Part IX

Salvage and Wreck
Chapter II

Wreck

Offences in respect of wreck

Interfering with wrecked vessel or wreck.
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1
Subject to subsection (2) below, a person commits an offence if, without the permission of the master, he boards or attempts to board any vessel which is wrecked, stranded or in distress.
2
No offence is committed under subsection (1) above if the person is the receiver or a person lawfully acting as the receiver or if he acts by command of the receiver or a person so acting.
3
A person commits an offence if—
a
he impedes or hinders or attempts to impede or hinder the saving of—
i
any vessel stranded or in danger of being stranded, or otherwise in distress, on or near any coast or tidal water; or
ii
any part of the cargo or equipment of any such vessel; or
iii
any wreck;
b
he conceals any wreck;
c
he defaces or obliterates any mark on a vessel; or
d
he wrongfully carries away or removes—
i
any part of any vessel stranded or in danger of being stranded, or otherwise in distress, on or near any coast or tidal water;
ii
any part of the cargo or equipment of any such vessel; or
iii
any wreck.
4
The master of a vessel may forcibly repel any person committing or attempting to commit an offence under subsection (1) above.
5
A person who is guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable, on summary conviction—
a
in the case of an offence under subsection (1) above, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale;
b
in the case of an offence under subsection (3) above, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.