Vice-Admiral Taylorasked the President of the Board of Trade whether an inspection by officials of the Board of Trade is carried out on the hull, fittings, safety appliances, etc., before a ship can obtain British registration, in order to ensure that the hull and fittings are of such a standard that they comply with the rules and regulations laid down by the Board of Trade?
2006Wexported from the United Kingdom in trade with the Argentine Republic during the 12 months ended March, 1937 and 1938.
Mr. StanleyThere is no power to refuse registration of a ship at a port in this country provided that the statutory requirements as to ownership are satisfied and certain requirements, such as tonnage measurement and inspection of draught marks in dry dock, are complied with. But before sailing, the ship must comply with the Load Line Rules of 1932, under which a Surveyor of the Board of Trade or of a Classification Society, acting as agent of the Board of Trade, must be satisfied that the hull and deck fittings are in good condition. The crew spaces, navigation lights and lifesaving appliances are also inspected by a Board of Trade Surveyor, and appropriate action is taken to bring those items into compliance with the Regulations.
I should add that Provisional Certificates of Registry—the object of which is to enable buyers to take their vessels to a British port for registration—are issued in foreign ports by British Consuls, without survey. Their maximum period of validity is six months.