Section 50 of The inland vessels act, 1917
- (1)No person shall--
- (a)take with him on board an inland 1[mechanically propelled vessel] any dangerous goods without giving notice of their nature to the owner or master of the 1[mechanically propelled vessel], or
- (b)deliver or tender for carriage on such 1[mechanically propelled vessel] any dangerous goods without giving such notice, and without disti nctly marking their nature on the outside of the package containing the goods.
- (2)if the owner or master of an inland 1[mechanically propelled vessel] suspects, or has reason to believe, that any luggage or parcel taken, delivered, or tendered for carriage on the 1[mechanically propelled vessel] contains dangerous goods, he may--
- (i)refuse to carry it upon the 1[mechanically propelled vessel]; or
- (ii)require it to be opened to ascertain the nature of its contents; or
- (iii)if it has been received for carriage, stop its transit until he is satisfied as to the nature of its contents.
Summary
- People are forbidden from bringing or sending dangerous goods on a boat without telling the owner or captain first.
- Any package containing dangerous items must have its contents clearly and distinctly marked on the outside.
- If a captain or owner suspects a package is dangerous, they have the legal right to refuse to take it on board.
- The boat's management can also demand that a suspicious package be opened for inspection.
- If a package is already being transported, the boat's master can stop it from moving further until they are sure it is safe.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. What must a person do before bringing dangerous goods on a boat under Section 50 of the 1917 Act?
Under Section 50 of the 1917 Act, a person must give notice of the nature of the goods to the owner or master and mark the outside of the package clearly.
2. Can a boat master refuse to carry luggage under Section 50 of The inland vessels act, 1917?
Yes, if the master suspects or has reason to believe that the luggage contains dangerous goods, they may refuse to carry it.
3. Does a captain have the right to inspect a parcel under Section 50 of the 1917 Act?
Yes, Section 50 of the 1917 Act allows the owner or master to require a package to be opened to find out what is inside if they suspect it contains dangerous goods.
4. Can a boat stop a package that is already in transit according to Section 50 of the 1917 Act?
Yes, if the owner or master suspects dangerous goods have been received, they can stop the transit until they are satisfied about the contents.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 50 of The inland vessels act, 1917, where must the nature of dangerous goods be marked?
Q2.Who must be notified if a person wants to take dangerous goods on a vessel under Section 50 of the 1917 Act?
Q3.If a boat owner suspects a package contains items declared dangerous under Section 49 of the 1917 Act, what can they do under Section 50?
Q4.According to Section 50 of The inland vessels act, 1917, what can a master do if they find dangerous goods that were already accepted for carriage?