(1) The Minister may by regulations, hereinafter referred to as “the tonnage regulations”—
(a) provide for ascertaining the tonnage of ships;
(b) make different provisions for different descriptions of ships or for the same description of ships in different circumstances;
(c) make any provision of the regulations dependent on compliance with such conditions to be evidenced in such manner as may be specified in the regulations;
(d) prohibit or restrict the carriage of goods or stores in spaces not included in the registered tonnage of a ship and provide for making the master and the owner each liable to a fine of $5,000 when such a prohibition or restriction is contravened.
(2) In the tonnage regulations, provision may be made—
(a) for assigning to a ship, either instead of or as an alternative to the tonnage ascertained in accordance with the other provisions of the regulations, a lower tonnage applicable where the ship is not to be loaded to the full depth to which the ship can otherwise be safely loaded;
(b) for indicating on the ship by such mark as is specified, that such a lower tonnage has been assigned to the ship and, where it has been assigned to the ship as an alternative, the depth to which the ship can be loaded for the lower tonnage to be applicable; and
(c) for the issue of documents certifying the registered tonnage of any ship or the tonnage that is to be taken for any purpose specified as the tonnage of a ship not registered in Saint Lucia.
(3) In making the tonnage regulations the Minister shall have due regard to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships 1969, including any amendments.