Insurances of certain risks not invalid139. An insurance effected against the happening, without the actual fault or privity of the owner of a ship, of any or all of the events in respect of which the liability of owners is limited under this Part shall not be invalid by reason of the nature of the risk.Proof of passengers on board ship140. In any proceedings under this Part against the owner of a ship or any share therein with respect to loss of life, any passenger list may be received as evidence that the person upon whose death proceedings are taken under this Part was a passenger on board the ship at the time of death.Extension to other persons of provisions relating to shipowners141.—(1) The persons whose liability in connection with a ship is excluded or limited by this Part shall include any charterer and any person interested in or in possession of the ship and, in particular, any manager or operator of the ship.(2) In relation to a claim arising from the act or omission of any person in his capacity as master or member of the crew or (otherwise than in that capacity) in the course of his employment as an employee of the owner or of any such person as is mentioned in subsection (1) —
(a)the persons whose liability is excluded or limited as aforesaid shall also include the master, member of the crew or employee, and, in a case where the master or member of the crew is the employee of a person whose liability would not be excluded or limited apart from this paragraph, the person whose employee he is; and
(b)the liability of the master, member of the crew or employee himself shall be excluded or limited as aforesaid notwithstanding his actual fault or privity in that capacity, except in the cases mentioned in section 135(b).Unregistered ships and ships in course of completion or construction142.—(1) This Part shall apply to any unregistered ship and any structure, whether completed or in the course of completion, launched or intended for use in navigation as a ship or part of a ship and “ship” when used in this Part shall be construed accordingly.(2) The tonnage of any ship or structure to which this Part applies by virtue of this section shall, for the purposes of this Part, be ascertained as provided by section 136(2).Release of ship143.—(1) Where a ship or other property is arrested in connection with a claim which appears to the court to be founded on a liability to which a limit is set by section 136, or security is given to prevent or obtain release from such arrest, the court may, and in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (3) shall, order the release of the ship, property or security, if the conditions specified in subsection (2) are satisfied; but where the release is ordered the person on whose application it is ordered shall be deemed to have submitted to the jurisdiction of the court to adjudicate on the claim.(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) are —
(a)that security which in the opinion of the court is satisfactory (referred to in this section as guarantee) has previously been given, whether in Singapore or elsewhere, in respect of the liability or any other liability incurred on the same occasion and the court is satisfied that, if the claim is established, the amount for which the guarantee was given or such part thereof as corresponds to the claim will be actually available to the claimant; and
(b)that either the guarantee is for an amount not less than the limit set by section 136 or further security is given which, together with the guarantee, is for an amount not less than that limit.(3) The circumstances referred to in subsection (1) are that the guarantee was given in a port which, in relation to the claim, is the relevant port (or, as the case may be, a relevant port) and that port is in a Convention country.(4) For the purposes of this section —
(a)a guarantee given by the giving of security in more than one country shall be deemed to have been given in the country in which security was last given;
(b)any question whether the amount of any security is (either by itself or together with any other amount) not less than any limit set by section 136, shall be decided as at the time at which the security is given;
(c)where part only of the amount for which a guarantee was given will be available to a claimant, that part shall not be taken to correspond to his claim if any other part may be available to a claimant in respect of a liability to which no limit is set as mentioned in subsection (1).(5) In this section —
“Convention” means the International Convention relating to the Limitation of the Liability of Owners of Seagoing ships signed in Brussels on 10th October 1957;
“Convention country” means any country in respect of which the Convention is in force (including any country to which the Convention extends by virtue of Article 14 thereof);
“relevant port” —(a)in relation to any claim, means the port where the event giving rise to the claim occurred or, if that event did not occur in a port, the first port of call after the event occurred; and(b)in relation to a claim for loss of life or personal injury or for damage to cargo, includes the port of disembarkation or discharge.(6) If the Minister by order declares that any country specified in the order is a Convention country within the meaning of this section, the order shall, while in force, be conclusive evidence that the country is a Convention country.Restriction on enforcement after giving security144.—(1) No judgment or decree for a claim founded on a liability to which a limit is set by section 136 shall be enforced, except so far as it is for costs, if security for an amount not less than the limit has been given, whether in Singapore or elsewhere, in respect of the liability or any other liability incurred on the same occasion and the court is of the opinion that the security is satisfactory and is satisfied that the amount for which it was given or such part thereof as corresponds to the claim will be actually available to the person in whose favour the judgment or decree was given or made.(2) For the purposes of this section —
(a)any question whether the amount of any security is not less than any limit set by section 136 shall be decided as at the time when the security is given; and
(b)where part only of the amount for which security has been given will be available to the person in whose favour the judgment or decree was given or made, that part shall not be taken to correspond to his claim if any other part may be available to a claimant in respect of a liability to which no limit is set as mentioned in subsection (1).