Thailand Vessel Act, translation of Boating and Ship Act Law

Legislation for boats in Thai waters

tropical sea, islands south of samui

Thai Vessels Act, B.E. 2481

IN THE NAME OF HIS MAJESTY KING ANANDA MAHIDOL

The Council of Regency (According to the Announcement of the President of the House of Representatives, Dated 4th August, B.E. 2480) 

Arthit Thipphaya Arpha  

General Chao Phya Pichayenthara Yothin 

Given on the 7th Day of April, B.E. 2482; Being the 6th Year of the Present Reign.

Whereas the House of Representatives deems expedient to have a law on Thai vessels;     

Be  it,  therefore,  enacted  by  the  King,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  House  of Representatives, as follow:     

Section 1.  This Act is called the “Thai Vessels Act, B.E. 2481”.    

Section 2.  This Act shall come into force after the expiration of one hundred and eighty days from the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.1    

Section 3.  As from the date this Act comes into force, the Act on Registration and Licensing of  Thai  Fishing Vessels B.E.  2477 and the  Act  on Registration  and  Licensing  of Thai Fishing  Vessels  (No. 2) B.E. 2479, as well as other laws, rules and regulations, in so far as they are already provided by this Act or are contrary thereto or inconsistent therewith, shall be repealed.    

Section 4.  Vessels of the Royal Thai Navy shall be deemed as Thai vessels but shall not be subject to the application of This Act.    

Section 5. In this Act, unless provided otherwise:    

  1. “Thai waters” means all waters within the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Thailand;
  2. “Port”  means  a  location  or  place  for  anchoring  vessels  to  embark  or  disembark passengers or objects;  
  3. “Vessel” means any kind of water vehicles; 
  4. “Motor vessel” means a mechanically-propelled vessel notwithstanding the combination of other kind of driving power;
  5. “Sea vessel” means a vessel the structure of which is for sailing in the sea; 
  6. “River vessel” means a vessel other than a sea vessel; 
  7. “Trading in Thai waters” means transportation of passengers or objects or pulling objects from any Port or place to other port(s) or place(s) within the Thai waters, for commercial purpose;
  8. “Fishery” means fishing of any kind of aquatic animals including fishing by using a vessel or using a vessel as a vehicle for fishing;
  9. “Vessel controller” means a master of a vessel, boatswain, helmsman, steersman or any person in charge of commanding and responsible for a vessel, but shall not include a pilot officer;
  10. “Crew” means any person in service on board of a vessel; 
  11. “Minister” means the Minister having charge and control of the execution of this Act;
  12. “Master of harbour” means the Director-General of the Harbour Department 2 or a person acting on his or her behalf, and includes a person appointed by the Minister to be a master of harbour or a person acting on his or her behalf;
  13. “Vessel Registrar” means a person appointed by the Minister to be a vessel registrar or a person acting on his or her behalf.

Chapter 1 Registration of Thai Vessels

Section 6. The registration of Thai vessels under this Act shall be made before the Vessel Registrar.

Section 7. A person to be an owner of a registered Thai vessel for engaging in trading in Thai waters under section 47 shall have any one of the following qualifications:

  1. to be a natural person of Thai nationality;
  2. to be an ordinary partnership having all partners who are natural persons of Thai nationality;
  3. to be a state enterprise under the law on budgetary proceeding; 
  4. to be a juristic person established under Thai law as follows: 
  • (a) a registered ordinary partnership having all partners who are natural persons of Thai nationality;  
  • (b)  a limited  partnership having  all  partners  with  unlimited  liability  who  are  natural persons of Thai nationality and having not less than seventy per cent of its capital owned by persons who are not foreigners;  
  • (c)  a  limited  company  having  not  less  than  one  half  of  its  directors  who  are  of  Thai nationality and  having not  less than seventy per cent  of  its registered capital shares  owned  by persons  who are not foreigners, and having no regulation to issue bearer share certificates; 
  • (d)  a  public  limited  company having  not  less  than one  half  of  its  directors who  are  of Thai nationality and having not less than seventy per cent of its paid-up capital shares owned by persons who are  not  foreigners,  and,  for  the  purpose  of  this  section,  “foreigner”  means  a  foreigner  under  the  law  on business of foreigners.   

Section  7  bis.  A  person  to  be  an  owner  of  a  registered  Thai  vessel  for  engaging  in international  maritime  transport  and  not  trading  in  Thai  waters  under  section  47  shall  be a  juristic  person established under Thai law having not less than one half of  its directors who are of Thai  nationality,  and shall have any one of the following qualifications: 

  1. a limited company having not less than fifty-one per cent of its registered capital shares owned by a non-foreigner and having no regulation to issue a certificate of share to a bearer;
  2. a  public  limited  company  having  not  less  than  fifty-one  per  cent  of  its  paid  capital shares  owned by persons  who  are  not  foreigners  and,  for  the  purpose  of this section, “foreigner”  means a foreigner under the law on business of foreigners.    

Section  7 ter.  No  natural  person  of  Thai  nationality  and juristic  person  qualified  to  be  an owner of a registered Thai vessel under section 7 shall commit any act as follows: 

  1. to own a registered Thai vessel under section 7 in stead of a foreigner; http://www.samuiforsale.com
  2. to  be  a  partner  of  a  partnership  that  is  a  juristic  person  who  owns  a  registered  Thai vessel under section 7 in stead of a foreigner; 
  3. to  be  a  shareholder  of  a  limited  company  or  a  public  limited  company  who  owns  a registered Thai vessel under section 7 or section 7 bis in stead of a foreigner;    For the purpose of this  section, “foreigner” includes a  juristic person not qualified  to  own a registered Thai vessel under section 7 or section 7 bis, as the case may be.    

