Cap. 352 Art. 2Interpretation.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -

"the Authority" means the Authority for Transport in Malta established under the Authority for Transport in Malta Act;

"boat" means a small water craft, propelled by oars, sails, engines or other methods; "charges" means the charges that may be levied under article 14;

"contractor" means a person acting in pursuance of an agreement entered into with the Authority in pursuance of article 10(2) of the Authority for Transport in Malta Act;

"dues" means the dues that may be levied under article 14;

"fees" means the fees that may be levied under article 14; "fishing vessel" means a vessel being used or registered to be used or, in the case of an application for registration, intended to be used, for, or in connection with, fishing;

"goods" includes baggage, animals (whether alive or dead) and other movable property of any kind whatsoever;

"laid-up vessel" means a vessel which is in any port and which is not regularly used in accordance with the uses proper for such type of vessel for a period exceeding fourteen days; and for the purpose of this definition "vessel" includes a floating dock, a floating crane, salvage or lifting equipment, whether afloat, submerged or mounted on any sea-craft, and a lighter, whether propelled by mechanical means or otherwise or towed, but does not include any boat or sea-craft, used solely for pleasure or in the fishing industry, or any vessel which is in any port to undergo repairs: Provided that the Authority may, for the purposes of this definition, at its discretion, declare that a boat or sea-craft is not being used solely for pleasure or in the fishing industry, or that a vessel is not undergoing repairs, and any such vessel shall be treated as a laid-up vessel; "master", when used in relation to any ship, means the person having command or charge of the ship for the time being, but does not include a pilot; "Minister" means the Minister responsible for transport; "officer" and "employee" in relation to the Authority includes a public officer detailed for duty with the Authority; "owner" in relation to a ship includes the charterer or operator of the ship; "port" means the place declared to be a port by or under article 3, and includes wherever appropriate a yachting centre unless a separate provision is made in respect of such centre; "rates" means the rates that may be levied under article 14;

"ship" means every description of vessel used in navigation, whether self propelled or not, and it includes barges, oil rigs, pontoons, seaplanes, and any other craft and similar vessels; "territorial waters" means all parts of the open sea within twelve nautical miles of the coast of Malta, or such other distance as may be established under article 3 of the Territorial Waters and Contiguous Zone Act, measured as in that Act provided, and includes any waters enclosed between the base lines therein mentioned and the coast; "vehicle" means any vehicle other than a ship; "warehouse" means any shed, building, place, wagon, ship or vehicle when used by the Authority, or a contractor for the purpose of warehousing or depositing goods for the purposes of this Act; "yacht" means a registered sea going ship used solely for pleasure and accepted as such by the Authority; "yachting centre" means such place as is declared to be a yachting centre by or under article 3.