Updated to 18 February 2026 (Act No. 1 of 2026 and S.I. No. 54 of 2026)
All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.
Merchant Shipping Act 2010
No. 14 of 2010
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| Ss. 1-86 | 3 July 2010 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 87 | 4 July 2014 | Merchant Shipping Act 2010 (Section 87) (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 241 of 2014), art. 2 |
| Ss. 88-93 | 3 July 2010 | Commenced on enactment |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision | Affecting Provision Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer of certain functions under | Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 1(2), 3, schedule 1 | 29 July 2011 | Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), art. 1(2) |
| S. 2 amended | Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014 (43/2014), ss. 1(3), 68, sch. 4 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3) | |
| S. 42 amended | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(a) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 43(1)(a) substituted | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(b) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| Part 3 ch. 6 (ss. 57-63) application restricted | European Union (International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention) (Safe Manning) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 52 of 2024), reg. 4 | 16 February 2024 | European Union (International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention) (Safe Manning) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 52 of 2024) |
| European Union (International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention) (Safe Manning) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 315 of 2023), regs. 1(2), 4 | 1 July 2023 | European Union (International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention) (Safe Manning) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 315 of 2023), reg. 1(2) | |
| S. 57 amended | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(c) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 58(1) substituted | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(d) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 74 references to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) to be construed as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 40(2) | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3) | |
| S. 75 references to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) to be construed as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 40(2) | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3) | |
| S. 78 references to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) to be construed as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 40(2) | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3) | |
| S. 82(2) amended | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(i)(I) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 82(2)(o) amended | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(i)(II) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 82(2)(p) amended | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(i)(III) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 82(2)(q), (r) inserted | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(i)(IV) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 82(9)(a) amended | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(ii)(I) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 82(9)(d) amended | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(e)(ii)(II) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 84(1) substituted | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(f)(i) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 84(10) amended | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(f)(ii) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 84(12) amended | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(f)(iii) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 87(1) substituted | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 52(5)(g) | 1 June 2025 | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 188 of 2025) |
| S. 92 references to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) to be construed as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) | Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), 40(2) | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3) |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| S. 59 | Merchant Shipping (Solas V – Safe Manning and Watchkeeping) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 61 of 2025) |
| Merchant Shipping (SOLAS V – Safe Manning and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 314 of 2023) | |
| S. 82 | Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. No. 250 of 2024) |
| Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2023 (S.I. No. 109 of 2023) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. No. 466 of 2022) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. No. 49 of 2022) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Pilot Transfer Arrangements) Rules 2020 (S.I. No. 686 of 2020) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) Rules 2020 (S.I. No. 640 of 2020) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 438 of 2018) | |
| S. 82(2) | Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Survey) Rules 2025 (S.I. No. 382 of 2025) |
| S. 84 | Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (Amendment) Rules 2025 (S.I. No. 62 of 2025) |
| Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. No. 250 of 2024) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (No. 2) Rules 2023 (S.I. No. 380 of 2023) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Rules 2023 (S.I. No. 379 of 2023) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2023 (S.I. No. 109 of 2023) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. No. 49 of 2022) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) Rules 2020 (S.I. No. 640 of 2020) | |
| S. 84(1) | Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Survey) Rules 2025 (S.I. No. 382 of 2025) |
| S. 87 | Merchant Shipping (Health and Safety General Duties and Reporting of Marine Incidents) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 374 of 2025) |
| Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Flag State Inspection and Certification) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 373 of 2025) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Seafarer Employment Agreement and Wages) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 372 of 2025) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Medical Examinations) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 371 of 2025) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Shipowners’ Liabilities and Repatriation) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 370 of 2025) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Accommodation, Recreational Facilities, Food, Catering and Ships’ Cooks) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 369 of 2025) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Health and Safety General Duties and Reporting of Marine Incidents) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 441 of 2023) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Shipowners’ Liabilities and Repatriation) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 88 of 2020) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Flag State Inspection and Certification) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 376 of 2014) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Shipowners' Liabilities and Repatriation) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 375 of 2014) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Accommodation, Recreational Facilities, Food, Catering and Ships Cooks) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 374 of 2014) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Seafarer Employment Agreement and Wages) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 373 of 2014) | |
| Merchant Shipping (Medical Examinations) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 246 of 2014) | |
| S. 90 | Merchant Shipping (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 336 of 2012) |