Responsibility of Shipowners Act 1813
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1813 c. 159 |
| Year | 1813 |
(53 Geo. 3) C A P. CLIX.
[21st July 1813]
'WHEREAS it is of the utmost Consequence and Importance to promote the Increase of the Number of Ships and Vessels belonging to the United Kingdom, registered according to Law, and to prevent any Discouragement to Merchants and others from being interested therein: And whereas it is expedient to amend an Act made in the Seventh Year of the Reign of His late Majesty KingGeorge the Second, intituled An Act to settle how far Owners of Ships shall be answerable for the Acts of the Masters or Mariners; and also another Act made in the Twenty sixth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled An Act to explain and amend an Act made in the Seventh Year of His late Majesty's Reign, intituled An Act to settle how far Owners of Ships shall be answerable for the Acts of Master or Mariners, and for giving a further Relief to the Owners of Ships; and that other Provisions should be made in respect thereof;' Be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That no Person or Persons who is, are or shall be Owner or Owners, or Part Owner or Owners of any Ship or Vessel, shall be subject or liable to answer for or make good any Loss or Damage arising or taking Place by reason of any Act, Neglect, Matter or Thing done, omitted or occasioned, without the Fault or Privity of such Owner or Owners, which may happen to any Goods, Wares, Merchandize or other Things laden or put on board the same Ship or Vessel, after the First Day ofSeptember One thousand eight hundred and thirteen, or which after the said First Day of September One thousand eight hundred and thirteen may happen to any other Ship or Vessel, or to any Goods, Wares, Merchandize or other Things, being in or on board of any other Ship or Vessel, further than the Value of his or their Ship or Vessel, and the Freight due or to grow due for and during the Voyage which may be in Prosecution or contracted for at the time of the happening of such Loss or Damage.
II Value of Carriage of Goods, &c. considered as Freight.
II. And be it further enacted, That the Value of the Carriage of any Goods, Wares or Merchandize, belonging to the Owner or any of the Owners of such Ship or Vessel, and also the Hire due or to grow due under or by virtue of any Contract whether made by or on the Behalf of His Majesty, or by or on the Behalf of any other Person or Persons, or any Body Politic or Corporate whatsoever, except only such Hire as in the case of a Ship or Vessel hired for time, may not begin to be earned until the Expiration of Six Calendar Months after the happening of such Loss or Damage, shall be deemed and taken to be, and shall be considered as Freight, within the Intent and Meaning and for the Purposes of this Act, and also of the said Acts of Parliament made in the Seventh Year of the Reign of His late Majesty KingGeorge the Second, and in the Twenty sixth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty.
III Proviso for separate Losses.
III. And be it further enacted, That in case any such Loss or Damage shall arise or happen by more than one separate and distinct Accident, Act, Neglect or Default, or on more than one Occasion in the Course or Progress of a Voyage, or after the End of any Voyage, and before the Commencement of another Voyage, each and every such Loss or Damage shall be paid, compensated and satisfied according to the Provisions of this Act, in such and the same way, and to the same Extent, as if no other Loss or Damage had happened or arisen during the same Voyage, or after the End of any Voyage and before the Commencement of another Voyage.
IV Responsibility of Master and Mariners.
IV. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That nothing herein contained shall lessen or take away any Responsibility to which any Matter or Mariner of any Ship or Vessel may now by Law be liable, notwithstanding such Master or Mariner may be an Owner or Part Owner of his Ship or Vessel.
V Owners of Lighters, &c.
V. Provided also, and be it further enacted, That nothing herein contained shall extend or be construed to extend to the Owner or Owners of any Lighter, Barge, Boat or Vessel, of any Burthen or Description whatsoever, used solely in Rivers or Inland Navigation, or any Ship or Vessel not duly registered according to Law.
VI Actions may be brought for Damage by Persons suffering Loss though others have sustained Loss by same Accident.
VI. Provided also, and be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend to prevent any Action or Suit being brought or instituted, or proceeded in, in any Court of competent Jurisdiction, by any Person or Persons who shall have suffered any Loss or Damage within the Intent and Meaning of this Act against any Owner or...
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