Section 275: Accidents to be reported to Minister

(1)
When any ship to which this section applies has sustained or caused any accident occasioning loss of life or any serious injury to any person, or has received any material damage affecting its seaworthiness or its efficiency either in its hull or in the case of a ship propelled by mechanical power, in any part of its machinery or has been in collision with another ship, the master shall transmit to the Agency-
(a)
where possible, by radio communication in the first instance, a preliminary report; and
(b)
in all cases, if in port when the accident or damage occurs, within twenty-four hours of the happening, or otherwise within twenty-four hours of first reaching a port, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere, a full report in writing signed by him, of the accident or damage, and of the probable cause thereof, stating the name of the ship, its official number, if any, the port at which the ship is registered or to which it belongs and the place where it is.
(2)
Where the managing owner or in the event of there being no managing owner resident in Nigeria, the agent, of any ship to which this section applies has reason to believe that the ship has sustained or caused any such accident or received any such damage as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this section, he shall satisfy himself that the accident or damage has not been reported to the Minister by the master and if such accident or damage has not been so reported, the managing owner or agent shall as soon as convenient send to the Minister notice in writing stating the name of the ship, its official number, if any, and the port at which the ship is registered or to which it belongs and stating also, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the nature and extent of the accident or damage, the probable cause of and the place where the ship is.
(3)
This section shall apply to-
(a)
all Nigerian ships;
(b)
other near coastal trade and inland water ships; and
(c)
other ships to which any such accident or damage as is mentioned in subsections (1) and (2) of this section occur, or is believed to have occurred, on or near the coast of Nigeria.
(4)
Every master and managing owner or agent who fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not less than one hundred thousand Naira.