Section 273: Obligation to assist vessel in distress, etc

(1)
The master of a Nigerian ship, on receiving at sea a signal of distress or information from any source that a ship or other vessel or an aircraft or any person is in distress at sea, shall proceed with all speed to the assistance of the persons in distress, informing them if possible, that he is doing so, unless he is unable, or in the special circumstances of the case considers it unreasonable or unnecessary, to do so, or unless he is released under the provisions of subsection (3) or subsection (4) of this section.
(2)
Where the master of any ship in distress has requisitioned any Nigerian ship that has answered his call, it shall be the duty of the master of the requisitioned ship to comply with the requisition by continuing to proceed with all speed to the assistance of the persons in distress.
(3)
A master shall be released from the obligation imposed by subsection (1) of this section as soon as he is informed of the requisition of one or more ships, other than his own, and that the requisition is being complied with by the ship or ships requisitioned.
(4)
A master shall be released from the obligation imposed by subsection (1) of this section and if his ship has been requisitioned, from the obligation imposed by subsection (2) of this section, if he is informed by the persons in distress or by the master of any ship that has reached the persons in distress, that assistance is no longer required.
(5)
A master of a ship who fails to comply with the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not less than five hundred thousand Naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.
(6)
Where a master of a Nigerian ship, upon receiving at sea a signal of distress or information from any source that a ship or other vessel or an aircraft or any person is in distress at sea, is unable or in the special circumstances of the case considers it unreasonable or unnecessary, to go to the assistance of the persons in distress, he shall
immediately cause a statement to be entered in the official log book of his reasons for not going to the assistance of those persons and if he fails to do so, he commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not less than twenty thousand Naira.
(7)
The master of every Nigerian ship shall enter or cause to be entered in the official log book every signal of distress or message that a ship or other vessel, or an aircraft or person, is in distress at sea; and, if he fails to do so, he shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not less than twenty-five thousand Naira.
(8)
Nothing in this section shall affect the provisions of section 272 of this Act and compliance by the master of a ship with the provisions of this section shall not affect his right, or the right of any other person, to salvage.