53Alteration etc. of construction of ships and cancellation of certificates

53 Alteration etc. of construction of ships and cancellation of certificates

(1) Where the construction of a ship in respect of which a sewage certificate is in force is altered, or such a ship is damaged, in a manner which affects its compliance with the provisions of Annex IV, the master or owner of the ship shall, within 7 days after the construction of the ship is altered or the ship is damaged, as the case may be, give a notice in writing of the alteration or damage to such person, and in such form, as are prescribed and, if the notice is not so given, the master and the owner of the ship are each guilty of an offence punishable upon conviction by a fine not exceeding—

(a) if the offender is a natural person—10 penalty units; or

(2) Where a notice required to be given under subsection (1) is not given within the period referred to in that subsection, the following provisions of this subsection have effect—

(a) the obligation to give the notice continues, notwithstanding that that period has expired, until the notice is given;

(b) the master and the owner of the ship are each guilty of a separate and further offence in respect of each day during which the notice is not given, being a day after the expiration of that period;

(c) the penalty applicable to each such separate and further offence is a fine not exceeding—

(3) Where the Minister has reason to believe that—

(a) the report of a surveyor in respect of a ship in respect of which a sewage certificate issued under section 52 is in force was fraudulently or erroneously made or obtained;

(b) a sewage certificate has been issued under section 52 in respect of a ship upon false or erroneous information;

S. 53(3)(c) amended by No. 74/2000 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 100.5).

(c) the construction of a ship in respect of which a sewage certificate issued under section 52 is in force has been altered, or such a ship has been damaged, in a manner which affects its compliance with the provisions of Annex IV; or

(d) the owner of a ship in respect of which a sewage certificate is in force has failed to comply with subsection 54(1) in respect of the ship—

the Minister may, by instrument signed by the Minister, cancel the certificate.

(4) Where the Minister cancels a sewage certificate issued by the Minister in respect of a ship, the certificate is of no force or effect after the Minister has given notice in writing of the cancellation addressed to the owner, agent or master of the ship and served in accordance with the regulations.

(5) Where a sewage certificate issued in respect of a ship is cancelled under this section, the Minister may, by notice in writing addressed to the owner, agent or master of the ship and served in accordance with the regulations, require the certificate to be delivered up to the Minister or to such other person as the Minister specifies, and the Minister may detain the ship until the requirement is complied with.