(1) For the purpose of a preliminary inquiry under section 437, the person holding the inquiry has the following powers—
(a) he or she may go on board any ship, and may inspect any part of the ship or any of the machinery, boats, equipment or articles on board the ship to which this Act applies, without unnecessarily detaining or delaying the ship from proceeding on any voyage;
(b) he or she may enter and inspect any premises the entry or inspection of which appears to him or her to be requisite for the purpose of the report which he or she is directed to make;
(c) he or she may, by summons under his or her hand, require the attendance of all such persons as he or she thinks fit to make;
(d) he or she may require and enforce the production of all books, papers or documents which he or she considers important for such purpose;
(e) he or she may administer oaths, or may, in lieu of requiring or administering an oath, require every person examined by him or her to make and subscribe a declaration of the truth of the statements made by him or her in his or her examination.
(2) Upon conclusion of a preliminary inquiry, the person holding the inquiry shall send to the Minister a report containing a full statement of the case and of that person's opinion thereon accompanied by such report of, or extracts from, the evidence, and such observations, as the person holding the preliminary inquiry thinks fit.