Section 202: Official log books as evidence

(1)
An official log book shall be kept in every Nigerian ship, in the appropriate form for that ship approved by the Minister.
(2)
The official log books to be kept, may be for different classes of ships and shall contain proper spaces for the entries required by this Act.
(3)
The official log book may, at the discretion of the owner or master, be kept distinct from or join with the ship's ordinary log book, so however that, in all cases, the spaces in the official log book are duly filled up.
(4)
An entry required by this Act in an official log book shall be made as soon as possible after the occurrence to which it relates and if the entry is not made on the same day as the occurrence, it shall be made and dated so as to show the date of the occurrence and of the entry respecting it.
(5)
Any entry made in respect of an occurrence happening before the arrival of a ship at the ship's final port of discharge, shall not be made more than twenty-four hours after its arrival.
(6)
Every entry in the official log book shall be signed by the master and by the mate or any other member of the crew, but if the entry is that of:
(a)
illness, injury or death, it shall be signed by the surgeon or medical practitioner on board, if any; and
(b)
wages due to a seaman or cadet who dies, it shall be signed by the mate and by a member of the crew in addition to the master.
(7)
Every entry made in an official log book in the manner provided by this Act shall be admissible in evidence.