Captains of Bermuda-registered ships will soon be able to perform marriages on the high seas if MPs back a new law.

Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said the new law would be a big attraction for cruise ships considering registering their vessels in Bermuda.

"It's quite a coup for Bermuda -- it will be discussed in due course,'' Ms Cox said. "But there are some ships which come under the Bermuda Registry of Ships who will find this very attractive.'' She explained that the Bermuda Registry expected several new vessels to come under its flag in the near future.

She added many of the ships' previous flags of registry -- like the UK -- allowed ships' masters to perform weddings at sea.

Ms Cox said: "This is not uncommon in other jurisdictions -- and there are a significant number of cruise ships who would like this and who will be coming under our Registry.'' Ms Cox added the new law -- the Maritime Marriage Act 1999 -- also laid down strict rules governing marriages at sea.

She said: "The main thing is we have got to make sure we have proper documentation and people who are deemed to be marriage officers.'' Under the new bill, Registrar General Marlene Christopher will hold a list of ships' captains licensed by the Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety to carry out marriages.

Only civil marriages will be allowed -- the bill makes no allowance for religious marriages at sea.

Masters of vessels will also have to keep a special log of marriages and forward copies for registration in Bermuda.

Would-be-married couples will also have to give at least two weeks notice of the proposed marriage, which will be posted in the Registrar's office and published in two Island-based newspapers.

But the bill also allows marriage by special licence and marriage in extremis -- when one of the parties is dying -- which can be carried out at the discretion of the captain of a ship.