Section  7  quarter.  No  limited  company  or  public  limited  company  to  be  an  owner  of  a registered Thai vessel under section 7 bis shall commit any act as follows: 

  1. to own a registered Thai vessel under section 7 bis in stead of a foreigner;
  2. to  be  a  shareholder  of  a  limited  company  or  a  public  limited  company  who  owns  a registered Thai vessel under section 7 bis in stead of a foreigner; 

For  the  purpose  of  this  section,  “foreigner”  includes  a  juristic  person  not  qualified  to own a registered Thai vessel under section 7 bis.    

Section 8.  The following vessels, upon registration under this Act, shall be deemed a Thai vessel; 

For trading in Thai waters: 

  1. A motor vessel of ten gross tonnage and upwards; 
  2. A sea vessel, other than a motor vessel, of twenty gross tonnage and upwards; 
  3. A river vessel, other than a motor vessel, of fifty gross tonnage and upwards; 

For fishery: 

  1. A motor vessel of every size; 
  2. A vessel, other than a motor vessel, of six gross tonnage and upwards.     

Section 9.   A vessel  belonging to a  person  under section  7 having size as specified in  the preceding section but not be used under section 47, or having smaller size than those specified therein, used for engaging in trading in Thai waters or for fishery, as the case may be, shall not be subject to the registration under this Act.  However, the vessel provided in this section shall also be deemed a Thai vessel.    

Section 10.  In applying for a registration, the applicant shall do as follows:

  1. to  lodge  a  statement  manifesting  an  ownership  in  the  printed  form  of  the  Harbour Department ;  
  2. to make a statement certifying that the conditions  for being an owner of the vessel shall be in accordance with  section  7 and to produce the evidence thereof.   If the  applicant is a  partnership  or a limited company, the certificate of registration of such entity shall be produced; 
  3. to  lodge  the  vessel  certificate  of  survey  issued  by  the  survey  officer  of  the  Harbour Department under section 12; 
  4. to lodge a statement showing the date and place where the construction of the vessel is completed as it is possible; 
  5. if the vessel belongs to a foreigner, the previous name of the vessel shall also be stated; 
  6. to state the names of the vessel controller.     

Section 11.  The vessel  to be registered as Thai vessel  shall  be  provided with a permanent mark thereto in accordance with the Ministerial Regulation.  From the date of its registration through the date of  its effectiveness,  the  vessel controller shall maintain such mark  and  shall  not change or conceal it, except for the execution of this Act or other law.    

Section  12.  The  vessel  to  be  registered  as  Thai  vessel  shall  have  a  certificate  of  survey, certifying that such vessel has been inspected by the survey officer of the Harbour Department under the law on navigation in Thai waters, produced to the Vessel Registrar.                                                          

Section  13.  In  registering  a  Thai  vessel,  the Vessel  Registrar  shall  keep  the  certificate of survey under his or her custody together with the certificate of vessel constructor or the certificate of vessel transfer, if any.    

Section 14.  The certificate of registration of Thai  vessels shall  be in the printed form  of the Harbour Department and shall contain the following particulars: 

  1. Names  of  the  vessel,  port  where  the  registration  has  been  made,  and  the  vessel controllers;  
  2. Type  of  the vessel, names  of  the dock where  the  vessel has  been built and  the  dock owner;  
  3. Details regarding the survey of the vessel; 
  4. Details regarding the acquisition of vessel ownership as shown in the statement thereof; 
  5. Names,  addresses  and  occupations  of  the  person  registered  as  the  owner  of  the vessel.  In case of partnership or limited company, also the names and addresses of the managing director or the directors.     

Section 15.  If a vessel has been registered as Thai vessel at any port, such port shall be a registration port of such vessel.   

Chapter 2 Certificate of Registration of Thai Vessels

Section 16.  When the Registration of a vessel has already been made, the Vessel Registrar shall issue  to the applicant the certificate of registration in  the  printed form of the Harbour Department.  This certificate shall be called the “registration certificate”.    

Section  17.    During  the  period  of  using  the  vessel,  the  vessel  controller  must  keep  the registration certificate  as  a regular document  of  the  vessel.   No person  shall take such certificate away from the vessel unless for the execution of this Act or other law.   Upon the request of the survey officer, the vessel controller must produce it to him or her immediately.    

Section  18.    If  the  registration  certificate  has  lost  or  harmed  by  whatever  reason  or substantially  damaged,  the  vessel  controller  shall  apply  for  its  substitute  from  the  Vessel  Registrar  at  the registration port.  If such situation occurs outside the registration port, the vessel controller shall apply for the temporary substitute at  the  next  arrival port where  there is a  vessel  registrar or  Thai  consulate,  as the case may  be,  there.    

When  the  vessel has  entered  into  the registration  port, the  vessel  controller  shall bring  the temporary substitute to the Vessel Registrar of such port within fifteen days from the date of arrival for issuing a  new  substitute.    In  the  case  where  the  registration  certificate  has  no  space  for writing  down  any  further detail, the vessel registrar or the Thai consulate official, as the case may be, shall attach the allonge thereto in accordance with the Ministerial Regulation.  

Section  19.    When  the  substitute  certificate  has been  issued,  if  there  still  exist  the old registration certificate, in case of its substantially damaged, or in case of loss, it has been found later on,  the vessel controller shall bring it to the Vessel Registrar of the registration port immediately for further proceeding in accordance with the provisions of the Ministerial Regulation.    

