Definitions

Section 197 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 deals with definitions. In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, --- (a) "Bunker Convention" means the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001; The Act came into force on 15 Mar 2026.

In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, ---

(a) "Bunker Convention" means the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001;

(b) "bunker oil" means any hydrocarbon mineral oil, including lubricating oil, used or intended to be used for the operation or propulsion of the ship, and any residues of such oil;

(c) "incident", "person", "pollution damage" and "preventive measures" shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (a), (c), (d) and (e), of section 176;

(d) "registered owner" means the person or persons registered as the owner of the ship or, in the absence of registration, the person or persons owning the ship, and in the case of a ship owned by a State and operated by a company which in that State is registered as the ship's operator, "registered owner" shall mean such company;

(e) "ship" means any sea-going vessel and seaborne^* craft of any type whatsoever;

(f) "ship owner" means the owner, including the registered owner, bareboat charterer, manager and operator of the ship.

Section 197, The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (Act 24 of 2025).