Dumping at Sea Act 1974 (Overseas Territories) Order 1975 (S.I. No. 36 of 1976)

LAWS OF SEYCHELLES DUMPING AT SEA ACT 1974 (OVERSEAS TERRITORIES) ORDER, 1975 CHAPTER 67 REVISED EDITION 1991 PRINTEDFORTHE GOVERNMENT OF SEYCHELLES BY SPACE THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER 1991 EDj DUMPINGATSEAACf 1974 (OVERSEASlERRITORIES)ORDER 1975 [CAP 67 CHAPTER 67 1'J75No. 1831 • DUMPING AT SEA The Dumping at Sea Act 1974 (OverseasTerritories) Order 1975 {lOth December, 1975] 1. This Order may be cited as the Dumping at Sea Act 1974 (Overseas Territories) Order 1975. 2. The Interpretation Act 1889 uf the United Kingdom shall apply for the purpose ofinterpreting this Order and otherwise in relation thereto as it applies for the purpose of interpreting, and in relation to, Acts of Parliament. 3.(1) The provisions of the Dumping at Sea Act 1974 of the United Kingdom, modified and adapted as inthe Schedule hereto, shall extend to Seychelles. (2) For the purpose of construing the said Act as so extended as part ofthe law ofSeychelles "the Territory" means Seychelles. (3) The references in the Schedule hereto to £200 and £400 shall be construed by substituting for such amounts R2500 and R5000 respectively. S.t. 36 of t976. Citation. Lstcrpretetion , t889 c.63. Extension of provisions to Seychelles. 1974 c. 20. SCHEDULE Article 3 PROVISIONS OF THE DUMPING AT SEA ACT 1974 AS EXTENDED TO SEYCHELLES 1.(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, no person, except in pursuance of a licence granted under section 2 below and in accordance with the terms of that licence (a) shall dump substances or articles in the territorial waters of Seychelles; or (b) shall dump subtances or articles in the sea outside the I Restrictions on dumping in the sea. 1991 ED] DUMPING AT SEA ACT 1974 (OVERSEASlERRITORIES) ORDER 1975 [CAP 67 territorial waters of Seychelles from a ship, aircraft, hovercraft registered in Seychelles or a marine struc ture owned by or leased to a citizen ofSeychelles or a body corporate incorporated under the laws of Seychelles; or (c) shall load substances or articles on to a ship, aircraft, hovercraft or marine structure in Seychelles or its territorial waters for dumping in the sea, whether in such waters or not; or (d) shall cause or permit substances or articles to be dumped or loaded as mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) above. (2) Subject to subsections (3) to (5) below, substances and articles are dumped in the sea for the purposes ofthis Act if they are permanently deposited in the sea from a vehicle, ship, aircraft, hovercraft or marine structure, or from a structure on land constructed or adapted wholly or mainly for the purpose of depositing solids in the sea. (3) A discharge incidental to or derived from the normal operation ofa ship, aircraft, hovercraft or marine structure or of its equipment does not constitute dumping for the purposes of this Act unless the ship, aircraft, vehicle, hovercraft or marine structure in question is constructed or adapted wholly or mainly for the purposeofthe disposal ofwaste or spoil and the discharge takes place as part of its operation for that purpose. (4) A deposit made by, or with the written consent of, a harbour authority or lighthouse authority, for the purpose of providing moorings or securing aids to navigation, does not constitute dumping for the purposes of this Act. (5) A deposit made by or on behalfofa harbour authority in the execution of works of maintenance in their harbour does not constitute dumping for the purposes ofthis Act ifit is made on the site of the works. (6) Subject to subsections (7) to (9) below, any person who 2 1991 ED] DUMPING ATSEA Acr 1974 (OVERSEAS TERRITORIES) ORDER 1975 [CAP67 contravenes subsection (1) above shallbe guilty ofan offence and liable (a) on summary conviction to a fine of not more than £400 or to imprisonment for a term ofnot more than six months or to both; or (b) on conviction by the Supreme Court to imprisonment for not more than five years, or a fine, or to both. (7) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (6) above to prove (a) that the substances or articles inquestion were dumped for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship, aircraft, hovercraft or marine structure or of saving life, and (b) that he took steps within a reasonable time to inform the Minister that the dumping had taken place and of the locality and circumstances in which it took place and the nature and quantity of the substances or articles dumped, unless the court is satisfied that the dumping was not necessary for any ofthe purposes mentioned above and was not a reasonable step to take in the circumstances. (8) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (6) above to prove (a) that he acted under instructions given to him by his employer; or (b) that he acted in reliance on information given to him by others without any reason to suppose that the information was false or misleading, and in either case that he took all such steps as were reasonably open to him to ensure that no offence would be committed. (9) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence 3 1991 ED] DUMPING AT SEA Act 1974(OVERSEASTERRlTORIES) ORDER 1975 [CAP 67 under subsection (6) above in relation to substances or articles dumped outside the territorial waters of Seychelles from a ship, aircraft or hovercraft registered in Seychelles to prove that they were loaded on to it in a Convention State and that the dumping was authorised by a licence issued by the responsible authority in that State. Licences. 