Power of the Board to order sea going vessel to use dock, wharves etc.

(1) When any dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty or pier erected at any port or port approaches under the provisions of this Act has been completed with sufficient warehouses, sheds and appliances for receiving, landing or shipping goods or passengers or crew from and upon sea-going vessels, the Board may, after obtaining the approval of the Commissioner of Customs and by notification published in the Official Gazette, declare that such dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage is ready for receiving or for shipping goods or passengers from and upon sea-going vessels: Provided that, the Board shall ensure that prior to such notifications, the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 have been complied with and no imported goods shall be unloaded and no export goods shall be loaded at any place other than a place approved under that Act for unloading or loading of such goods, except with the permission of the Competent Authority. (2) As from the date of the publication of such notification, it shall be lawful for the Board, from time to time, when there is room at such dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage to order to come alongside of such dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage for the purpose of landing and shipping goods or passengers or for landing or for shipping the same in any sea-going vessel within the port or port approaches which has not commenced to discharge goods or passengers or which being about to take in goods or passengers has not commenced to do so: Provided that, before making such order, the Board shall have regard, as far as possible to the convenience of such vessel and of the shipping in respect of the use of any particular dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage: Provided further that, if the Board is not the Conservator of the port, the Board shall not itself make the order as aforesaid but shall require the Conservator of the port, or other person exercising the rights, powers and authorities of the Conservator of the port to make such order.