Ship Law - Senpakuho

This law stipulates the scope, nationality, registration, and other administrative supervision of Japanese ships regarding their navigation. It was Act No. 46 of 1899. The owner of a Japanese ship with a gross tonnage of 20 tons or more must designate a port of registry in the prefecture or municipality adjacent to the waters where the shipowner resides and where the ship can navigate, register the ship with the Legal Affairs Bureau that has jurisdiction over the port of registry, and apply for and register the measurement of the ship's gross tonnage with the competent maritime authority (Regional Transport Bureau and its branch office or local office) in that area. The competent maritime authority will issue the shipowner a certificate of nationality that certifies the ship's nationality and includes registration details (ship's name, port of registry, ship number, gross tonnage, etc.). Unless the above procedures are followed, the ship cannot fly the Japanese flag, call at closed ports (ports where trade with foreign countries is not permitted), or transport cargo or passengers between Japanese ports. For small vessels of less than 20 tons, the above procedures have been simplified, and the port of registry is designated in a prefecture or city, town or village, and a vessel registry is issued by the prefectural governor (Cabinet Order and Ministerial Ordinance on the Registry and Cargo Measurement of Small Vessels).

[Amano Kazuharu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本船舶の範囲、国籍、登録、その他船舶の航行に関する行政監督について定めた法律。明治32年法律第46号。総トン数20トン以上の日本船舶の所有者は、船舶所有者の住所地で船舶の航行しうる水面に接した都または市町村に船籍港を定め、船籍港所管の法務局にその船舶を登記し、同地の管海官庁（地方運輸局およびその支局、出張所）に船舶の総トン数の測度を申請、登録を行う。管海官庁は船舶所有者に対し、登録事項（船舶の名称、船籍港、船舶番号、総トン数など）を記載した船舶の国籍を証明する船舶国籍証書を交付する。以上の手続を経なければ、日本国旗を掲げ不開港場（外国との通商を許されていない港）に寄港し、または日本各港間の貨物・旅客の運送に従事することはできない。20トン未満の小型船舶については以上の手続が簡略化され、都または市町村に船籍港を定め、都道府県知事から船籍票の交付を受けることになっている（小型船舶の船籍及び積量の測度に関する政令および省令）。

［天野和治］

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