(1)

If the Central Government is of opinion that an appeal to a Court of survey involves a question of construction or design or a scientific difficulty or important principle, it may refer the matter to such one or more out of a list of scientific referees to be from time to time prepared by the Central Government as may appear to possess the special qualifications necessary for the particular case and may be selected by agreement between a person duly appointed by the Central Government in this behalf and the appellant, or in default of any such agreement, by the Central Government; and thereupon the appeal shall be determined by the referee or referees instead of by the Court of survey.

(2)

The Central Government, if the appellant in any such appeal so requires and gives security to its satisfaction to pay the costs of and incidental to the reference, shall refer such appeal to a referee or referees selected as aforesaid.

(3)

The referee or referees shall have the same powers as a Judge of the Court of survey.

Investigations into explosions or fires on board ships