Section 231: Port clearances

231. Port clearances (1) Subject to subsection (3), every ship intending to leave a Port shall apply for, not later than 6 hours prior to the expected time of departure, a port clearance from the Director which shall be valid for 24 hours as from the expected time of departure. (2) Where a ship has not been able to sail within the validity period of the port clearance issued under subsection (1), the master of the ship shall report to the Director his reasons for not sailing and shall apply for a fresh port clearance from the Director. Acts 2024 517 (3) The Director shall withhold the issue of a port clearance to a ship where – (a) an arrest order has been issued by the Court; (b) an objection to departure has been raised by any Ministry or Government department; (c) an investigation into a shipping casualty is ongoing, provided that the ship is not unduly delayed; or (d) the ship fails to produce such document as required by the Director for the issue of the port clearance. (4) A port clearance issued under this section may be in the form of an electronic document.