Article 48 - Obstruction

If any ship, or aircraft or other object sinks or grounds or otherwise becomes or is likely to become in the opinion of the Harbour Master an obstruction or danger to navigation, and its owner or his agent fails to remove the obstruction or danger so caused within the period of the written notice served by the Harbour Master, then the owner or agent shall have committed a punishable criminal offence. This shall not prejudice the Harbour Master’s right, for the sake of safe guarding the interest of the Port, to take action to remove the obstacle. All expenses incurred shall be recoverable from the Master or owners of the ship or aircraft who shall jointly be liable thereof.

Article 49 - Removal of wrecks

If, in the opinion of the Harbour Master, any ship or aircraft sinks or grounds or otherwise becomes an obstruction which constitutes an immediate danger to shipping, he may take the necessary immediate measures to remove the obstruction without the need for any notice and shall be entitled to recover from the persons mentioned in the previous Article, any expense incurred in the process of its removal.

Article 50 - Cargo

The Harbour Master may act in the manner described in the two preceding Articles in respect of any cargo, ropes, or equipment contained on any ship or aircraft that has sunk, grounded or otherwise. The Harbour Master may apply the same provisions to any cargo, ropes or equipment which have fallen in any manner from any ship or aircraft into the waters of the Port.

Article 51 - Claims

The Port Authority shall not accept any claims arising out of the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by the preceding Articles.

Article 52 - Salvage

Any unclaimed goods salvaged or discovered at any place within the Port shall be reported and delivered to the Harbour Master, who shall take such goods into custody.

No person shall salvage anything that has sunk in the Port unless expressly authorised to do so by the Harbour Master.

The person who has salvaged anything that has sunk in Port waters shall have no recourse against the Port Authority to obtain compensation for his labour unless the Port Authority has agreed to his performance of the salvage operation.

The owner of the salvaged goods may claim the same within a period not exceeding six months from the date of delivery thereof to the Harbour Master, and he shall pay salvage costs and safekeeping expenses as determined by the Harbour Master.

If the owner fails to claim his goods within the aforementioned period, the Port Authority may sell the goods and keep the sale proceeds.

Where the Harbour Master finds that the salvaged goods are perishable or that their value is less than storage costs, he may order the sale thereof immediately in the manner in which he may deem suitable.

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