6. —(1) A member of the Garda Síochána or Defence Forces may search without warrant a ship or fixed platform on which the member, with reasonable cause, believes—

(a) that an offence under section 2 has been committed, or

(b) that a person who has committed such an offence is on the ship or fixed platform,

and may—

(i) remove any object which the member believes is related to such an offence, and

(ii) remove or take copies of any records or extracts from records which may be so related.

(2) A person who obstructs or attempts to obstruct a member of the Garda Síochána or Defence Forces while searching a ship or fixed platform is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both.

(3) Such a member may arrest without warrant any person who is committing an offence under subsection (2).

(4) In subsection (1)(ii) “records” includes information in nonlegible form which is capable of being converted into legible form.