S.L. 425.7 Art. 3Registration of fishing boats.

(a) Vessels which from their very nature or from other factors lead the Director to believe that their primary and predominant use is for fishing may be registered by the Director in the Fishing Vessel Register and, once so registered so that they can be so used, shall have a licence according to the relevant provisions of the law:

Provided that, without prejudice to regulation 9, the Director shall not register or renew any registration with respect to any vessel falling under category C described under regulation 8(b) if the same vessel is of a length of 12 metres or more, and with effect from the 1st January 2014 he shall also cancel all registrations under category C which are in force on the same date.

(b) Fishing vessels of all categories of six metres or over in length shall also be registered under the Merchant Shipping Act.

(c) The issued licence shall be kept on board of the fishing vessel at all times. Fishing vessels of any category may only be used for the purposes indicated in the licence: Provided that without prejudice to regulation 9, the Director shall not register or renew any registration with respect to any vessel falling under category C as described in regulation 8, if the same vessel is of a length of twelve metres (12m) or more:

Provided further that in exceptional cases and if not causing any prejudice to the fishing sector, generally or in the particular case, the Director may register or renew registrations in category C for vessels of a length of twelve metres (12m) or more.