(1)The owner of every vessel used or intended to be used for the purpose of fishing and kept in the State shall get his vessel registered under this section.(2)(a)Every application for registration of a vessel shall be made by the owner of such vessel to the Registration Officer in such form, containing such particulars and accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed.(b)the owner of such vessel shall state in the application the port or fisheries harbour from which he intends to operate his vessel.(3)An application for registration of a vessel under sub-section (2) shall-(a)in the case of a vessel existing on the date of the commencement of this Act, be made within three months from the said date, and(b)in the case of any other vessel, be made by the owner thereof within one month, from the date he becomes the owner thereof.(4)The Registration Officer may entertain an application made after the period specified in sub-section (3) if the applicant satisfies the Registration officer that he had sufficient cause for not making the application within the said period.(5)(a)The Registration Officer may, after making such inquiry as he deems fit, either grant or refuse to grant to the owner of vessels a certificate of registration.(b)The certificate of registration be in such form and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.(c)The Registration Officer shall specify in the certificate of registration, the port or fisheries harbour from which the owner of vessel is to operate his vessel.(d)The particulars of certificate of registration shall be entered in the register to be kept in such form as may be prescribed.(6)The certificate of registration granted under sub-section (5) shall be valid for a period of five years from the date on which it is issued, unless it is cancelled earlier, and may be renewed from time to time for a period of five years on payment of such fees as may be prescribed.(7)Every vessel registered under this section shall be assigned a registration mark by the Registration Officer which shall be displayed on the vessel in such manner as may be prescribed.
