Section 255

A court of survey for a port shall consist of a judge sitting with two assessors.

The judge shall be such person as is summoned for the case, in accordance with the rules made under this Act with respect to that court, out of a list approved for the port by the Minister of District Judges and other fit persons; but in any special case in which the Minister thinks it expedient to appoint a Judge of the Supreme Court, such Judge shall be the judge of the court of survey.

The assessors shall be persons of nautical, engineering or other special skill and experience.

Subject to section 244 as regards foreign ships, one of them shall be appointed by the Minister, either generally or in each case, and the other shall be summoned, in accordance with the rules made as aforesaid, by the registrar of the court out of a list of persons periodically nominated for the purpose by the chamber of commerce of the port, or, if there is no such list, shall be appointed by the judge.

If the Minister thinks fit at any time to add any persons to any such list, those persons shall be added to the list, and, if there is no such list, shall form the list.

The registrar of the court of survey shall be appointed by the Minister, and shall, on receiving notice of an appeal, immediately summon the court to meet forthwith in manner directed by the rules.

The name of the registrar and his office, together with the rules made as aforesaid relating to courts of survey, shall be published in the manner directed by the rules.[278