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Exemptions of Ships from Specified Requirements of the Merchant
Shipping Acts and Reports on Exemptions Made
40.
Section 78 (1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1906 contains
powers to exempt individual ships from specified requirements
of the Merchant Shipping Acts. It is proposed to amend these
powers so that exemptions can be given to categories of ships as
well. Section 78 (2) of the same Act requires that a report on
such exemptions be laid annually before both Houses of Parliament.
Such reports are of limited value and high cost, and in view
of the intention to extend exemptions to categories of ships,
their usefulnness would be further reduced and it is proposed to
repeal this provision.
Lighthouses
41. A power is required to enable Trinity House to assume
responsibility for the two
remaining colonial lighthouses
administered by the Imperial Lighthouse Service. These are the
Sombrero and Cape Pembroke lighthouses in Anguilla and the
Falkland Islands respectively.
42.
A power is also required to enable the Secretary of State
to be re-imbursed for the cost incurred in the administration of
the General Lighthouse Fund.
Pilotage
43.
Under Section 25 of the Pilotage Act 1983, HM Customs
and Excise in the Port of London collect pilotage dues and pass
them on to Trinity House. The system is inconvenient for some
ships' agents and an amendment is needed to the Act so that
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