(1) Every vessel required to hold a certificate
in accordance with the provisions of the regulations is subject, when
in a port of another Party, to control by officers duly authorized
by the Government of that Party in so far as this control is directed
towards verifying that the certificate issued under the provisions
of the relevant regulations is valid.
(2) Such certificate, if valid, shall be accepted
unless there are clear grounds for believing that the condition of
the vessel or of its equipment does not correspond substantially with
the particulars of that certificate or that the vessel and its equipment
are not in compliance with the provisions of the relevant regulations.
(3) In the circumstances given in paragraph (2)
or where a certificate has expired or ceased to be valid, the officer
carrying out the control shall take steps to ensure that the vessel
shall not sail until it can proceed to sea or leave the port for the
purpose of proceeding to the appropriate repair yard without danger
to the vessel or persons on board.
(4) In the event of this control giving rise
to an intervention of any kind, the officer carrying out the control
shall forthwith inform, in writing, the Consul or, in his absence,
the nearest diplomatic representative of the State whose flag the
vessel is entitled to fly, of all the circumstances in which intervention
was deemed necessary. In addition, nominated surveyors or recognized
organizations responsible for the issue of the certificates shall
also be notified. The facts concerning the intervention shall be reported
to the Organization.
(5) If the port State authority concerned is unable
to take steps as specified in paragraph (3) or if the vessel has been
allowed to proceed to the next port of call, the port State authority
concerned shall notify all relevant information about the vessel to
the Party mentioned in paragraph (4) and to the authorities of the
next port of call.
(6) When exercising control under this article,
all possible efforts shall be made to avoid a vessel being unduly
detained or delayed. If a vessel is thereby unduly detained or delayed,
it shall be entitled to compensation for any loss or damage suffered.
(7) With respect to vessels of non-Parties to
the present Protocol, Parties shall apply the requirements of the
present Protocol as may be necessary to ensure that no more favourable
treatment is given to such vessels.