Moving of vessels without pilot or permission of harbour master or port officer

(1) No vessel shall enter, leave or be moved in any port without having a pilot, harbour master or any port officer on board, unless,— (a) upon application to the proper officer the master was unable to procure a pilot, harbour master or port officer to go on board the vessel; (b) an authority in writing has been obtained from the conservator or any officer authorised to give such authority: Provided that the Government may, by notification, direct that in any port as may be specified therein, the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply to sailing vessels of any measurement not exceeding a measurement so specified therein. (2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1), the owner or master of a vessel, shall be answerable for any loss or damage caused by the vessel or by any fault of the navigation of the vessel.