Shipping Act (Cap. 53).

The Act concerns the surveying and certification of and other matters regarding construction, operation or navigation of any vessel of Vanuatu means except where otherwise provided in this Act, any vessel not exceeding 500 gross tons engaged primarily in trade between places in Vanuatu, but excludes: (a) the life boats, rafts, work boats or launches which form part of the equipment of a larger vessel and are being used as such; (b) punts, barges or other boats whose sole means of propulsion is by manpower or by towing; (c) canoes of native design and not propelled by an engine. No person shall send or attempt to send or cause or permit to be sent to sea any dangerous goods without: (a) giving due notice to the owner or master of the vessel on which it is intended that they shall be so sent to sea; and (b) marking upon the said goods their description. Any person who knowingly sends or attempts to send, or carries or attempts to carry in any vessel any dangerous goods under a false description, or who falsely describes them, shall be guilty of an offence. The owner or master of any vessel may refuse to take on board any package or parcel which he suspects to contain any dangerous goods.