Where any provision of the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1988 which, by virtue of the Merchant Shipping Act 1906 and this Order, is applicable to Ministry of Defence ships, imposes any duty or liability or confers any right or power upon or contemplates any act being performed by the owner of a ship, such duty, liability, right or power, shall, subject always to the other provisions of this Order, be carried out, borne or exercised by the Secretary of State.