Medway Ports Authority Act 1973

22 Directions to vessels at the docks

(1) The Authority may give directions applicable to all vessels, or to a specified class of vessels, at the docks, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of vessels at the docks, preventing injury to persons at, or to property at, or forming part of, the docks or of securing the efficient conduct of the business carried on at the docks and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such directions may relate to—

(a) the movement, berthing or mooring of a vessel;

(b) the dispatch of its business at the dock;

(c) the disposition or use of its appurtenances or equipment;

(d) the use of its motive power;

(e) the embarking or landing of passengers;

(f) the loading or discharging of cargo, fuel, water or ship's stores;

(g) the use of ballast.

(2) The harbour master may give a direction requiring the removal from a dock of a vessel if—

(a) it is on fire;

(b) it is in a condition where it is liable to become immobilised or waterlogged, or to sink;

(c) it is making an unlawful or improper use of the dock;

(d) it is interfering with the use of the dock by other vessels, or is otherwise interfering with the proper use of the dock or the dispatch of business therein;

(e) the removal is necessary to enable maintenance or repair work to be carried out to the dock or to an adjacent part of the dock.

(3) The harbour master may give a direction to a vessel at the docks for the following purposes:—

(a) any of the purposes referred to in subsection (1) of this section;

(b) requiring the vessel to comply with a general direction made under this section. .

(4) In this section reference to a vessel at a dock includes reference to a vessel entering or about to enter a dock and to a vessel leaving or having just left a dock.