Section 25: Interpretation

(1)
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"Chief Judge" means the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court;
"Court" means the Federal High Court;
"foreign ship" means a ship that is not registered under the Merchant Shipping Act;
[Cap. M11.]
"freight" includes passage money and hire;
"hovercraft" means a vessel that is an air cushion vehicle or a similar vehicle, used wholly or principally in navigation by water;
"initiating process" includes a third party notice;
"inland waters" means waters within Nigeria other than waters of the sea;
"inland waterways vessel" means a vessel that is used or intended to be used wholly on inland waters;
"master" in relation to a ship, means a person who has command or charge of the ship;
"member of the crew" in relation to a ship, means a person employed or engaged in any capacity on board the ship on the business of the ship other than-
(a) the master of the ship; or
(b) a person who has the conduct of the ship as the compulsory pilot of the ship; or
(c) a person temporarily employed on the ship in port;
"mortgage" in relation to a ship or a share in a ship, includes a hypothecation or pledge of and a charge on the ship or share, whether at law or in equity and whether arising under the law in force in a part of Nigeria or elsewhere;
"relevant person" in relation to a maritime claim, means a person who would be liable on the claim in a proceeding commenced on an action in personam;
"sea" includes all waters within the ebb and flow of the tide;
"ship" means a vessel of any kind used or constructed for use in navigation by water, however it is propelled or moved and includes-
(a) a barge, lighter or other floating vessel, including a drilling rig;
(b) a hovercraft;
(c) an off-shore industry mobile unit; and
(d) a vessel that has sunk or is stranded and the remains of such vessel, but does not include a vessel under construction that has not been launched.
(2) A reference in this Act to the time when a proceeding is commenced is a reference to the time when the initiating process in relation to the proceeding is filed in or issued by the Court.