Appointment and powers of health officer and prevention of contagious diseases

(1) The Government may appoint an empanelled medical practitioner as the health officer to carry out the functions of the health officer at any port. (2) The health officer shall possess such qualification, experience and be subject to such other terms and conditions of service as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government. (3) The health officer shall, subject to the control of the Government, have the following powers, within the port limits, namely:— (a) to inspect the provisions, water, sanitation and accommodation within vessels; (b) to enter or board any vessel and medically examine all or any of the seafarers on board the vessel; (c) to require and enforce the production of the log-book and any other books, papers or documents as may be deemed necessary for the purpose of enquiring into the health and medical condition of persons on board the vessel; (d) to summon and question any person for any purpose, to require responses from the person questioned, and to make and sign a declaration affirming the truth of the statements made by such person. (4) Whenever any infectious or contagious disease has broken out or is reasonably suspected to break out at any port or part thereof, the appropriate Government may— (a) declare such port or part thereof as an infected zone, and require all persons coming out from an infected zone to be medically inspected or examined by a health officer; and (b) prescribe the measures to be taken at such infected zone. (5) Whenever any infectious or contagious disease has broken out or is reasonably suspected to break out in vessels arriving at, or being in, any port,— (a) the conservator shall take such action, and pass such directions to such persons for the prevention or containment of the spread of any infectious or contagious disease, as may be prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the State Government; (b) the master shall report the particulars of any such disease to the Government or the conservator in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the State Government. (6) The health officer, along with such person or body of persons authorised by the Government, may board the vessel for medical inspection of vessels and of persons on board the vessels.