Captain Cazaletasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the qualifications necessary of fulfilment by a foreign ship wishing to be transferred to the British flag; whether there is any stipulation regarding the nationality of the crew serving on it; and whether there is any length of time which must elapse before the registration can be approved as valid and genuine?
§ Dr. BurginIn order to obtain the registration of a ship as British, the owner has to prove, first that he is qualified to own a British ship, and second that he is the owner of the ship. The qualification for ownership of a British ship is that the owner is a British subject or a company established under, and subject to the laws of, some part of His Majesty's Dominions and having its principal place of business in those Dominions. The registration becomes effective without any lapse of time. No stipulations with regard to the nationality of the crew are involved in connection with registration, but when the ship has become British, the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts with regard to crews become applicable.
Mr. R. Duckworthasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of ships in the British mercantile marine and their aggregate tonnage in 1914, and the corresponding figures for the last available date in 1937?
§ Dr. BurginThe following table gives, for the 1st July, 1914, and the 1st July, 1936 (the latest date available), the number and tonnage of steam and motor vessels of Too tons gross and over registered under the British flag. The figures are those compiled by Lloyd's Register of Shipping.
1171W
Registered in Great Britain and Ireland. Registered at British port: of Registry outside Great Total. Date. Number of Ships. Gross Tonnage. Number of Ships. Gross Tonnage. Number of Ships. Gross Tonnage. 1st July, 1914 … 8,587 18,892,089 1,536 1,631,617 10,123 20,523,706 1st July, 1936 … 6,891 17,182,857 2,188 2,990,126 9,079 20,172,983