Section 271: General duty to render assistance

(1)
The master or person in charge of a ship shall, in so far as he can do so without serious danger to his own ship, its crew and passengers, if any, render every assistance to any person, even if that person is a subject of a State at war with Nigeria, who is found at sea in danger of being lost.
(2)
A master or person in charge of a ship who fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) of this section commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not less than two hundred thousand Naira or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.
(3)
The compliance by the master or person in charge of a ship with the provisions of this section shall not affect his right or the right of any other person to salvage.