Section 2: Interpretaion.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"animals" means animate things of every kind except human beings;
"approach to a port" means any navigable channel declared to be an approach to a port under section 6 of this Act;
"Authority means the Nigerian Ports Authority established under the provisions of this Act;
"Authority pilot" means pilot appointed by the Authority;
"ballast" includes every kind of gravel, sand and soil and every commodity or thing commonly used for the ballasting of ships;
"beacon" means any light, mark or sign used as an aid to navigation, other than a lighthouse or buoy;
"buoy" includes any floating light, mark or sign used as an aid to navigation, other than a lighthouse;
"cargo" includes all kinds of moveable personnal property, other than animals;
"Civil Service Commission" means the Federal Civil Service Commission established under the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"dues" includes ships' dues and harbour dues;
"ferry" means any ship plying from one side of a waterway to the other for the purpose of the carriage of passengers or goods;
"goods" includes baggage, animals (whether alive or dead) and all other movable property of any kind whatsoever;
"licensed pilot" means a pilot licensed by the Authority,
"lighthouse" includes a lightship;
"master" means when used in relation to any ship, the person having command or charge of the ship for the time being, but does not include a pilot;
"the Minister" means a Minister for the time being charged with responsibility for maritime shipping and navigation;
"navigation channel' means any channel where navigation is possible;
"pier" means a pier, wharf or jetty of whatever description and includes any such pier, wharf or jetty erected on or extending beyond High Water Mark of Ordinary Spring Tide or extending into the waters of any navigator channel and also includes any pontoon moored in any such waters and used as a pier, wharf or jetty.
"pilot" means a person not belonging to a ship who has conduct thereof;
"pilotage district" means a pilotage district established by the Authority under section 58 of this Act;
"rates" means rates levied by the Authority by virtue of section 83 of this Act;
"ship" includes any ship, vessel, tug, lighter, canoe or boat of any kind whatsoever whether propelled by steam or otherwise or towed;
"trains" includes locomotives, engines, tenders, motors, coaches, wagons, trolleys and rolling stock of all kinds used whether separately or in conjunction on a railway;
"vehicle" means any vehicle, other than a train or ship;
"warehouse" includes any buildning, place, wagon, ship or vehicle when used by the Authority for the purpose of warehousing or depositing goods.