Merchant Shipping Act 1894
Distress on ship for light dues.
650.—(1) If the owner or master of any ship fails, on demand of the authorised collector, to pay the light dues due in respect thereof, that collector may, in addition to any other remedy which he or the authority by whom he is appointed is entitled to use, enter upon the ship, and distrain the goods, guns, tackle, or any thing belonging to, or on board, the ship, and detain that distress until the light dues are paid.
(2) If payment of the light dues is not made within the period of three days next ensuing the distress, the collector may, at any time during the continuance of the non-payment, cause the distress to be appraised by two sufficient persons or sworn appraisers, and thereupon sell the same, and apply the proceeds in payment of the light dues due, together with all reasonable expenses incurred by him under this section, paying the surplus (if any), on demand, to the owner or master of the ship.