Section 239: Extension of certificates

(1)
The Minister may, in his discretion, if satisfied that the condition of the hull, machinery and equipment of a ship is such as to justify the Minister in doing so, grant an extension or any certificate issued under this part-
(a)
in the case or any certificate of survey issued under section 227 of this Act; and
(b)
in the case of a Safety Convention Certificate issued in respect of a Nigerian ship, for a period not exceeding one month from the date when the certificate would have, but for the extension, expired.
(2)
lf any Nigerian ship in respect of which any safety certificate, or any safety equipment certificate or radio certificate, whether qualified or not, or any radio exemption certificate is issued under this part of this Act is absent from Nigeria on the date when the certificate is due to expire, the Minister or any person authorised by him in that behalf may grant an extension of that certificate for a period not exceeding five months from that date.
(3)
Any extension of a certificate under the provisions of this section may be granted, notwithstanding that the certi ficate has expired, as long as the application for the extension is received before the date the certificate expired.
(4)
On any extension being granted under subsection (3) of this section, the certificate shall be deemed always to have been in force but nothing in that subsection shall be deemed to authorise the granting of any extension beyond the period specified in subsections (1) and (2) of this section.