Section 59: Power to inspect International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificates

59. Power to inspect International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificates (1) (a) Where a vessel is in a port, the Authority shall have power to inspect the vessel for the purpose of verifying that there is on board a valid International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate in the form prescribed under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. (b) Where there are clear grounds for believing that the condition of the vessel or its equipment does not correspond substantially to the particulars of that certificate, or where the vessel does not carry a valid certificate, the Authority shall— (i) take such steps as it may consider necessary to ensure that the vessel shall not sail until it can proceed to sea without presenting an unreasonable threat of harm to the marine environment; and (ii) report the matter to the Director of Shipping. P14 – 27 [Issue 1] Ports Act (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), the Authority may permit the vessel to leave the port for the purposes of proceeding to the nearest appropriate repair yard. (2) If any vessel fails to comply with any requirement duly made in pursuance of subsection (1), the owner or master shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 50,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years. (3) If any person wilfully obstructs a person acting in the exercise of any power conferred by virtue of this section, he shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding 10,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.