Section 133: Duty of finder of wreck

133. Duty of finder of wreck (1) Any person who finds or takes possession of any wreck in Mauritius waters or finds or takes possession of any wreck outside Mauritius waters and brings it within those waters shall— (a) where he is the owner of it, give notice to the Receiver stating that he has found or taken possession of it and describing the marks by which it may be recognised; or (b) where he is not the owner of it, give notice to the Receiver that he has found or taken possession of it and, as directed by the Receiver, either hold it to the Receiver’s order or deliver it to the Receiver. (2) Any person who fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with subsection (1) shall— (a) forfeit any claim to salvage; and (b) be liable to pay twice the value of the wreck— (i) if it is claimed, to the owner of the wreck; or (ii) if it is unclaimed, to the person entitled to the wreck. (3) Where a vessel is wrecked, stranded or in distress at any place on or near the coast of Mauritius, any cargo or other article belonging to or separated from the vessel which is washed on shore or otherwise lost or taken from the vessel shall be delivered to the Receiver. (4) The Receiver or a person authorised by him may take any such cargo or article, if necessary by force, from any person who refuses to deliver it. M62 – 69 [Issue 2] Merchant Shipping Act