(1) Every State Maritime Board established or constituted by the State Government under the Acts specified in the Third Schedule, shall be deemed to be duly established or constituted for the purposes of this Act:
Provided that where the State Maritime Board has not been established or constituted, the State Government may, by notification, establish a State Maritime Board within six months from the date of commencement of this Act:
Provided further that where the functions of the State Maritime Board are discharged by a body of persons or a department of the State Government, that Government may notify such body of persons or department, as the State Maritime Board for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The State Maritime Board shall be a distinct legal entity, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract and shall, by the said name, sue or be sued.
(3) The head office of the State Maritime Board shall be at such place as the State Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf.