CHAPTER
302
INTER-INSULAR MAIL SHIPPING |
ARRANGEMENT OF
SECTIONS |
SECTION |
|
|
Power of Minister to establish shipping services
and to enter into contracts for that purpose. |
Provisions to be included in contracts. |
Obligation for vessel to carry cargo and
passengers. |
Power of minister to appoint schedules for
operation of vessels. |
|
Notices to be displayed giving maximum rates. |
CHAPTER 302 |
INTER-INSULAR MAIL
SHIPPING |
An Act to
make better provision for an inter-insular shipping service and for the
carriage of mails thereby and to repeal and replace the Inter-Insular Mails
Act. | 29 of 1966
E.L.A.O., 1974
5 of 1987 |
[Commencement 5th
October, 1966] |
1. This Act may be cited as the Inter-Insular Mail
Shipping Act. | Short title. |
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- | Interpretation. |
"mails"
includes mailbags, mailboxes, letterbags, letter baskets, letters, newspapers,
post cards, parcels, packets and other postal matter and also Government specie
and treasure; |
"Minister"
means the Minister responsible for Inter-Insular Passenger Freight and Mail
Services; |
"shipping
service" means a shipping service established in accordance with the
provisions of section 3 of this Act; |
"vessel"
means a vessel employed in the operation of a shipping service. |
3. (1) The Minister may establish and maintain a
shipping service between places within The Bahamas and for that purpose,
subject to the provisions of this Act and with the prior approval of the
Governor-General, may enter into any contract for a period of not less than one
year or more than ten years for the operation of shipping services between any
places within The Bahamas and may provide for the payment of subsidies therefor
to any contractor. Any such contract shall contain such provisions as the
Minister for Posts and Telecommunications deems necessary for the carriage of
mails, and the Minister shall contract for and on behalf of the Government of
The Bahamas: | Power of Minister to establish shipping services and
to enter into contracts for that purpose. |
Provided that no
such contract shall be entered into with any Minister either directly or
indirectly or with any company owned or controlled by any Minister. |
(2) Before
entering into any contract under the provisions of subsection (1) of this
section the Minister shall invite tenders for the operation of any such
shipping service, but shall not be obliged to accept the lowest of any tender. |
(3) A summary of
the provisions of every contract made under the provisions of this section
shall be published in the Gazette for general information and a copy of
every such contract shall be laid on the table of both Houses of Parliament. |
4. Any contract made under the provisions of section 3
of this Act shall contain such terms and conditions as the Minister may deem
necessary for securing an efficient shipping service including compliance with
any law in force relating to the safety of ships and passengers at sea. | Provisions to be included in contracts. |
5. The master of every vessel shall, so far as is not
inconsistent with the maintenance of an efficient service and subject to the
capacity of the vessel concerned, upon payment of the approved rates for
carriage of passengers or cargo as the case may be, receive on board and carry
all passengers who desire to travel, and all goods, wares, and merchandise of
whatsoever nature which may be offered for shipment on board to any place at
which such vessel is required to call: | Obligation for vessel to carry cargo and passengers. |
Provided that the
master of any vessel may refuse to accept and carry any cargo which is in a
dangerous condition or which due to its nature or to any defect in itself or in
any container is liable to contaminate or damage the vessel or any other cargo
or to be dangerous or offensive to any person on board the vessel. |
6. The Minister shall by notice published in the Gazette
appoint the places at which vessels shall call, the frequency of the service
and the tonnage of vessels for particular services. | Power of Minister to appoint schedules for operation
of vessels. |
7. The Minister shall make rules for the better
carrying out of the objects of this Act, and, without derogation from the
generality of the power conferred by this section, such rules shall provide- | Rules. |
(a) for
penalties for breach by the master or owner of any vessel of any obligation
under the provisions of this Act to carry passengers or cargo; |
(b) maximum
rates permitted to be charged for the carriage of passengers and freight; and |
(c) the scales
of life saving equipment to be carried on any vessels. |
8. (1) The Minister shall cause to be displayed
conspicuously in a public place, in each Out Island to which a shipping service
operates, a notice setting out a schedule of maximum rates prescribed under
section 7 of this Act for the carriage of passengers and freight on vessels. | Notices to be displayed giving maximum rates. |
(2) The master of
every vessel shall cause to be displayed conspicuously on his vessel a notice
setting out a schedule of maximum rates prescribed under section 7 of this Act
for the carriage of passengers and freight on that vessel. |