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(1) The power of the Minister responsible for Ports, Harbours and Railways under subsection (1) of section 217 of the Ghana Shipping Act, 2003 (Act 645) to make Regulations for the prevention of collision at sea shall extend to collision

(a) between seaplanes on the surface of the water, and

(b) between vessels and seaplanes on the surface of the water; and accordingly section 173 and sections 221, 222 and 231 of the Ghana Shipping Act, 2003 (Act 645) shall apply in relation to seaplanes on the surface of the water as they apply to ships.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, an enactment which confers or imposes on a harbour authority a power to make Regulations for the regulation of ships or vessels shall be construed as if that power included

(a) a power, subject to the prior approval of the Minister, to make Regulations for the regulation of seaplanes when on the surface of the water, and

(b) a power to include in the Regulations provisions authorising the harbour master or any other officer of the harbour authority to perform as regards seaplanes on the surface of the water, the functions which the harbour master is authorised by the enactment to perform with respect to ships or vessels.

(3) Regulations made under subsection (2) shall not require, or authorise a harbour master or any other officer to require the dismantling of a seaplane or a part of the seaplane or the making of an alteration of the structure or equipment of a seaplane.

(4) For the purposes of this section, seaplanes taking off from or alighting on, the water are on the surface of the water while in contact with the owner; and

"harbour authority" includes a person or body of persons, corporate or unincorporated, entrusted with the duty of managing, regulating or maintaining a harbour;

"seaplane" includes a flying boat and any other aircraft designed to manoeuvre on water;

"ship" includes every description of vessel used in navigation not propelled by oars;

"vessel" includes a ship, a boat and any other description of vessel used in navigation; and a reference in [section 173 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1963 (Act 183)] to the "master" shall be construed as a reference to the pilot or any other person on duty in charge of the seaplane.