Section 399. Claims of owners to wreck

399. Claims of owners to wreck .―(1) The owner of any wreck in the possession of the receiver upon establishing his claim to the same to the satisfaction of the receiver within one year from the time at which the wreck came into the possession of the receiver shall, upon paying the salvage and other charges, be entitled to have the wreck or the proceeds thereof delivered to him. (2) Where any articles belonging to or forming part of a vessel other than an Indian vessel which has been wrecked or belonging to and forming part of the cargo of such vessel, are found on or near the coasts of India or are brought into any port in India, the consular officer of the country in which the vessel is registered or, in the case of cargo, the country to which the owners of the cargo may have belonged shall, in the absence of the owner and of the master or other agent of the owner, be deemed to be the agent of the owner, with respect to the custody and disposal of the articles. (3) Where the owner of the wreck does not appear and claim the balance of the proceeds of sale within one year from the date of sale, the said balance shall become the property of the Central Government. 400. Prohibition of certain acts in respect of wreck .―No person shall— (a) without the leave of the master board or attempt to board any vessel which is wrecked, stranded or in distress as aforesaid, unless the person is, or acts by command of, the receiver of wreck; or (b) impede or hinder or attempt in any way to impede or hinder the saving of any vessel stranded or in danger of being stranded or otherwise in distress on or near the coasts of India or of any part of the cargo or equipment of the vessel, or of any wreck; or (c) secrete any wreck or deface or obliterate any marks thereon; or (d) wrongfully carry away or remove any part of a vessel stranded or in danger of being stranded or otherwise in distress, on or near the coasts of India, or any part of the cargo or equipment of the vessel or any wreck.