Section 20

It is the duty of the master and the owner or charterer of every vessel which arrives in Singapore to prevent any person other than a person specified in section 19(1)(a), (b), (c) or (d) from disembarking from or boarding the vessel until the disembarkation or boarding has been authorised by an immigration officer, and for that purpose any means reasonably necessary may be used.

Where any person disembarks from or boards any vessel before being authorised by an immigration officer in that behalf, that person, the master and the owner or charterer of the vessel shall each be guilty of an offence under this section.

It is no defence to a prosecution under this section that the master, owner or charterer did not permit or do anything to facilitate the disembarkation or boarding of the person.

It is a good defence to a prosecution under this section that the master, owner or charterer took every reasonable precaution to prevent the disembarkation or boarding of the person.

The master of the vessel from which any person has disembarked before the disembarkation has been authorised by an immigration officer is bound to re‑embark that person and any master refusing to re‑embark that person shall be guilty of an offence.

Any person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.