34.—(1) The Minister may make regulations specifying such charts, nautical directions or information or other nautical publications as appear to him or her to be necessary or expedient for the safe operation of vessels and such regulations may require—

(a) Irish ships, or such class or description of such ships as is specified in the regulations, to carry either at all times or on such voyages as is so specified,

(b) vessels which are not Irish ships, or such class or description of such vessels as is so specified, to carry at any time while they are in Irish waters or such of those waters as is so specified,

either a copy of all, or a copy of such as are so specified, of the charts, nautical directions or information or other nautical publications so specified.

(2) If a vessel goes or attempts to go out to sea or into other Irish waters without carrying one copy of any chart, nautical directions or information or other nautical publication which it is by regulations under this section required to carry, the master and the owner of the vessel are each guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000.

(3) The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Nautical Publications) Regulations 1985 (S.I. No. 282 of 1985) if in operation on the commencement of this Act continue in force as if made under this section.

(4) In this section “copy” includes a copy in electronic form which is capable of being read in legible form by the person in command or in charge on board the vessel concerned at all times during the navigation or operation of the vessel.