Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “Act” means this Act; “approved” means approved by the Registrar; “Belizean ship” means a ship for the time being registered as a Belizean ship under the Act; “certificate of registry”, in relation to a Belizean ship, means the certificates granted under the Act in respect of that ship and includes the Patent of Navigation (Provisional or Permanent) as defined in Appendix 2 hereof; “Deputy Registrar” means a Deputy Registrar of Merchant Shipping appointed under section 6 of the Act; “designated office” means any office designated by the Registrar for the operation of IMMARBE, whether within or outside Belize; “dollar” or “$” means a dollar in the currency of the United States of America; 10 “foreign country” means any country or place other than Belize and “foreign port” shall be construed accordingly; “gross tonnage” is the gross tonnage stated in the certificate of registry of a ship, or, where a ship is not registered, the figure found in accordance with the rules for the time being in force for the measurement of ships in respect of tonnage; “Head Office” means the office designated by the Registrar from time to time under section 3 of the Act to house the main operations of IMMARBE; “IMMARBE” means the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize established under section 3 of this Act; “inspector” means a surveyor or a Nautical Inspector appointed under the Act; “legal age” means the age of 18 years or over; “Manager” means the person who is appointed by contract by the owner to have responsibility for the management of the ship; “master” includes every person (except a pilot) having command or charge of a ship, seaplane or other craft when it is on or in close proximity to the water; “Merchant Marine notices” or “notes” are circulars issued by the Registrar or the Senior Deputy Registrar of IMMARBE to implement or give full effect to the provisions of international conventions or instruments acceded to by Belize; “Minister” means the Minister to whom the responsibility for IMMARBE is for the time being assigned by the Governor- General under Section 41 of the Belize Constitution, Cap. 4; 11 “owner” as applied to an unregistered vessel means the actual owner, and as applied to a registered ship, means the registered “ownership title” means a bill of sale over a ship in the name of its owner or any other document attesting to such ownership over a ship; “permanent registration” or “permanent certificate of registry” means that form and status of registration which indicates that a vessel is registered in IMMARBE as a Belizean ship in full compliance with the documentation or requirements for registration under the Act; “provisional registration” or “provisional certificate of registry” means that form and status of registration which has a duration of up to six (6) months under which a vessel is regarded as registered in IMMARBE and authorized to fly the Belize flag while it completes the full documentation for registration as required under the Act; “Recognized Organization” or “R.O.” means any technical organization authorized by IMMARBE, pursuant to the International Maritime Organization Resolution A739(18) of 4 November, 1993, 1/8, to act on its behalf in the surveys, certification and determination of tonnages and other particulars of vessels registered under the flag of Belize, as required by international conventions; “Registrar” means the Registrar of Merchant Shipping designated under section 5 of this Act; “Register” means the International Merchant Marine Register of Belize maintained under section 13 of this Act; “Senior Deputy Registrar” means the Senior Deputy Registrar of Merchant Shipping appointed under section 6 of this Act; 12 “ship” or a “vessel” means and includes every description of vessel, boat or other craft used in navigation including but not limited to, for the avoidance of doubt, oil rigs, submarines, floating docks, vessels under construction, any hull made from any floating material and intended for the maritime trade and any structure capable of use in a marine environment which the Registrar may consider appropriate for its registration as a ship; “shipping agent” means the person who acts as an intermediary between the ship owner or his representative and IMMARBE; “shipowner” as applied to an unregistered ship, means the actual owner, and as applied to a registered ship, means the “surveyor” means a person appointed or authorized by the Registrar to survey and measure ships, “the Court” means the Supreme Court of Belize exercising its admiralty jurisdiction; “year”, in relation to the compulsory inspection of a ship, means a period of twelve calendar months from the date of the latest certificate of inspection, and in relation to all other matters means the calendar year.