Section 20.   If  there  is a substitution  to  a  vessel controller,  the new  vessel  controller  shall produce  his  or  her  registration  certificate  or  a  personal  certificate  or  permit  to  a  vessel  registrar  or  a  Thai consulate official, as the case may be, before departing from the port.  When such official has satisfied such documents, he or she shall record such change in the registration certificate and append his or her signature thereto.   In case  of the  substitution  outside  the registration  port,  the official  who  records such  change  shall report the matter to the Vessel Registrar of the registration port  immediately.  In this regard,  the Minister shall have  the  power  to  exempt  certain  sizes  of  registered  Thai  vessels  from  the  application  of  this  section  by issuing a Ministerial Regulation.    

Section  21.    If  there is  a  change in  the  ownership  of  a  vessel,  the  Vessel Registrar  of  the registration port shall record such change in the registration certificate.   If  the  change  is  made  outside  the  registration  port,  a  vessel  registrar  or  a  Thai  consulate official  of  the  port where the  change take place  or the next  arrival port, as the case may  be, shall note such change  in  the  registration  certificate.    Provided  that  he  or  she  shall  inform  the  Vessel  Registrar  of  the registration port and obtain the prior approval therefrom.    

Section 22.  If any registered Thai vessel has lost, captured by the enemy, destroyed in fire, sunk, damaged or abandoned, the owner of such vessel shall inform the matter to the Vessel Registrar of the registration port  within  thirty  days from  the  day  he or  she  knows the matter.   Then the  Vessel Registrar shall record such information in the registration book as evidence.   In such case under the preceding paragraph, if the registration certificate has not been lost nor destroyed, the vessel controller shall return such certificate to a vessel registrar or a Thai consulate official of the port where the situation occurred or the next arrival port, as the case may be.    

Section 23. A vessel  registrar or a Thai consulate official,  as  the  case  may be,  shall submit the registration certificate received under the preceding section to the Vessel Registrar of the registration port of such vessel.    

Section  24. If  there  is  a  change  in  the  ownership  of  a  vessel  belonging  to  a  person qualified  to  be  an  owner  of  a  registered Thai  vessel  under  section  7or  it  is  rebuilt  outside  the  Kingdom  of Thailand,  a  Thai  consulate  official  or  a  survey  officer  of  the  Harbour  Department  may  issue  a  temporary registration certificate to the vessel controller.  In this regard, a Thai consulate official or a survey officer of the Harbour  Department  who  issues a  temporary  registration certificate  shall send such certificate to the Vessel Registrar of the port where the registration has been requested for immediately.                                                         

The temporary registration certificate  shall contain the following particulars: 

  1. Name of the vessel, and its previous name, if any; 
  2. Names of the vessel controllers; 
  3. Names of the owner of the vessel, and the previous owner, if any; 
  4. Cause of acquisition of ownership of the vessel; 
  5. Date and place of acquisition of ownership; 
  6. Details regarding size, building and other details relevant  to the vessel, as it is possible; 
  7. Name of the port where the registration has been requested.     

Section  25. A  temporary  registration  certificate  issued  by  a  Thai  consulate  official  or  a survey  officer  of  the  Harbour  Department  under  section  24  shall  have  the  same  effect  as  the  registration certificate and shall be effective to the time the vessel has arrived at the port where the registration has been requested.  However, it shall not be used after the expiration of six months from the date of issuing.   The  vessel  controller  shall  submit  the  temporary  registration  certificate  to  the  Vessel Registrar within seven  days from  the  date of arrival  of  the  vessel to the port  where the registration has been requested.    

Section 26.  Within the Thai waters, if any vessel wishes to enter into any port for registration purpose and wishes to enjoy the privilege under this Act during its journey, the vessel controller shall apply for a temporary transit to the master of harbour of such port.  The temporary transit shall have the same effect as the registration certification according to conditions imposed therein.    The master of harbour of such port may not grant permission to the application for temporary transit, if he or she thinks it is not appropriate.   

Chapter 3 Transfer of Ownership of the Registered Thai Vessels 

Section 27.  The transfer of the ownership of a registered Thai vessel by juristic act shall be made by lodging an application with the Vessel Registrar of the registration port for recording such transfer in the registration book.    The agreement on transfer of the ownership of the vessel under this section shall be made in the  printed  form  of  the  Harbour  Department  before  the  Vessel  Registrar  as  provided  in  the  preceding paragraph.     If the transfer of the ownership has already been made outside the registration port, a vessel registrar or a  Thai consulate official  of the port where  the  transfer has been made, as  the  case  may be, shall act as the  Vessel Registrar  of the  registration  port.   In doing so,  he  or she  shall record  such transfer  in  the registration  certificate  and  send  the  copy  of  the  ownership  transfer  agreement  including  its  certified translation,  if  necessary,  to  the  Vessel  Registrar  of  the  registration  port  immediately.   Upon  receiving such documents, the Vessel Registrar shall record the transfer thereof in the registration book.    

Section 28.  In the case under the preceding section, if it is found that the transferee lacks of qualifications to be an owner of a Thai vessel under section 7:    

  1. If  the  transfer  has  been  made  at  the  registration  port,  the  Vessel  Registrar  shall  recall such registration certificate and shall revoke it;    
  2. If  the  transfer  has  been  made  outside  the  registration port,  a  vessel  registrar  or  a  Thai consulate official, as the case may be, shall recall the registration certificate and send the report of the matter and the certificate together  with  documents  as specified in  paragraph  three of the  preceding section to  the Vessel Registrar of the registration port for revoking such registration.    

