24K—Alteration etc of construction of ships and cancellation of
certificates
(1) Where the
construction of a ship in respect of which a chemical tanker construction
certificate issued under section 24J is in force is altered, or such a
ship is damaged, in a manner which affects its compliance with the provisions
of Annex II, the master or owner of the ship must, within seven 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.
Maximum penalty:
(a) if
the offender is a natural person—$5 000; or
(b) if
the offender is a body corporate—$25 000.
(2) Without limiting
the generality of subsection (1), a ship in respect of which a chemical
tanker construction certificate is in force is, for the purposes of that
subsection, to be taken to be damaged if the ship becomes unfit to proceed to
sea without presenting an unreasonable threat of harm to the marine
environment.
(3) Where a notice
required to be given under subsection (1) is not given within the period
referred to in that subsection, the obligation to give the notice continues,
despite the expiry of the period, until the notice is given and 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.
Maximum penalty:
(a) if
the offender is a natural person—$5 000; or
(b) if
the offender is a body corporate—$25 000.
(4) Where the Minister
has reason to believe that—
(a) the
report of a surveyor concerning a ship in respect of which a chemical tanker
construction certificate issued under section 24J is in force was
fraudulently or erroneously made or obtained; or
(b) a
chemical tanker construction certificate has been issued under
section 24J in respect of a ship upon false or erroneous information; or
(c) the
construction of a ship in respect of which a chemical tanker construction
certificate issued under section 24J 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 II; or
(d) the
owner of a ship in respect of which a chemical tanker construction certificate
issued under section 24J is in force has failed to comply with
section 24L in respect of the ship,
the Minister may, by instrument, cancel the certificate.
(5) Where the Minister
cancels a chemical tanker construction 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.
(6) Where a chemical
tanker construction 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.