228Powers of inspectors and authorised persons

228 Powers of inspectors and authorised persons

228 Powers of inspectors and authorised persons

(1) The powers in this section may be exercised for the purposes of ascertaining—

(a) whether a provision of this Act that is applicable in relation to a ship has been complied with in respect of the ship, or

(b) whether there is a probability of, or has been, a discharge into State waters in contravention of this Act.

(2) An inspector, or other person authorised by the Minister for the purposes of this section, may do any of the following—

(a) go on board the ship with such assistants and equipment as the inspector or person considers necessary,

(b) require the master of the ship to take such steps as the inspector or person directs to facilitate the boarding,

(c) inspect and test any machinery or equipment of the ship,

(d) require the master of the ship to take such steps as the inspector or person directs to facilitate the inspection or testing of any machinery or equipment of the ship,

(e) open, or require the master of the ship to cause to be opened, any hold, bunker, tank, compartment or receptacle in or on board the ship and inspect the contents of any hold, bunker, tank, compartment or receptacle in or on board the ship,

(f) require the master of the ship to produce a record book required by this Act or the regulations, the Marine Safety Act 1998 or the regulations made under that Act or the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 of the Commonwealth to be carried in the ship or any other books, documents or records relating to the ship or its cargo that are carried in the ship,

(g) make copies of, or take extracts from, any such books, documents or records,

(h) require the master of the ship or other person to certify that a true copy of an entry in a record book required by this Act to be carried in the ship or kept by the person, made by the inspector or person whom the Minister authorises for the purposes of a section of this Act is a true copy of such an entry,

(i) examine, and take samples of, any substances being in, on, or in the vicinity of, a ship, purpose-built pipeline or place on land in respect of which an investigation of a discharge or suspected discharge in breach of a provision of this Act is being made,