16.—(1) The harbour master may remove or have removed any vessel which is sunk, stranded or abandoned within the harbour and the expense of removing any such vessel shall be repaid by the owner of the same, and the harbour master may detain such vessel for securing the expenses, and on non-payment of such expenses, on demand, may sell such vessel, and out of the proceeds of such sale pay such expenses, rendering the surplus, if any, to the owner on demand.
(2) The harbour master may give directions with respect to all matters dealt with by the foregoing paragraph:
Provided that nothing in this article shall authorise the harbour master to do or cause to be done any act in any way repugnant to or inconsistent with any law relating to the Customs or any regulations of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.