Those under 18 or over 55 were made exempt from impressment into the king's service. The time of service was limited to five years if the serviceman so demanded. Worn out and decrepit seamen no longer being treated at the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich are to receive a pension as determined by the hospital.
In war, the Navy used blockading tactics and attack by fireships grew obsolete. In peace, when not used in convoys to remote lands, many ships of war were used as cruisers to guard the coast and trade and to accompany merchant ships going out and returning home. About 1755, marine forces of the navy were raised and quartered on shore.
No war ship may carry goods except gold, silver, and jewels and except the goods of a ship in danger of shipwreck or already shipwrecked.
The king was authorized to prohibit the export of gunpowder, saltpeter, ammunition, and arms.
When a ship had been forced on shore or stranded on the coast, it had been the practice for people to plunder it and to demand high payment for salvaging its goods. So a statute required that salvage only be done by sheriff, mayors, and other officials. A person who defacing the marks on goods or hindering the saving of the ship had to pay double satisfaction to the person aggrieved and spend 12 months at hard labor in a House of Correction. If a person unduly carried off goods, he forfeited treble damages. If he made a hole in the ship or stole the pump from the ship, he was guilty of felony without benefit of clergy.
The owner of the island of Skerries was allowed to erect a lighthouse and charge passing ships other than Navy ships 1d. per tun.
Only pilots examined and admitted into the society of pilots and, if no such pilot is readily available, a ship's own owner, master, or mate may pilot ships up the Thames River, or forfeit 10 pounds for the first offense, 20 pounds for the second, and 40 pounds thereafter. Any pilot losing a ship may no longer be a pilot. There must be at least 120 qualified pilots. The prices of piloting are 3 pounds 10s. for ships drawing 7 feet of water, and 10s. more for each additional foot drawn up to 8 pounds 10s. for ships drawing 17 feet of water.
To preserve navigation, ships may not throw any ballast, rubbish, gravel, earth, stone, or filth into rivers or ports where the tide or water flows or runs or forfeit 50s.- 5 pounds. Ships on the Thames River may take as ballast to stabilize a ship without cargo: dung, compost, earth, or soil from laystalls in London.
Many persons insuring ships for large premiums became bankrupt, thus ruining or impoverishing many merchants and traders. So the king was authorized to grant charters to two distinct corporations for the insurance of ships, goods, and merchandise or going to sea or for lending money upon bottomry (money to be repaid upon return of ship). Each corporation had to pay 300,000 pounds to the Exchequer and to have sufficient ready money to pay for losses insured by them. They were to raise capital stock and could make calls of money from their members in proportion to their stocks for any further money required.
Any owner, master, or mariner who casts away, burns, or otherwise destroys to the prejudice of underwriters of policies of insurance or of any merchants whose goods have been loaded on the ship shall suffer death.