Section 29.  If the ownership of a registered Thai vessel has passed to any person by means otherwise  than  juristic  act,  such  person  shall  submit  the  registration  certificate  together with  the  certifying statement  and any  evidence  relevant to his  or  her  nationality  to  the Vessel  Registrar  of  the registration  port within ninety days from the date of the ownership has been vested to him or her.    For this purpose,  the  Vessel Registrar of the  registration port shall  have  power to summon any person or other relevant evidence for making an inquiry.  

Section  30.    If  the  ownership  of  a  registered  Thai  vessel  has  passed  onto  any  person qualified  to  hold  an  ownership  of a  Thai vessel  under  section  7  by  means otherwise than  juristic  act, such person  shall lodge a  written  application  together with the relevant evidence  with  the  Vessel  Registrar of  the registration port for registering such vessel in his or her own name within the period of time as specified in the preceding section.    Upon receiving the application and relevant evidence, if the Vessel  Registrar considers that there are reasonable grounds to believe so, he or she shall, within seven days, post up such application at the registration port and advertise it in a newspaper at the applicant own expenses according to the provisions of the Ministerial Regulation.    When the period of  thirty  days from the date  of the publication has elapsed and there is no any objection, the Vessel Registrar shall recall the registration certificate from the applicant for examination.  If the Vessel Registrar  has satisfied the  relevant  evidence, he  or she  shall  record the matter  in the registration book and shall make a note thereof in the registration certificate as requested.     If there is an objection within such period of thirty days, the Vessel Registrar shall notify  the objector to bring the case before the court within fifteen days days.  During such fifteen-day period, the Vessel Registrar shall refrain from making any record or note thereto.  If the objector has not brought the case before the  court  within  the  specified  period,  the  Vessel  Registrar  shall  proceed  with  the  case  as  provided  in  the preceding paragraph.  If the objector has brought the case before the court, the  Vessel  Registrar shall delay the proceeding until the court has passed a final judgement, then proceed the case accordingly.     

Section 31.   In the case  where the ownership of a  registered  Thai  vessel has passed onto other person  not  qualified  to  hold  an  ownership  of  a Thai  vessel under  section 7  by means otherwise than juristic act or the owner of the vessel  has been disqualified by any reason whatsoever, if such person wishes the vessel  continue  to be  a  Thai  vessel,  he  or she  shall  arrange for  the transfer  the  ownership  thereof  to  a qualified person under section 7 within ninety days from the date the vessel has passed onto him or her or the date  of disqualification,  as  the  case  may  be.    If  not  wishing  so,  the  owner  of  the  vessel  shall  lodge  an application  with  the  Vessel  Registrar  of  the  registration  port  for  revoking  such  registration  within  the  same ninety-day period.      

If  the  ninety-day  period  has  elapsed  and  the  owner  of  the  vessel  has  not  made  any arrangement,  it  shall  be  deemed  that  he  or  she  wishes  such  vessel  continue  to  be  a  Thai  vessel.    Upon requested by the Harbour Department, the public prosecutor shall, within thirty days from the date the period of ninety days has elapsed, have the power to lodge with the court a request for an order to sale such vessel by auction to a person qualified to hold an ownership of a Thai vessel under section 7.  When the  vessel  has been sold, the net price after deducted by the amount of fees and expenses shall be paid to a person to be entitled thereto.    

During  the  transfer proceeding, such vessel  shall  be deemed a  Thai vessel.   If the transfer has not been made under paragraph two, such vessel shall not be deemed a Thai vessel if the period of one hundred  and  eighty  days from  the  day the  vessel  belongs  to  a  person  not  qualified  to  hold the  ownership thereof has elapsed.  When such period has elapsed, the Vessel Registrar shall revoke the registration of such vessel.    

Section 32.  If the shares of a partnership  of a  limited company that owns a registered Thai vessel  has  been  transferred  to other  person  by  juristic  act or  by  other means, the  managing  partner  or  the managing director, as the case  may be, shall inform the Vessel Registrar of the registration port of the matter within  thirty  days  from  the  day  such  matter  has  known  to  him  or  her,  together  with  a  report  regarding nationality of a new shareholder.        

For  this  purpose,  the  Vessel  Registrar  shall  have  power  to  summon  any  person  or  other relevant evidence for making an inquiry.  

Section 32 bis.10  In the case where section 7 ter (2) or (3) or section 7 quarter (2) has been violated, a juristic person holding  an ownership of a registered Thai vessel that violation has been committed shall do as follows: 

  1. to  notify  the Vessel  Registrar  of  the  registration  port  in  writing of  such violation  within seven days from the day such violation has been known or should have been known; 
  2. to stop using such vessel according to the following rules and conditions: 
  • (a) In case  of  a  registered  Thai  vessel under  section  7, if  such  juristic  person is not qualified  to  hold an  ownership  of  the  vessel  under that  section  but  qualified under  section  7  bis,  the use  of such vessel for  engaging in trading in Thai  waters  shall be ceased immediately.  If such juristic person is not qualified  under section 7  bis, the use  of  such vessel  for transportation or  pulling  purpose  according  to law, resolutions of the cabinet, or international agreements, shall also be ceased immediately.  Provided that in the case where the violation becomes known during the time the vessel is being used for transportation or pulling purpose, the use of such vessel shall continue until it has arrived at a port or place agreed by the consignor or employer;  
  • (b) In case of a registered Thai vessel under section 7 bis, if such juristic person is not qualified  to  continue  holding  an  ownership  of  the  vessel  under  that  section,  the  use  of  such  vessel  for transportation  or  pulling  purpose  according  to  law,  resolutions  of  the  cabinet,  or  international  agreements, shall be  ceased  immediately.    If  the  violation  becomes  known  during  the time  the  vessel  is being  used  for transportation  or  pulling  objects,  the use of  such vessel  shall continue  until it has  arrived  at  a  port  or place agreed by the consignor or employer.      

