Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014

Powers of authorised persons

40. (1) An authorised person may for the purpose of enforcing sections 11 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 37 and 38 and regulations made thereunder by the use of reasonable force if necessary, stop and board any ship in Irish waters or on land within the State where any activity in connection with these sections takes place, or enter any premises or place where any activity connected with the ship takes place, and—

(a) inspect and examine the ship, premises or place,

(b) inspect and take copies of, or extracts from, records or documents.

(2) An authorised person may for the purpose of his or her functions under this section, stop and board any ship and request the master or owner of the ship or any member of the crew of the ship to furnish such information, and to produce such records and documents (and in the case of records or documents stored in a non-legible form, produce to him or her a copy in legible form) in his or her possession or within his or her procurement, as the authorised person may reasonably require relating to the registration of the ship, the certificate of registry of the ship, the carving and marking of the ship, the national colours or character of the ship or for the purpose of any of his or her functions under this Act.

(3) An authorised person may for the purpose of his or her functions under this section, enter any premises or place where any activity connected with the ship takes place and request the master or owner of the ship, any member of crew of the ship or employee of the premises or place to furnish him or her with such information, and to produce to him or her such records and documents (and in the case of records or documents stored in a non-legible form, produce to him or her a copy in legible form) in his or her possession or within his or her procurement, as the authorised person may reasonably require relating to the registration of the ship, the certificate of registry of the ship, the carving and marking of the ship, the national colours or character of the ship or for the purpose of any of his or her functions under this Act.

(4) An authorised person may take photographs or make any record or visual or electronic recording of the ship or any activity on the ship or the premises or place in relation to the exercise of a power under subsection (1), (2) or (3).

(5) A person who obstructs or interferes with an authorised person in the exercise of his or her functions under this Act, or who fails or refuses to comply with a request of an authorised person under this Act, commits an offence.