Commentary on Sections General Section 55: Power to detain vessels, aircraft and hovercraft
205.Subsection (1) provides that a vessel can be detained in port if an inspector believes that an offence is being or has been committed on board. He must put his reasons in writing. He must present a copy of this as soon as practicable to the person in charge of the vessel (subsection (4)).
206.Subsection (3) allows the detention of the ship to be enforced. Section 284 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 provides various penalties should the ship leave port before it has been granted permission to do so.
207.Subsection (6) allows the Secretary of State or National Assembly for Wales to make regulations extending this section to aircraft or hovercraft, or to make other provision for detaining aircraft or hovercraft that they consider appropriate.