Section 33.  If a partner of a partnership who owns a registered Thai vessel is not qualified to be  an owner  thereof  under  section  7,  the  Vessel  Registrar  of  the  registration  port shall  revoke such  vessel registration, unless his or her shares has been transferred to a person qualified  thereto within sixty days from the date of such disqualification.     

Section 34.  If a number of shares  of a  limited company who owns  a registered Thai vessel becomes  defected  resulting  to  the  disqualification  to  hold  an  ownership  of  the  vessel under  section  7,  an interested person or a public prosecutor shall, within ninety days from the day such disqualification known to him or her, as the case  may be,  lodge with a court a request for an  order the sale such defected shares by auction to a person qualified to hold an ownership of a Thai vessel under section 7.    

Regarding the defected shares that has to be sold by auction, if the number of such shares is  exceeding  the  number  necessary  for  sale  by  auction,  the  auction  shall  begin  from  the share  bearing smallest number to those bearing bigger numbers respectively, until it meets the number of shares that makes the company a qualified owner under section 7.  The rest of the shares need not to be sold out.    The auction  thereof  shall  be  completed  within  ninety  days  from  the  date  of  first advertisement.  Within such period, if the total amount of shares that makes the company a qualified owner of the vessel has not been sold, the Vessel Registrar of the registration port shall revoke the registration of such vessel.    

Section 35.  If the majority numbers of directors of a limited company who owns a registered Thai vessel is not in accordance with the provision of section 7, the managing director of such company shall inform  the  Vessel Registrar  of  the registration port  of  the matter within thirty days  from the  days  such matter  known  to  him  or  her.    Within  such  period,  if  the correctness  thereof  has  not  been  made,  the  Vessel Registrar port shall revoke the registration of such vessel. For  this  purpose,  the  Vessel  Registrar  shall  have  power  to summon  any  person  or  other relevant evidence for making an inquiry.    

Section 35 bis.  In the case where section 7 ter (2) or (3) or section 7 quarter (2) has been violated but a  juristic person holding an ownership of a registered Thai vessel has not known  to that violation or has not consented thereto, it shall proceed as follows:

  1. If such juristic person is a person who holds an  ownership of a  registered  Thai Vessel under section 7 and  lacks of the qualifications  thereof  but still  qualified under  section 7 bis, section 34  shall apply thereto mutatis mutandis.   If such juristic person is not  qualified under section 7  bis, section 33  or 34 shall apply thereto mutatis mutandis, as the case may be; 
  2. If such juristic person is a person who holds an  ownership of a  registered  Thai Vessel under section 7 bis and lacks of the qualifications thereof, section 34 shall apply thereto mutatis mutandis.   

Chapter 4 Mortgage and Preferential Rights in Registered Thai Vessels  

Section 36.   A  mortgage contract  of  a  registered  Thai  vessel shall  be  made  in  the printed form of the Harbour Department and shall be registered before the Vessel Registrar of the registration port of such vessel.    The  above-mentioned  vessel  shall  be  deemed  an  immovable  property  in  relation  to preferential  rights under  sections 273 to 276 of the  Civil and  Commercial  Code  and  those  provisions of law shall apply  hereto mutatis mutandis.   The Vessel  Registrar of  the  registration port of such  vessel  shall  be a relevant competent official.    The registration of the mortgage under the previous two paragraphs shall be recorded in the registration book and noted in the registration certificate of the vessel.    

Section 37.  If the proceeding under the preceding section needs to be carried out outside the  registration  port,  a  vessel  registrar  or  a  Thai  consulate  official  at  any  port,  as  the case  may  be,  shall perform the duty of the Vessel Registrar of the registration port.  In the registration certificate, there shall be a note of such fact and the copy thereof shall be sent to the Vessel Registrar of the registration port immediately.    Upon receiving such copy, the Vessel Registrar of the registration port shall record such fact in the registration book.                                                            

Chapter 5 Names of Vessels, Modification of Vessels, Change in Registration Ports, Registration, Amendment and New Registration of Vessels  

Section  38.    A  registered  Thai  vessel  shall  not  bear  other  name  than  that  already  been registered.  The registered name of  the  vessel may be changed only with the permission of Director-General of the  Harbour  Department.    The change  of  a  vessel  name shall  be  made  according  the  provisions  of  the Ministerial Regulation. 

Section 39.  When the permission to change  a vessel name has been  granted, the  change thereof  in  the  registration  book,  the  registration  certificate  or  other  appropriate documents, as  well  as  the advertisement thereof, shall be made according the provisions of the Ministerial Regulation.    

Section 40.   If  there has  been any  modification to the  hull  or any  part  of  a  registered  Thai vessel  different  from  particulars  appeared  in  the  registration  certificate,  the  vessel controller  shall  inform  a vessel registrar  or  a Thai consulate offer at the  port where  the modification  has  been made immediately.   If there is  no  such  official at  that  port,  it shall  be informed  at the  next  arrival port  that  has the  official  of such position there.  

