1. These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Fishing Vessels' Names) Regulations 1988 and shall come into force on 1st December 1988.

2. Any person who proposes to make application for the registration of a British fishing vessel in the United Kingdom shall before making such application obtain the approval of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen to the proposed name of the vessel.

3. When seeking such approval the applicant shall specify the port at which it is intended that the vessel should be registered.

4. If the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen is satisfied-

(a)that the proposed name is not already the name of a British fishing vessel registered at that port, and

(b)that it is not a name so similar to that of another British fishing vessel registered at that port as to be calculated to deceive,

he shall notify the applicant that he approves the name and the fishing vessel may thereafter be registered under that name at that port provided that all requirements for registry have been duly complied with.

5. If the Registrar General is not so satisfied he shall notify the applicant in writing that the name is not approved.

6. Any approval of a name given under these Regulations shall be valid only for the period of 3 months beginning with the date it was notified to the intending owner.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations require persons intending to apply for the registration of a fishing vessel under Part II of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 (c. l2) to obtain the approval of the Registrar General and Shipping and Seamen to the proposed name. The Registrar General may refuse approval if there is already a vessel of that name registered at the intended port of registry or if the name is so similar to another vessel already registered at that port as to be likely to deceive. Approval is to last for 3 months.