(1) A Ghanaian ship to which sections 15 to 47 apply shall include
(a) prior to the ship being put in service, or the issuance of an International Ship
Security Certificate in respect of that ship, be subject to an initial verification
which shall include
(i) a complete verification of the ship's security system and an associated security equipment, and
(ii) verification of the approved ship security plan in compliance with the applicable requirements for the service for which the ship is intended;
(b) be subject to a renewal verification at intervals to be determined by the Director-General but not exceeding five years;
(c) be subject to at least one intermediate verification; and
(d) any additional verification as may be determined by the Authority.
(2) A verification under subsection (1) shall include inspection of the security system and any associated security equipment of the ship, to ensure compliance with the applicable requirements of Chapter XI-2 of the Convention, Part A of the code and the approved ship security plan.
(3) A verification under this section shall be carried out by an authorised person,
(a) in accordance with directives in writing by the Director-General,
(b) before the due expiry date for inspection of the ship.
(4) After a verification under subsection (2) has been completed, and endorsed in the forms specified in the Second, Third and Fourth Schedules, a person shall not make a change to
(a) the security system,
(b) any associated security equipment, or
(c) the approved ship security plan, without authorisation of the Authority.
(5) A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (4), commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both the fine and the imprisonment.