The Coasting vessels Act, 1838

1[1. Extent.--This Act extends in the first instance 2[to the territories which, immediately before the1st November, 1956, were comprised in the States] of Bombay, Saurashtra and Kutch, but the CentralGovernment 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 followingrules shall be in force with respect to vessels belonging to 3[any citizen of India] 4***, and employed onthe coasts of 5[any State] 1[or part of a State] to which this Act extends] or in trading coastwise, as alsowith respect to fishing-vessels and harbour-craft belonging to 6[any such citizen].

1*** Every such vesselemployed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel and harbour-craft shall be marked or branded with the name of theplace to which she belongs, and also with a number assigned for the same by the officer authorised tomake such registry as is hereinafter mentioned. Owner to paint name and number--and the owner or owners of such vessel employed s aforesaid,fishing-vessel and harbour-craft shall cause such name and number to be panted in black paint upon awhite ground on each quarter of such vessel employed or aforesaid fishing-vessel and harbour-craft, inEnglish figures and letters, each figure anti letter being six inches in length.

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. Registry by whom to be made, Fresh registration.--At Bombay such registry shall be made by the 2[Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department], and at other places 3*** by the Collector of Seacustoms at such places respectively, or by such other person as shall be appointed by the 4[Central Government] to act at such places respectively, in the execution of this Act; and whenever any change shall take place in the burthen of such vessel employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel or harbour-craft, or in the name or names of the owner or owners thereof, such registry shall be made again: Provided, however, that it shall not be lawful to give any name to such vessel employed as aforesaid, fishing-vessel or harbour-craft, other than that by which she was first registered.

1*** The owner or owners of every such vessel employed asaforesaid, fishing-vessel and harbour-craft shall apply to the person authorised to make such registry inrespect of the same, in order to have such registry as aforesaid made, or in order to have such registrymade again as aforesaid. Information of registry at subordinate port.--And whenever such vessel employed as aforesaid,fishing-vessel or harbour-craft is registered at a subordinate port, information thereof, and of the numberthere assigned to her, shall immediately be given by the registering officer to the 2[Principal Officer,Mercantile Marine Department] at Bombay.