Cap. 234 Art. 255Issue of load line certificate.

(1) Where a ship to which the load line provisions of this

Act apply, being a ship registered under this Act, has been surveyed and marked in accordance with the load line rules, the appropriate certificate shall be issued to the owner of the ship on his application.

(2) For the purposes of this article, the appropriate certificate -

(a) in the case of an existing ship of not less than one hundred and fifty tons gross tonnage, and in the case of a new ship of not less than twenty-four metres in length, is a certificate to be called an "International Load Line Certificate (1966)"; and

(b) in the case of any other ship, is a certificate to be called a "Malta load line certificate".

(3) Subject to the next following sub-article, any certificate required by sub-article (1) to be issued shall be issued by the Minister and shall be in such form, and shall be issued in such manner, as may be prescribed by the load line rules.

(4) The Minister may request a contracting government to issue an International Load Line Certificate (1966) in respect of any ship to which the load line provisions of this Act apply which is a ship registered under this Act and falling within sub-article (2)(a); and the following of the load line provisions of this Act shall have effect in relation to such a certificate so issued, which contains a statement that it has been issued at the request of the Government of Malta, as they have effect in relation to an International Load Line Certificate (1966) issued by the Minister.