Report to Director- General of accidents to vessels.

When an Indian vessel or other vessels to which this Chapter applies, has sustained or caused any accident occasioning loss of life or any serious injury to any person or has received any material damage affecting her seaworthiness or her efficiency either in her hull or is so altered in any part of her machinery as not to correspond with the particulars contained in any of the certificates granted under this Act in respect of the vessel, the master or ship owner or his agent shall, within such time as may be prescribed, after the happening of the accident or damage or as soon thereafter as possible, transmit to the Director-General or the nearest principal officer a report of the accident or damage and of the probable cause thereof stating the name of the vessel, her official number, if any, her port of registry and the place where she is.