Detention and sale on refusal to pay fees or other charges

(1) If the master of any vessel in respect of which any fees or other charges are payable under this Act refuses or fails to pay the same on demand, the officer or body of persons authorised under sub-section (1) of section 48 may detain or arrest the vessel or any part thereof, until the amount due is paid. (2) In case any part of the fees or other charges, or of the costs of the detention or arrest or of the keeping of the vessel detained or arrested remains unpaid for fifteen days after any such detention or arrest, such officer or body of persons may cause the vessel detained or arrested to be sold, and with the proceeds of such sale, may recover the fees or other charges and the cost including the costs of sale remaining unpaid, and shall render the surplus, if any, to the master of the vessel upon demand: Provided that where such vessel is already arrested under the order of a court or other authority, the authority appointed to receive fees or other charges, may sell the vessel or part thereof only with the prior permission of such court or other authority and recover the fees or other charges due and the costs including costs of sale remaining unpaid, and disburse the surplus, if any, in accordance with the orders or directions of such court or other authority. (3) Where the sale proceeds of the vessel is insufficient to satisfy the fees or other charges due and the cost including the costs of sale remains unpaid, the authority appointed to receive such fees or other charges due may, by order in writing direct the owner of the vessel to pay the unpaid balance, within one month of issuance of such order.