Where a ship has
arrived at a port or place in India at the end of a voyage and any person, not being in the service of the
Government or not being duly authorised by law for the purpose, goes on board the ship without the
permission of the master before the seamen lawfully leave the ship at the end of their engagement or
are discharged (whichever happens last), the master of the ship may take such person into custody and
deliver him up forthwith to a police officer to be taken before 1[a Judicial Magistrate of the first class
or a Metropolitan Magistrate as the case may be,] to be dealt with according to the provisions of this
Act.
1. Subs. by Act 12 of 1983, s. 17 and the Schedule, for "a magistrate" (w.e.f. 18-5-1983).