Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

252.   Reports of accidents to ships

When a Ship—

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    (a)     has sustained or caused any accident occasioning loss of life or any serious injury to any person;

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    (b)     has sustained any material damage affecting the seaworthiness or the efficiency of the ship, either in the hull or in any part of the machinery of the ship; or

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    (c)     has been in collision with another ship,

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    the owner or master of the ship shall, within 24 hours after the accident, damage or collision or as soon as possible thereafter, transmit to the Director, a report of the accident, damage or collision.

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    (2)   Every report of accident, damage or collision made under subsection (1) shall be signed by the owner or master of the ship, and shall state—

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      (a)     the name of the ship, the port to which the ship belongs, the official number, if any, of the ship and the place where the ship is located;

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      (b)     the circumstances in which the accident, damage or collision occurred; and

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      (c)     the probable cause of the accident, damage or collision.

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    (3)   If the owner or managing owner, or in the event of there being no owner or managing owner resident in Saint Lucia, the agent of any ship to which this section applies, has reason to believe that the ship has sustained or caused any such accident or received any such damage, or has been involved in any such collision as is mentioned in subsection (1), he or she shall satisfy himself or herself that the accident, damage or collision has been reported to the Director by the master; and, where any such managing owner or agent has reason to believe that the accident, damage or collision has not been so reported, he or she shall as soon as possible, send to the Director notice in writing stating the name of the ship, its official number, and its Port of Registry or the port to which it belongs, and stating to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, the nature and extent of the accident, damage or collision, the probable cause thereof and the location of the ship.

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    (4)   The master or managing owner or agent who fails, without reasonable cause to comply with this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

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    (5)   This section applies to all Saint Lucian ships and to all foreign ships carrying passengers in Saint Lucian waters.