Merchant Shipping Act 1970

76 Inspections

(1) For the purpose of seeing that the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts and regulations and rules made thereunder are duly complied with any of the following persons, that is to say.—

(a) a surveyor of ships ;

(b) a superintendent;

(c) any person appointed by the Board of Trade, either generally or in a particular case, to exercise powers under this section;

may at all reasonable times go on board a ship and inspect the ship and its equipment or any part thereof, any articles on board, and any document carried in the ship in pursuance of the Merchant Shipping Acts or regulations or rules made thereunder ; and if the ship is registered in the United Kingdom the powers conferred by this subsection may also be exercised outside the United Kingdom and may be so exercised by a proper officer as well as by the persons mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of this subsection.

(2) A person exercising powers under this section shall not unnecessarily detain or delay a ship but may, if he considers it necessary in consequence of an accident or for any other reason, require a ship to be taken into dock for a survey of its hull or machinery.

(3) Where any such person as is mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) of this section has reasonable grounds for believing that there are on any premises provisions or water intended for supply to a ship registered in the United Kingdom which, if provided on the ship, would not be in accordance with regulations under section 21 of this Act, he may enter the premises and inspect the provisions or water for the purpose of ascertaining whether they would be in accordance with those regulations.

(4) If any person obstructs a person in the exercise of his powers under this section, or fails to comply with a requirement made under subsection (2) thereof, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.