2.( 1) In determining whether to grant a licence the Minister shall have regard to the need to protect the marine environment and the living resources which it supports from any adverse consequences ofdumping the substances or articles to which the licence, if granted, will relate; and the Minister shall include in a licence such conditions as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the protection of that environment and those resources from any such consequences. (2) The Minister may revoke a licence if it appears to him that the holder is in breach of a condition included in it. (3) The Minister may vary or revoke a licence ifit appears to him that the licence ought to be varied or revoked because of a change of circumstances relating to the marine environment or the living resources which it supports, including a change in scientific knowledge. (4) The Minister may require an applicant for a licence to pay such fee on applying for it as he may determine. (5) The Minister may require an applicant to supply such information and permit such examination and sampling of the substances or articles which he desires to dump, or of similar substances or articles, and to supply such information about the method ofdumping which he desires to use, as in the opinion of the Minister is necessary to enable him to decide whether a licence should be granted and the conditions which any licence that is granted ought to contain. (6) Til" Minister may require an applicant for a licence to pay such amount, in additioh to any fee under subsection (4) above, as he may determine, towards the expense ofany tests which in 4 1991 ED] DUMPING AT SEA ACf 1974 (OVERSEAS TERRITORIES) ORDER 1975 [CAP 67 the opinion ofthe Minister are necessary to enable him to decide whether a licence should be granted and the conditions which any licence that is granted ought to contain, and in particular expense incurred in connection with any monitoring to determine the effect that dumping may have or has had on the marine environ ment and the living resources which it supports. (7) A licence (a) shall specify the person to whom it is granted; (b) shall state whether it is to remain in force until revoked or is to expire at a time specified in the licence; (c) shall specify the quantity and description of sub stances or articles to which it relates; and (d) may make different provision as to different descrip tions of substances or articles. (8) The Minister may transfer a licence from the holder to any other person on the application ofthat person or ofthe holder, but shall have power to include additional conditions in a licence on transferring it. (9) Any person who for the purpose ofprocuring the grant or transfer of a licence, or in purporting to carry out any duty imposed on him as a condition of a licence, knowingly or recklessly makes a false statement or knowingly or recklessly produces, furnishes, signs or otherwise makes use ofa document containing a false statement shallbe guilty ofan offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400. (IO) A person who on the coming into force of this Act in Seychelles is authorised in writing by the Minister to dump substances or articles in the sea may continue to do so, so long as he complies with anyconditions subject to whichthe authorisation is given until the authorisation expires or is revoked, as if the authorisation Werea licence under this Act. 5 1991ED) DUMPING ATSEAACT 1974 (OVERSEAS lERRITORlES) ORDER 1975 [CAP67 Right to make representations. 3.() Where the Minister proposes (a) to refuse a licence; or (b) to include a condition in a licence, whether on grant ing or transferring it; or (c) to require a payment under section 2(6) above; or (d) to vary or revoke a licence, it shall be his duty. when notifying the applicant for or holder of the licence of the proposal, also to notify him (i) of the reason for it; and (ii) of his right under this section to make written representations relating to it. (2) A notification ofa proposal to vary or revoke a licence shall also include a notice that any written representations must be received by the Minister within 28 days of the receipt of the notification. (3) A person who receives a notification ofa proposal such as is mentioned in subsection (1) above may make written represen tations about it to the Minister. (4) If the Minister receives such representations, and in the case ofa proposal to vary or revoke a licence receives them within 28 days ofthe receipt ofthe notification ofthe proposal, he shall constitute a committee to consider the representations and shall appoint one ofthe members ofthe committee to be its chairman. (5) The Minister shall draw up and from time to time revise a panel of persons who are specially qualified In his opinion to be members of such committees, and any such committee consti tuted by him shall be drawn from members of such panel. (6) It shall