(1)

Every Judge, assessor, officer or other person who is empowered by this Act to make an investigation or inquiry or to board, survey, inspect or detain a ship-

(a) may go on board any ship and inspect the same or any part thereof, or any of the machinery, equipment or articles on board thereof, or any certificates of the master or other officer to which the provisions of this Act or any of the rules or regulations thereunder apply, not unnecessarily detaining or delaying the ship from proceeding on any voyage, and if in consequence of any incident to the ship or for any other reason it is considered necessary so to do, may require the ship to be taken into dock for the purpose of inspection or survey;

(b) may enter and inspect any premises, the entry and inspection of which appears to be requisite for the purpose aforesaid;

(c) may, by summons under his hand, require the attendance of all such persons as he thinks fit to call before him and examine them for the purpose aforesaid, and may require answers or returns to any enquiries he thinks fit to make;

(d) may require and enforce the production of all relevant books, papers, or documents;

(e) may administer oaths or may in lieu of requiring or administering an oath, require every person examined by him to make and subscribe a declaration of the truth of the statements made by him in his examination; and

(f) may muster the crew of any such ship.

(2)

No person shall hinder or obstruct any officer or person referred to in sub-section (1) from going on board any ship or otherwise impede him in the execution of his duties or the exercise of his powers under this Act.

Explanation .-In this section, "ship " includes a sailing vessel.

[454-A. Power to prescribe alternative fittings, etc.-

Where this Act requires that a particular fitting, material, appliances or apparatus or any type thereof shall be fitted or provided for in a ship or that any particular provision shall be made in a ship, the Central Government after satisfying itself by trials or otherwise that any other fitting, material, appliance or apparatus or type thereof or provision is as effective as that so required, may permit, by general or special order, such other fitting, material, appliance or apparatus or type thereof or provision to be used or provided.]