Section 371: Power to pass over adjoining lands

(1)
Whenever a vessel is wrecked, stranded or in distress as aforesaid all persons may, for the purpose of rendering assistance to the vessel, or of saving the lives of shipwrecked persons or of saving the cargo or apparel of the vessel, unless there is some public road equally convenient, pass and repass, either with or without vehicles, over any adjoining land without being subject to interruption by the owner or occupier so however, that they do as
little damage as possible and may also on the like condition, deposition those lands any cargo or other article recovered from the vessel.
(2)
Any damage sustained by an owner or occupier in consequence of the exercise of the rights given by this section shall be a charge on the vessel, cargo or articles in respect of or by which the damage is occasioned and the amount payable in respect of the damage shall, in case of dispute, be determined and shall, in default of payment, be recoverable in the same manner as the amount of salvage is under this Part of this Act determined or recoverable.
(3)
Where the owner or occupier of any land-
(a)
impedes or hinders any persons in the exercise of the rights given by this section by locking his gates or refusing, upon request, to open the same, or otherwise;
(b)
impedes or hinders the deposit of any cargo or other article recovered from the vessel as aforesaid on the land; or
(c)
prevents or endeavours to prevent any cargo or other article from the remains deposited on the land for a reasonable time, until it can be removed to a safe place or public deposit, he commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not less than one hundred thousand Naira.