(1) For the purposes of section 350, the court may appoint a Surveyor of Ships or other maritime officer to survey the ship which is the subject of an allegation, and to answer any questions concerning that ship which the court thinks fit to ask.
(2) A Surveyor of Ships or a maritime officer appointed under subsection (1) to survey any ship shall survey the ship, make a written report thereon to the court, and include in his or her written report an answer to every question put to him or her by the court.
(3) Any person carrying out a survey of a ship under this section shall have for the purposes thereof all the powers conferred on an inspector by section 261.