Section 31: Powers of officers

31. Powers of officers (1) Any officer of the Authority, duly authorised by the Port Master, may— (a) board any vessel; (b) examine, measure or weigh any cargo in the vessel or landed from or about to be embarked on the vessel; (c) require any person to give him such information as he may require; (d) remove to a place of storage any article which is obstructing or interfering with the use of port premises; (e) refuse entry to, or departure from, port premises to any person, cargo or vehicle; (f) on reasonable suspicion that any article, the subject matter of any offence against this Act or any subsidiary enactment made under this Act, is being carried by any person or in any vehicle, stop and, subject to subsection (2), search that person or vehicle; and (g) seize any article which is the subject matter of an offence against this Act or any subsidiary enactment made under it. (2) A female shall not be searched under subsection (1) except by a female officer. (3) For the purposes of exercising the powers under this section, the Port Master or any officer duly authorised by him may request the assistance of the Police. [S. 31 amended by s. 3 of Act 21 of 2003 w.e.f. 9 August 2003.]