Section 41.  In informing the modification under the preceding section, the vessel controller shall also produce the certificate of survey of the survey officer of the Harbour Department for examination.   If  the  vessel  registrar  to  be  informed  of  the  matter  is  not  the  Vessel  Registrar  of  the registration port,  such registrar  shall note  such modification  in the  registration certificate  and append  his or her signature thereto, then report the matter to the Vessel Registrar of the registration port immediately. 

Section  42.  In  informing  the  modification  to  a  Thai consulate  official  under  section  40,  the vessel controller shall also produce the certificate of survey of the survey officer of the Harbour Department, or if  there  is  none,  the  certificate issued  by  a  person  specified  by  the  Harbour  Department  or  an  equivalent thereto, for examination.   The  Thai  consulate  official  shall  note  such  modification  in  the  registration  certificate  and append  his  or  her  signature  thereto,  then  report  the  matter  to  the  Vessel  Registrar  of  the  registration  port immediately together with the certified copy of the certificate of survey.    

Section 43.  Upon receiving the report on such modification and the relevant documents, the Vessel  Registrar  of  the  registration port shall  make an  order  to register  such  modification and issue  a  new registration certificate.    If the vessel  is  not  at  the registration port, the Vessel  Registrar of the  registration  port  shall send  the  new  registration  certificate  to  the vessel  registrar  or  the  Thai  consulate  official  who  has  been informed of the modification, as the case may be.    

Upon  receiving  the  new  registration  certificate,  the  vessel  controller  shall  return  the  old registration certificate to the Vessel Registrar of the registration port for further  proceeding as provided in the Ministerial Regulation.    

Section  44.    A  registered  Thai  vessel  may  be  requested  to  transfer  for  registration  at any other  port  within  the  Kingdom  of  Thailand.   The  application  therefor  shall  be  made  in  writing  to  the  Vessel Registrar of the registration port by every interested person appeared in the registration book.    If  there  is  an application  under  the  preceding  paragraph,  the Vessel  Registrar  of  the registration port  shall notify  the  permission thereto,  together  with copies of documents  relating  to the vessel and names of every interested person appeared in the registration book, to a vessel registrar of the port where the transfer of registration has been requested for.    When  the  relevant  documents  has been  received, a vessel  registrar  of  the new  port  shall record such document  items  and  names of the person in the registration book, then issue a new registration certificate and recall back the old certificate.   This port shall be a new registration port of such vessel and the name of the port appeared on the hull of vessel shall be changed to the new name.    

Section 45.  The registration of Thai vessel shall be terminated by any cause as specified in section  22.   When  the  registration  has  been  terminated  by reason that the vessel has lost, destroyed  on fire, damaged or  abandoned,  such  vessel shall  be requested  for a  new  registration only  by  complying with  the provisions of section 12.  In this case, the registration fee shall be paid therefor.    The registration fee under this section shall be collected in full amount or in part  depending on the circumstances as specified in the Ministerial Regulation.     Section  46.    A  vessel  that  never  been  registered  as  a  Thai  vessel,  if  the  request  for  a registration to be  a Thai  vessel  is made,  it shall bear its name at the time of application.  In case of a vessel having been registered as a Thai vessel, it shall bear its name at the time of application, but in the application, the applicant must state its last name bore at the time the registration of Thai vessel has terminated.   

Chapter 6 Privileges and Duties of Thai Vessels 

Section 47.  Unless agreed otherwise with other countries, Thai vessels registered under this Act and  vessels  the size  of which  is smaller than  that  specified  in  section  8  for engaging  in  trading in  Thai waters only belonging to a person under section 7, shall engage in trading in Thai waters.    The  provision  of  the preceding paragraph shall  not  apply  to  a vessel,  the  size  of  which  is smaller  than that specified  in section  8 for  engaging  in trading  in  Thai  waters,  of  a  natural person  who  is a foreigner.     

Section  47 bis.   In  the  case  where  the  Minister  has  considered  that the  number of  Thai vessels operating in any part of Thai waters is not enough for the demand of the country, he or she shall have power  to  grant permission  to  a vessel of a  person  not qualified to hold  an ownership  of  a Thai vessel under section  7 to carry out  activity under section 47.  The period of the permission shall not exceed one year and the permitted person shall comply with the conditions imposed by the Minister.    

Section 48.   No  person  who  are  not  qualified  to  hold an ownership  of a  Thai  vessel under section  7 shall lease or take by other means a Thai vessel the size of which  is  that specified in section 8  for engaging  in  trading  in  Thai  waters  and  registered  under  this  Act,  and  use  it  to  engage  in  trading  in  Thai waters.    

Section 49.  During the time of using  a registered Thai vessel,  there  must be the following documents kept regularly with the vessel:

  1. A registration certificate or a temporary registration certificate, as the case may be; 
  2. Any certificate of survey; 
  3. Crew contracts; 
  4. A vessel leasing contract, if any; 
  5. Bills of lading, if any; 
  6. A manifest, if any; 
  7. A log book of the vessel; 
  8. A certificate of port clearance or a permission to depart from a port, if any. 

The  Minister  shall  have  power  to  exempt  any  item  of  documents  under  paragraph  one, except a registration certificate or a temporary registration certificate, by Ministerial Regulation. The documents under paragraph one may be used as evidence of nationality of the vessel.  If  not  provided otherwise in this  Act,  language  and  form  of  the  documents  shall  be  in accordance  with  the Ministerial Regulation.    