be the duty of the chairman ofa committee (a) to St:1 ve UpUII the pt:1 SUII whu made the I t:pl esenta tions under subsection (3) above a notice in writing requiring him to state within 14 days ofthe receipt of 6 1991EDI DUMPING ATSEA ACf 1974 (OVERSEAS TERRITORIES) ORDER 1975 ICAI'67 the notice whether he wishes to make oral represen tations to the committee; and (b) to give him, not earlier than the date of the notice under paragraph (a) above, notice in writing of the place, date and time ofthe meeting ofthe committee. (7) A notice under subsection (6)(b) above shall not specify a date for the meeting ofthe committee earlier than 21 days from the date ofthe notice, unless the person who made the represen tations has agreed to an earlier meeting. (8) If the person who made the representations expresses a wish to make oral representations to the committee, they shall afford him an opportunity ofso doing, either in person or by any person authorised hy him in that hehalf (9) The committee shall consider any representations made under subsection (3) or (8) above and shall make a report to the Minister after the close of their consideration, giving their find ings of fact and their recommendations. (10) Where representations relating to a proposal have been made under this section, the Minister may make a final decision relating to the proposal only after receiving and considering the committee's report on it. (11) The Minister shall notify the person who made the repre sentations ofhis decision and the reasons for it and shall send him a copy of the committee's report. (I2) Subject to subsection (13) below, the Minister may pay to a person who makes representations under this section such sum as the Minister considers appropriate in respect of costs or expenses incurred by him in connection with the making of the representations and their consideration under this section. (13) No payment shall be made under subsection (12) above where the final decision confirms the Minister's original proposal without modifications. 4.(1) The Minister shall compile and keep available fur public PUblicity. 7 Entorcernent ot Act. 1991 ED] DUMPING ATSEA Acr 1974 (OVERSEAS 1ERRITORlES) ORDER 1975 [CAP 67 inspection free of charge at reasonable hours the notifiable particulars of any dumping licensed by him under this Act, and shall furnish a copy of any such notifiable particulars to any person on payment ofsuch reasonable sum as he may determine. (2) In subsection (I) above "notifiable particulars" means such particulars as the Minister shall direct being particulars which the Goverrunent uf Seychelles are required to notify tu the interua tional organisations. ~.(I) The Minister may appuint enforcement officers fur the purposes of this Act (2) An enforcement officer appointed under subsection (1) above is referred to in this Act as a "local enforcement officer". (3) A local enforcement officer may be either an inspector appointed for the purposes ofthis Act or an officer in the public service of Seychelles appointed to exercise and perform the powers and duties ofsuch an inspector subject to such limitations as may be specified in the instrument appointing him; and the following provisions ofthis Act shall be construed, in reference to such an officer, as subject to any such limitations. (4) A local enforcement officer may, for the purpose of enforcing this Act, exercise, in relation to places and things liable to inspection under this Act, the powers conferred by subsections (7) to (10) below. (5) Subject to subsection (6) below, the places and things liable to inspection under this Act are (a) land (including land submerged at mean high water springs and buildings on land), vehicles, aircraft and hovercraft in Seychelles; (b) ships in ports in Seychelles; and (c) ships, aircraft, hovercraft and marine structures, reg istered in or belonging to Seychelles or its citizens or bodies corporate incorporated under the laws of Seychelles, wherever thcy may be, 8 1991 ED] DUMPING ATSEAACT 1974 (OVERSEAS lERRITORIES) ORDER 1975 (CAP67 in which a local enforcement officer has reasonable cause to believe that any substances or articles intended to be dumped in the sea are or have been present. (6) The places liable to inspection under this Act do not include any private dwelling not used by or by permission ofthe occupier for the purpose ofa trade or business. (7) A local enforcement officer may at any reasonable time enter any place liable to inspection under this Act, and board any vehicle, ship, aircraft, hovercraft or marine structure which is so liable, with or without persons and equipment to assist him in his duties. (8) A local enforcement officer (a) may open any container and examine and take samples of any substances or articles; (b) may examine equipment and require any person in charge of it to do anything which appears to the officer to be necessary for facilitating examination; (c) may require any person to produce any licences, records or other documents which relate to the dump ing of substances or articles in the sea and which are in his custody or possession; (d) may require any person on board a ship, aircraft, hovercraft or marine structure to produce any records or other documents which relate