(1)If for any reason it appears to the Secretary of State that a ship in respect of which an application for registration has been made may not be entitled to be registered, he may by notice served on—
(a)the applicant, or
(b)any representative person for the time being appointed in relation to the ship,
require that person to furnish him with such information as he thinks necessary for the purpose of determining whether the ship is entitled to be registered.
(2)Where the Secretary of State has served a notice under subsection (1) with respect to any ship, then, unless he has become satisfied that the ship is entitled to be registered, he shall, as soon as practicable after the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date of service of that notice, give to registrars of British ships generally a direction requiring them not to register the ship.
(3)Notwithstanding that any ship in respect of which an application for registration has been made is entitled to be registered, the Secretary of State may give to registrars of British ships generally a direction requiring them not to register the ship if he is satisfied that, having regard—
(a)to the condition of the ship so far as relevant to its safety or to any risk of pollution, or
(b)to the safety, health and welfare of persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board the ship,
it would be inappropriate for the ship to be registered.