Section 50.  Every crew of a registered Thai vessel under section 7 for engaging in trading in Thai waters shall be a person of Thai nationality.    Crews of  a registered Thai vessel under section 7 bis  for engaging in international maritime transport  shall  comprise  of  a  person  of  Thai  nationality  in  a  proportion  as  specified  in  the  Ministerial Regulation.    

Section 51.  Only Thai vessels shall be entitled to fly  the Thai flag.  Any vessel that is not a Thai  vessel flying the Thai flag  to identify  itself a  Thai vessel  shall  be  deemed to violate the provision of this Act.                                                         

Section 52.  The vessel controller shall manage for flying the Thai flag when: 

  1. A vessel  of the Royal  Thai  Navy or  a vessel  performing the duties  under this Act or a person with legal authority has given it a signal to fly a nationality flag; 
  2. The vessel is sailing pass a Thai or foreign war vessel; 
  3. The vessel is entering into or departing from a Thai and foreign port; 
  4. The vessel is anchoring at a Thai port during 8 a.m. to sunset time. 

The  Minister  shall  have  power  to  exempt  vessels  of  certain  sizes  not  to  comply  with  the provision of this section by issuing a Ministerial Regulation.    

Section 53.   No controller  or  owner of any  Thai vessel  shall commit  any  act intentionally in order to mislead a survey officer to understand that such vessel is a foreign vessel.    

Section 54.   Any vessel  of  a person under  section  7 qualified  for  a Thai vessel registration under this Act but has not yet been registered, or has been registered as a Thai vessel but the registration has terminated by any cause as specified in section 22, shall not be entitled to any privilege to be vested to a Thai vessel  under  this  Act.    However,  it  shall  be  liable  for  a  fee,  to  be  confiscated  and  liable  for  any  offence committed in the vessel or by the crew.   The prosecution of the vessel shall be made in the same manner as doing with a registered Thai vessel.   

Chapter 7 Miscellaneous Provisions

Section  55.    In  the  case  of  an  offence  under  this  Act  or  an  offence  committed  in  a  Thai vessel,  the following competent  officials shall  be deemed  an  administrative  officer  or  superior  police  officer under the Penal Code when he or she performs any action under sections 78 and 92 of such Code: 

  1. A master of harbour or a person acting on his or her behalf; 
  2. A commissioned officer acing  the following  duties,  i.e., the  commander  of  the fort, the commander of the vessel, or the commander of the naval forces;  
  3. A fishery official or a custom official in the position under a section chief and upwards;
  4. Other competent official appointed by the Minister for this purpose. 

For the purpose of this section, a fishery official or custom official in the position lower than a position under a section chief shall be deemed an administrative official or a police officer.    

Section 56.  Subject to section 57, the competent official shall, in the following cases, have the power to detain a vessel or seize any document relevant thereto:    

  1. There appears a violation of section  7 ter, 7 quarter, 11, 20 paragraph one, 29, 30, 38 paragraph one, 40, 41 paragraph one, 47, 47 bis, 48, 49,50, 51, or 53; 
  2. There  appears other  offence committed  in the  vessel and  the  highest  penalty of such offence is the imprisonment of ten years and upwards or death penalty.     

Section  57.    The  following  competent  officials  shall  have  the  power  to  detain  a  vessel  or seize a document under the preceding paragraph: 1. An  administrative  officer  and  a superior  police  officer  under  the  Penal  Code  and subsections 1, 2 and 4 of section 55; 2. A custom official in the position of head of division and upwards The detention or seizure thereof shall not be made for a period longer than two days without permission  from  the  court.      

The  counting  of  the  period  of  time  in  case  the  vessel  is  at  a  Thai  port  shall commence on the date of detention or seizure.  If the vessel is not at a Thai port, such vessel shall be brought to a Thai port immediately.  In such case, the counting shall commence on the date of arrival to the Thai port. If the competent official  deems appropriate to extend the period of  the  detention or  seizure for longer than two days, he or she shall lodge a request with the court within such period.  In such case, the competent official shall have power to continue  the  detention or the seizure  until the decision of the court  of first instance has been passed.  The decision of the court shall be final. The competent official or the court by the request of the competent official, as the case may be,  shall  detain  the  vessel  or  seize  the  document  until  the  provisions  of  this  Act  that  are  violated  or  the demand under other law has already been complied with. 

Section 57 bis.  In case of the violation of section 7 ter (1) or section 7 quarter (1), or  the violation of section 7 ter (2) or (3), or section 7 quarter (2) with a knowledge or consent of a juristic person who holds  the  ownership of a  registered  Thai vessel, the Vessel Registrar  of  the  registration port shall  revoke  the registration of such vessel.    

Section  58.    In  the  proceeding  of  registration,  recording  of  particulars,  amendment  or revocation thereof which has to be done under this Act, any person summoned by the Vessel Registrar should produce  the relevant evidence so as to satisfy  the  Vessel Registrar that he or she has already complied with every condition imposed by this Act or the Ministerial Regulation.    

Section 59.   During  regular working  hour, any interested person shall, upon paying fees  at the rate  specified  in  the Ministerial Regulation, be  entitled to  examine  particulars  in  the registration  book  of Thai vessels of any registration port, the relevant documents or other evidence that the Director-General of the Harbour  Department  deems  appropriate,  as  well  as to  make  a  certified  copy  of  a  whole  or  part  of  the document thereof. 

Section  60.    The  Harbour  Department  shall,  from  time  to  time,  make  a  brief  statement  of registration of Thai vessels for publication in the Government Gazette without delay.    

Section 61.  A master of harbour shall have the power to make a settlement of a case where the penalty of an offence is only a fine.

