Name of ships

(1) The Registrar shall refuse the registration of a ship by the name by which it is proposed to be registered, if it is already the name of a registered ship or a name which is so 24 similar to the name of a registered ship as to be likely to deceive or mislead. (2) No change shall be made in the name of a Belizean ship without the prior written permission of the Registrar, and such permission shall not be granted unless the Registrar is satisfied that all registered mortgagees have given their consent to the proposed change of name. (3) Application for such permission shall be in writing, and if the Registrar is satisfied that the application is reasonable, he may grant it and thereupon the ship’s name shall forthwith be altered in the Register, in the ship’s certificate of registry, and on its bow and stern. (4) Where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Registrar that the name of a ship has been changed without permission, he shall direct that its name be altered to that which the ship bore before the change. (5) If any person acts or permits any person under his control to act in contravention of this section, or omits to do, or permits any person under his control to omit to do, anything required by this section, the Registrar may impose a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars and in addition, the Registrar may suspend the certificate of registry of the ship until this provision has been complied with.