Duty of master of vessel or aircraft departing from Singapore to convey mail bags
50. The master of a vessel or aircraft about to depart from Singapore shall receive on board any mail bag tendered to him by any employee or agent of the Corporation for conveyance, granting a receipt therefor in such form as the Corporation may approve, and shall without delay deliver the same at the place of destination.
Duty of master of vessel or aircraft arriving in Singapore in respect of postal articles and mail bags on board
51.—(1) The master of a vessel or aircraft arriving in Singapore shall, without delay, cause every postal article or mail bag on board which is directed to any place in Singapore to be delivered at such place as may be specified by the Corporation or to any employee or agent of the Corporation authorised to receive the same.
(2) The master of a vessel or aircraft arriving in Singapore shall not unload or load any cargo from or into the vessel or aircraft until he has complied with this section.
Penalty for failing to comply with section 50 or 51
52. The master of any vessel or aircraft who —
(a)
contravenes or fails to comply with section 50 or 51; or
(b)
refuses or neglects, if in quarantine, to deliver any postal article or mail bag in his possession which is directed to any place in Singapore to the person appointed by the Corporation to receive it,
shall be guilty of an offence.
Notice to be given of departure of vessel or aircraft
53.—(1) Every owner or agent of a vessel or aircraft proposing to despatch the vessel or aircraft from Singapore shall give the Corporation —
(a)
reasonable notice of —
(i)
the day and hour of the intended departure of the vessel or aircraft; and
(ii)
every place at which the vessel or aircraft is to call; and
(b)
immediate notice of any alteration in the day or hour of departure or of the place of call.
(2) Any owner or agent of a vessel or aircraft who contravenes or fails to comply with this section shall be guilty of an offence.
Gratuities to master or owner of vessel or aircraft for conveyance of mail bags and postal articles
54.—(1) The Corporation may determine the rates of gratuities to be paid to a master, owner or agent of a vessel or aircraft for the conveyance of any mail bag or postal article.
(2) Before any payment is made, the Corporation may require the master of the vessel or aircraft to produce a certificate from the postal authority of destination that the mail bag or postal article has been duly received from him.
(3) No gratuity shall be payable under this section —
(a)
unless an application for payment is made within 12 months of the date of despatch of the mail bag or postal article to the postal authority of destination;
(b)
if there has been unreasonable delay on the part of the master in delivering the mail bag or postal article to the postal authority of destination; or
(c)
if the mail bag or postal article has been damaged in transit, unless the master proves to the satisfaction of the Corporation that the damage is not due to any fault on his part.
Liability of master, owner or agent of vessel or aircraft for theft, loss or damage to registered or insured postal article or parcel
55.—(1) The master, owner or agent of any vessel or aircraft shall be liable for the theft or loss of or damage to any registered or insured postal article or parcel tendered for conveyance or conveyed by the vessel or aircraft.
(2) In the event of any such theft, loss or damage, the master, owner or agent of the vessel or aircraft shall be liable to pay to the Corporation, in respect of such registered or insured postal article or parcel, such amount of money as shall be equal to the amount of the compensation payable by the Corporation to the sender or addressee of the postal article or parcel under this Act.
(3) Any amount required to be paid under this section shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Corporation from the master, owner or agent of the vessel or aircraft.