1[1. Extent.--This Act extends in the first instance 2[to the territories which, immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in the States] of Bombay, Saurashtra and Kutch, but the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, extend it to any other State 3[or part of a State] which has a sea-coast.]
2*** The following rules shall be in force with respect to vessels belonging to 3[any citizen of India] 4***, and employed on the coasts of 5[any State] 1[or part of a State] to which this Act extends] or in trading coastwise, as also with respect to fishing-vessels and harbour-craft belonging to 6[any such citizen].
1*** Every such vessel employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel and harbour-craft shall be marked or branded with the name of the place to which she belongs, and also with a number assigned for the same by the officer authorised to make such registry as is hereinafter mentioned.
1*** The name and number of every such vessels employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel and harbour-craft, and her burthen, and also the name or names of the owner or owners thereof, shall be registered in a took to be kept for that purpose by the person hereinafter directed to make such registry.
1*** The owner or owners of every such vessel employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel and harbour-craft shall apply to the person authorised to make such registry in respect of the same, in order to have such registry as aforesaid made, or in order to have such registry made again as aforesaid.
1*** The duty of marking or branding and of ascertaining the burthen of such vessels employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessels and harbour-craft, at Bombay, shall be performed by the 2[Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department]; and at all other places 3*** the duty of marking or branding and of ascertaining the burthen of such vessels employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessels and harbour-craft shall be performed by the Collector of Sea-customs at such places respectively, or by such other persons as shall be appointed by the 4[Central Government] to act at such places respectively, in the execution of this Act.
1*** The owner or owners of every such vessel employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel and harbour-craft shall apply for and obtain a certificate of registry from the person authorised to make such registry as aforesaid, and such certificate shall be in the form specified in the Schedule appended to this Act; and in the case of any certificate being lost or destroyed, a renewed certificate may be obtained in the same manner and on payment of the fees hereinafter mentioned.
1*** Such certificate of registry shall be sealed with the seal of the 2[Government of India], and shall be signed by the person authorised to make such registry.
[Dates for commencement of certificate and registration.] Rep. by the Repealing Act, 1876 (12 of 1876), s. 1 and Sch., Pt. I.
1[10. Fees for certificates.--The owner or owners of such vessels employed as aforesaid fishingvessels and harbour-craft being excepted) on being registered as aforesaid, shall pay--
1*** The person or persons so authorised to make such registry as aforesaid shall receive the fees payable for the same, and shall pay such fees to such officer as 2[the Central Government] shall appoint; the same to be carried to the credit of 3[the Central Government]:
1*** The owner or owners or commander of every such vessel employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel and harbour-craft shall produce, on demand thereof by any officer of the Customs 2*** or by any officer of the 3*** Navy, the certificate so directed to be applied for and obtained, in respect of such vessel employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel or harbourcraft, as above mentioned.
1*** Incase any such vessel employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel or harbour-craft shall not be so marked or branded in all respects as hereinbefore directed, or in case the name and number of any such vessel employed as afored said, fishing-vessel or harbour-craft shall not be so painted, or shall not continue so painted on such vessel employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel or harbour-craft, in all respects as herein before directed;
1*** The 2[Central Government] may direct compensation for trouble and diligence in seizing such vessel employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel or harbour-craft, guns, furniture, tackle, ammunition and apparel, as last mentioned, to be made, out of the proceeds of such seizure to the person or persons who shall have seized the same, to such amount, in such manner and in such shares or proportions, as to the said 3Central Government shall seem meet.
[Port-clearance.] Rep. partly by the Repealing Act, 1874 (16 of 1874), s. 1 and Sch., Pt. I, and partly by the Repealing Act, 1876 (12 of 1876), s. 1 and Sch., Pt. I.