Section 62.  17 The Minister of Transport shall take charge and control of the execution of this Act, and shall have the power to appoint a competent official and to issue Ministerial regulation fixing the rates of  fees not exceeding  the  rate  in the Schedule annexed hereto, and to determine other activities for  carrying out this Act.    Such Ministerial Regulations shall come into force upon their publication  in the Government Gazette.  

Chapter 8 Penalty Provisions

Section 62 bis.  Any natural  person of Thai nationality, juristic person qualified to hold the ownership of a registered Thai vessel under section 7 or 7  bis, or limited company or limited public company qualified to hold the  ownership of a registered Thai vessel under section 7 bis, who violates the provisions of section 7 ter or 7 quarter shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding five years and a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand Baht. A foreigner who  employs or  consents other person to commit the violation under paragraph one shall be liable to the same penalty as the violator. Section  63  ter.  In  the  case  where  a  juristic  person  has  committed  the  offence  under section  62 bis, the managing  partner, managing director,  manager, or  representative of such juristic person, shall also be liable to the same penalty as provided in that section, unless it shall prove that he or she has not known or consented to the commission of the offence.    

Section 63.  Any person who violates the provisions of sections 11, 17, 18 paragraphs one, two  or  three,  19,  20  paragraph  one,  22,  25  paragraph  two,  26  paragraph  one,  29 paragraph  one,  30 paragraph one, 32 paragraph one, 35 paragraph one, 38 paragraph one, 40, or 52, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred Baht.                                            

Section 63 bis. 20  Any juristic person holding an ownership of a registered Thai vessel, who fails to comply with section 32 bis, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand Baht.    Section 63 ter.  21 Any juristic person  holding an ownership of a registered Thai vessel, who fails to comply with section 32 bis (2), shall be liable to a daily fine at the rate of three Baht per gross tonnage during the time of violation.    

Section  64.    Any  vessel  controller  who  violates  section  49  shall  be  liable  to  a  fine  not exceeding five hundred Baht.    If the offence is relevant to a registration certificate or a temporary registration certificate, the offender shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand Baht or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or to both.    

Section 65. If a vessel controller violates section 47, the condition imposed by the Minister under section 47 bis, section 50, or section 51, he or she shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand Baht or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or to both.    

Section 66. Any person who violated section 48 shall be liable  to  a fine not exceeding two thousand Baht or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or to both.    

Section 67. Any  person who  violated section 53  shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand Baht or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or to both.    

Section 68. In case of the violation of section 47 or  51, the court may  confiscate the vessel, its accessories, benefits from using such vessel, or the object used in the violation.   

Chapter 9 Transitory Provisions

Section 69.  Any sea vessel the size of which is that specified in section 8 for trading in Thai waters belonging  to  a person not qualified to hold an  ownership of a  Thai  vessel  under section 7  registered and given  a license  from the Harbour Department prior to the date  of  publication of this Act shall,  within  the period  of  three  years  from  the  date  this  Act  comes  into  force,  engage  in  activity  under  section  47  and  51 paragraph one, but it shall be subject to the provisions of this Act, except section 7, section 8 and the related provisions.

Any  river  vessel  the  size  of  which  is  that  specified  in  section  8  for  trading  in  Thai  waters belonging to a person not qualified to hold an ownership of a Thai vessel under section 7 given a license from the Harbour Department prior to the date of publication of this Act shall, within the period of two years from the date  this  Act  comes  into  force,  engage  in  activity  under  section  47  and  51  paragraph  one,  but  it  shall  be subject to the provisions of this Act, except section 7, section 8 and the related provisions.  

When the period of three or two  years, as the case may be, has elapsed, if the Minister  has considered that a number of Thai vessels engaging under section 47 in any part of Thai waters is not enough for the demand of the country, he  or she shall have power to grant permission to any vessel  of  a person  not qualified to hold an ownership of a registered Thai vessel under section 7 to continue its activity under section 47  for  a period not  exceeding  two years.   In such  case,  such vessel  shall comply  with the  conditions to  be imposed by the Minister as deems appropriate.    During the period of three or two years, as the case may be, if the vessel under  this section has any change in the rate of its freight or fares without permission of the Minister, or the vessel permitted by the Minister to continue its activity under section 47 has violated the conditions imposed by the Minister, such vessel shall not be entitled to enjoy the benefit under this section.     

Section  70.  Within  the  period of  five  years from the  date  this  Act  comes  into  force,  if it  is considered that a number of  person to be a crew of a vessel is not enough for the  demand of  the  country or there has been other reasonable causes to grant a special temporary  permission, the Director-General of the Harbour  Department  shall,  with  the  approval of  the  Minister, have power to  decline the restriction regarding numbers,  qualifications  and  knowledge,  and  position  numbers  of  crews  to  be  in  service  on  a  vessel  as provided under section 50.      

In  applying  for  the above  permission, the controller or the owner  of  the vessel or  his  or her representative  shall  lodge  an  application  in  writing  with  the  Director-General  of  the Harbour  Department. During the consideration period, the provisions of section 50 shall not apply to the vessel. The permission thereto shall be made by issuing a certificate specifying type of crews, their knowledge,  permitted  period,  and  other  matters  to  the  applicant  for  the  purpose  of  producing  it  to  the competent official at the time of inspection.        

Counter-signature: Piboolsongkram Prime Minster

Note: English translations of the original Thai law texts are prepared for reference purposes only. Only the Thai script versions, as published in the royal Thai government gazette (ราชกิจจานุเบกษา), shall have legal force in Thailand.