Fire on board ships

(1) In the event of fire breaking out on board any ship in the port, the Ports Commissioner or port manager may proceed on board such ship with such assistance or persons as to him seems fit, and may give such orders as to him seem necessary for scuttling such ship, or for removing such ship or any other ship to such place as to him seems proper to prevent in either case danger to other ships and for the taking of any other measures that appear to him expedient for the protection of life or property. (2) If such orders are not forthwith carried out by the master of such ship the Ports Commissioner or a port manager may himself proceed to carry them into effect. (3) Any expenses incurred in the exercise of the powers conferred by subsections (1) and (2) of this section, shall be recoverable from the master or owner of the ship concerned as a civil debt.