La it and which are in his custody or possession; and (e) may take copies of any document produced under paragraph (c) or (d) above. (9) For the purpose of boarding a vehicle, ship, aircraft, hovercraft or marine structure, a local enforcement officer may require the person in charge to do anything which will facilitate boarding, and the power conferred by this subsection includes power, in the case ofa vehicle, ship or hovercraft, to require the person in charge La stop it. 9 1991 ED] DUMPING ATSEA ACT 1974 (OVERSEAS 1ERRI1ORlES) ORDER 1975 [CAP 67 Enforcement of Conventions. (10) A local enforcement officer may require the attendance of the master ofa ship, the commander ofan aircraft, the captain of a hovercraft or the person in charge of a marine structure on board that ship, aircraft, hovercraft or structure, and may make any examination and inquiry which appears to him to be neces sary. (11) A local enforcement officer shall be furnished with a certificate ofhis appointment and on entering or boarding for the purposes ofthis Act any place or thing liable to inspection under this Act shall, if so requested, produce the said certificate. 6.(1) Ifan order is in force in the United Kingdom made under section 6(1) of this Act as in force there (in this section referred to as "the original Act") declaring (a) that any procedure (which has been developed for the effective application of the London Convention, the Oslo Convention or any designated Convention) specified in the order is an accepted procedure as between Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of any Convention State so specified, and (b) that the powers conferred by subsections (5) to (10) of section 5 of the original Act may be exercised for the purpose of the enforcement of that procedure outside United Kingdom waters (i) in relation to a British ship or hovercraft (as defined in the original Act), by a person of a specified class appointed to enforce it by the Government of that State, and (ii) in relation to a ship or hovercraft ofthat State, by a British enforcement officer, then the powers conferred by subsections (5) to (10) of section 5 ofthis Act may be exercised for the purpose ofthe enforcement of that procedure outside the territorial waters of Seychelles (A) in relation to a British ship or hovercraft, by a person of the class specified in the said order, and 10 1991 ED) DUMPING AT SEA ACT 1974 (OVERSEAS lERRITORIES) ORDER 1975 [CAP 67 (B) in relation to a ship or hovercraft ofthe State specified in that order, by a local enforcement officer. (2) A person belonging to a class specified in an order referred to in the preceding subsection is referred to in this Act as a "foreign enforcement officer", but any reference to a foreign enforcement officer in the following provisions of this Act shall be construed, in relation to any person ofa class so specified, as applying to him only for the purposes of the procedure specified in the order as the procedure for whose enforcement his Govern ment appointed him. 7.(1) A local or foreign enforcement officer shall not be liable in any civil or criminal procedings for anything done in purported exercise of the powers conferred on him by this Act ifthe court is satisfied that the act was tlone in gootl faith anti that there were reasonable grounds for doing it. (2) Any person who (a) without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any requirement imposed, or to answer any question asked, by a local or foreign enforcement officer under this Act; (b) without reasonable excuse prevents, or attempts to prevent, any other person from complying with any such requirement or answering any such question; or (c) assaults any such officer while exercising any of the powers conferred on him by or by virtue ofthis Act or obstructs any such officer in the exercise of any of those powers, shall be guilty of an offence. (3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction in the case of a first offence thereunder to a fine not exceeding £200 and in the case of a second or subsequent offence thereunder to a fine not exceeding £400. 11 Miscellaneous provrssons as to enforcement officers. 1991 EDI DUMPING AT SEA ACT 1974 (OVERSEASTERRI1ORIES) ORDER 1975 [CAP 67 Evidence. 8.(1) In any civil or criminal proceedings a written statement purporting to be a report made by a local or foreign enforcement officer on matters ascertained in the course of exercising his powers under this Act shall be admissible as evidence to the like extent as oral evidence to the like effect by that officer. (2) Subsection (I) above shall betaken to be in addition to and not to derogate from the provisions of any other law relating to the reception or admissibility of documentary evidence. State land. orrenees-general 9.( I) Where an offence under this Act which has been commit provisions. ted by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer ofthe body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty ofthat offence and be liableto be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (2) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (I) above shall apply in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate. (3) Proceedings for any offence under this Act may be taken, and the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed, in any place in Seychelles. 