s 23 Power to deny entry and to detain ship
23.—(1) Where the Director or Port Master has reasonable cause to believe that a ship which proposes to enter the port does not comply with the requirements of this Act or any regulations made under this Act, the Director or Port Master may deny the entry of such ship to the port. (2) Where the Director or Port Master has reasonable cause to believe that a ship —(a) has incurred a liability under section 17 or 18; or (b) has contravened any of the requirements of this Act or any regulations made under this Act and, in the opinion of the Director or Port Master, the ship presents an unreasonable threat of harm to the marine environment or has caused harm to such environment, the Director or Port Master or any officer authorised in writing by the Director or Port Master may detain that ship. (3) The Director or Port Master may release a ship detained under subsection (2) if the owner of the ship deposits with the Government or the Authority a sum of money or furnishes such security which would, in the opinion of the Director or Port Master, be adequate to meet the owner’s liability under this Act. (4) Section 3(1)(d) of the High Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Act 1961 is to be construed as extending to any claim in respect of a liability incurred by the owner of a ship under this Act.