(1)If the Secretary of State is satisfied that a company or other body is not one to whom section 412 or section 437 of the [1948 c. 38.] Companies Act 1948 (service of notices) applies so as to authorise the service of a direction on that body under either of those sections, he may give a direction under section 12 of this Act—
(a)to that body, as the owner of, or the person in possession of, a ship, by serving the direction on the master of the ship ; or
(b)to that body, as a salvor, by serving the direction on the person in charge of the salvage operations.
(2)For the purpose of giving or serving a direction under section 12 of this Act to or on any person on a ship, a person acting on behalf of the Secretary of State shall have the right to go on board the ship.
(3)In the application of subsection (1) of this section to Northern Ireland, for references to sections 412 and 437 of the Companies Act 1948 there shall be substituted references to sections 361 and 385 of the [1960 c. 22 (N.I.).] Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960.