Section 14: General provisions as to application of Act.

(1) The provisions of this Act, except provisions which are expressed to apply only to Nigerian ships, shall (subject to any exemptions expressly conferred by or under this Act) apply to all vessels, whether registered or not, and of whatever nationality.
(2) The Minister may by order direct that, subject to such exceptions and modifications as may be specified in the order, any regulations made under section 5 of this Act, or under subsection (1) of section 7 of this Act, shall apply to ships registered in countries and territories other than Nigeria at any time when they are in a harbour in Nigeria, or are within the seaward limits of the territorial waters of Nigeria while on their way to or from a harbour in Nigeria.
(3) An order under subsection (2) of this section shall not be made so as to impose different requirements in respect of ships of different countries or territories:
Provided that if the Minister is satisfied, as respects any country or territory, that ships registered there are required, by the law of that country or territory, to comply with the provisions which are substantially the same as, or equally effective with, the requirements imposed by virtue of the order, the Minister may by order direct that those requirements shall not apply to any ship registered in that country or territory if the ship complies with the said provisions applicable thereto under the law of that country or territory.
(4) No regulation shall by virtue of an order under this section apply to any ship as being within a harbour, or, as the case may be, on her way to or from the harbour, but for stress of weather or any other circumstance which neither the master nor the owner not the charterer (if any) of the ship could have prevented or forestalled.