(1) Any authorised officer, either alone or with any other person, may go on board any ship in Saint Lucia whenever that officer—
(a) suspects that any offence under this Act has been or is about to be committed in any ship; or
(b) considers it necessary for him or her to do so in the discharge of any duty imposed on him or her by this Act or any other enactment.
(2) If a ship is registered in Saint Lucia, the powers conferred by this section on an authorised officer may also be exercised outside Saint Lucia by a proper officer, in addition to an authorised officer.
(3) Any master of a ship who, without reasonable excuse, refuses to allow any authorised officer to board the ship in the exercise of the powers conferred on him or her by subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence and on summary conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding $5,000.