81.— (1) Where a vessel raised under this Part is not an Irish ship, a diplomatic agent of the state or any consular officer of that state authorised in that behalf by any treaty arrangement with that state, in which—

(a) the vessel was registered when it sank, or

(b) the owners of the vessel resided,

shall, in the absence of the owners and of the master or other agent of the owners, be deemed to be the agent of the owners, as far as relates to the custody and disposal of the vessel.

(2) In this section “consular officer” and “diplomatic agent” have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, by section 46(3) of the Act of 1993.