Singapore legislation
Section 49
Section 49
Power to inspect ships
(1)
Every inspection of a ship must be carried out in the manner provided in this Act.
(2)
The inspection of ships, as regards compliance with the requirements of this Act and other relevant written law, may be carried out by the Director, a surveyor of ships or a Recognised Organisation.
(3)
The Director or a surveyor of ships may, for the purposes of an inspection —
board any ship, without previous notice to the shipowner, master or person in charge of that ship, for the purposes of inspecting that ship;
inspect any ship, after giving previous notice to the shipowner, master or person in charge of that ship;
summon any person before the Director or surveyor and require the person to answer questions;
require the production of any book, logbook, certificate, register, document or other information relating to any ship;
take samples of any products, cargo, drinking water, provisions, materials or substances used or handled in the possession of any person on board any ship, as may be necessary with a view to analysing these samples;
require the display of notices, certificates or documents required by this Act or other relevant written law; and
require rectification of deficiencies that may be identified in the seafarers’ working and living conditions on any ship.
(4)
Any sample taken under this section must be disposed of and accounted for in such manner as the Director may direct.
(5)
If, in the opinion of the Director or a surveyor of ships, the working and living conditions on board a ship do not conform to the requirements of this Act or other relevant written law, the Director or surveyor of ships may by written notice require the shipowner to rectify the non‑conformity within the time specified in the notice.
(6)
Any shipowner who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a notice issued to the shipowner under subsection (5) within the time specified in the notice shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.