Harbours Act 1964

23 Powers of inspection, in connection with schemes established by control of movement orders

(1) A person authorised by the Minister for the purposes of this section, on producing if so required some duly authenticated document showing that he is so authorised.—

(a) may at all reasonable times enter any premises or vehicle in which, or any ship or aircraft on board of which, equipment by means of which a scheme established by a control of movement order is, or will fall to be, put into effect is installed or is in course of installation, and inspect and test that equipment;

(b) may, in the case of a ship which is in, or is seeking to enter, a harbour in relation to which a control of movement order is in force or of a ship that he believes to have entered or sought to enter a harbour at a time at which such an order was in force in relation to the harbour, go on board of the ship and inspect it for the purpose of determining whether it is fitted with such equipment as is specified in such provision of the order as has effect by virtue of paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section 20 of this Act or, as the case may be, was fitted with such equipment as, at that time, was so specified, and may inspect and test any equipment with which the ship is fitted, being equipment appearing to him to be of a kind then or at a previous time specified in such provision of such an order as has or, as the case may be, had effect by virtue of that paragraph,

but so that, in exercise of powers conferred by paragraph (b) above in me case of a ship, he does not unnecessarily detain or delay it.

(2) The Minister may by regulations require that, subject to any exceptions for which provision may be made by the regulations, there shall, in respect of an inspection or test carried out in exercise of powers conferred by the foregoing subsection, be payable to him by such person as may be specified in the regulations a fee of such amount as may be so specified; and fees of different amounts may be so specified in relation to inspections or tests carried out in different circumstances.

(3) A person who obstructs a person acting in exercise of powers conferred by subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50.

(4) Any sums received under this section by the Minister shall be paid into the Exchequer.