10. The powers conferred by subsections (7) to (10) ofsection 5 above shall be exercisable. with the consent ofthe Minister, in relation to land in which the Republic has an interest but in which there is also an interest held otherwise than by or on behalfofthe Republic. Financial provisions. 11.(I) There shall be paid out of the general revenues of Seychelles (a) such fees and allowances for members of committees under section 3 above; (b) such salaries and allowances for the staff of such committees; 12 1991 ED) DUMPING AT SEA ACf 1974 (OVERSEAS 1ERRITORlES) ORDER 1975 leAP 67 (c) such other expenses of such committees; and (d) such salaries or other remuneration for local enforce ment officers; and (e) any expenses incurred under this Act by the Minister and not mentioned in the preceding subsections, as the Minister may determine. (2) Any receipts ofthe Minister under this Act shallbe paid into the general revenues of Seychelles. 12. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires "captain", in relation to a hovercraft, means the person who is designated by the operator to be in charge ofit during any journey, or, failing such designation, the person who is for the time being lawfully in charge ofit; "commander", in relation to an aircraft, means the member ofthe flight crew designated as commander ofthat aircraft by the operator thereof, or, failing such a person, the person who is for the time being the pilot in command ofthe aircraft; "Convention" includes an agreement or other arrangement; "Convention State", in relation to the London Convention, the Oslo Convention or a designated Convention, means a State declared to be a party to that Convention by an order for the time being in force in the United Kingdom made under section 12(3)(b) of this Act as in force in the United Kingdom; "designated Convention" means a Convention declared to be a designated Convention by an Order for the time being in force in the United Kingdom made under section 12(3)(a) of this Act as in force in the United Kingdom. "dumping" has the meaning assigned to itby section 1 above; "foreign enforcement officer" has the meaning assigned to it by section 6(2) above; 13 Interpretation. 1991 ED] DUMPING AT SEA ACT 1974 (OVERSEAS lERRITORIES) ORDER 1975 [CAP 67 1894 c. 60. 1894 c. 60. "harbour authority" has the meaning assigned to it by section 742 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 of the United Kingdom; "hovercraft" means a vehicle which is designed to be Sllp ported when in motion wholly or partly by air expelled from the vehicle to form a cushion of which the boundaries include the ground, water or other surface beneath the vehicle; "international organisations" means any organisation estab lished in pursuance ofArticle XIV ofthe London Conven tion or Article 16 of the Oslo Convention and any similar organisation established in pursuance ofa designated Con vention; "lighthouse authority" means a local lighthouse authority or a general lighthouse authority within the meaning ofsection 634 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 of the United Kingdom or a harbour authority; "load" means load for dumping; "local enforcement officer" has the meaning assigned to itby section 5(2) above; "the London Convention" means the Convention on the Prevention ofMarine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter concluded at London in December 1972; "marine structure" means a platform or other man-made structure at sea; "master", in relation to any ship, includes the person for the time being in charge of the ship. "the Oslo Convention" means the Convention for the Pre vention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft concluded at Oslo in February 1972; "sea" includes any area submerged at mean high water springs, and also includes, so far as the tide flows at mean 14 1991 EDI DUMPING AT SEA ACf 1974(OVERSEAS1ERRI1ORIES) ORDER 1975 [CAP67 high water springs, an estuary or an arm of the sea and the waters of any channel, creek, bay, lagoon or river; and "territorial waters" means any part of the sea within the seaward limits of the territorial waters of Seychelles. 13.( I) The restrictions imposed by this Act are in addition to Savings. any restriction imposed by or under any other law, and neither affect nor are affected by any such restriction. (2) Subject to the provisions of section 33 of the Interpre tation Act 1889 ofthe United Kingdom (which relates to offences under two or more laws), nothing in this Act (a) confers a right of action in any civil proceedings (other than proceedings for the recovery ofa fine) in respect ofany contravention of this Act; or (b) derogates from any right of action or other remedy (whether civil or criminal) in proceedings instituted otherwise than under this Act. EXPLANATORY NOTE (This Note is not part ofthe Order.) This Order extends the provisions of the Dumping at Sea Act 1974, subject to exceptions, adaptations and modifications, to Seychelles. The purposes ofthe Act were to give effect to the Convention on the Dumping of Wastes at Sea (Cmnd. 5160) opened for signature at London on 29 December 1972; and for connected purposes. 15