"register tons"

mean, in relation to a South African ship, the tonnage of the ship, either gross or net as the case may be, recorded in the register mentioned in section 33 of the Ship Registration Act, 1998, and in the case of any other ship, the tonnage accepted or determined by the Minister, Authority or proper officer;

[Definition substituted by item 1(f) (Schedule 2) of Act No. 58 of 1998]