The Maritime Registry Edict

[The King Of The Moon 7016]

THE MARITIME REGISTRY EDICT

 

Be it known by all captains, crewmen, portmasters and shipwrights both presently within the realms of Man and abroad that by order of his Imperial Majesty, all seaworthy vessels larger than the standard rowboat intending to travel the maritime realm of Holy Orenia are hereby commanded to send forth proper documents, identifying their vessel as follows:

 

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Ship’s Name:

Captain:

Ship’s Appearance (by detailed description or sketch):

Estimated Crew Size:

National/ Mercantile Affiliation: 

Type of Ship:

Origin of Ship (Note: All civilian vessels of Aeldinic origin must be reported to the Imperial Navy for investigation on suspicion of smuggling. Failure to comply will result in accusations of piracy):

 

Is this ship pledged by its current captain to serve in or assist the Imperial Navy at the request of its Admiralty in times of war? (If not, a tax of 200 minae must be paid to the royal treasury for every saint’s month it is to stay docked in Orenian waters. Furthermore, vassal states will be permitted to add on bonus taxes to unpledged ships as they please):

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Accompanying the register come the first three of the Orenian Maritime Decrees.

 

1. All unregistered vessels larger than a rowboat will henceforth be detained on sight by the Imperial Navy, its cargo seized and its crew subject to immediate piracy trials atop a five hundred mina fine for every passenger found onboard.
2. All unregistered vessels of any size found unmanned in Orenian waters will be assumed property of his Imperial Majesty and may be legally seized by representatives from the Imperial Navy if not first by the closest corresponding vassal’s own forces.
3. All unregistered vessels of any size found in the waters surrounding Helana will be presumed to be a threat to the capital and the Adrian port, to be in turn detained on sight or sank by the Imperial Navy unless manned by soldiers fighting in that moment on behalf of the Holy Orenian Empire and its people.

 

The registry and the subsequent decrees shall come into effect three saint’s days from the date of initial publication; on the 14th of Harren’s Folley in the year of our Lord, 1730. All captains are advised to apply before then.

Signed, 
Admiral of the fleet, Peter Faust de Vitus, 
First Sea Lord of the Holy Orenian Empire
 

[Burnsider 4566]

Augustus Gates scratches his head. "So, as written, rowboats can't be registered, but all manned rowboats (because none of them are registered) will be sunk unless an Imperial soldier is on it? I've heard of poorly written laws, but sheesh..."