(1) The State Government may, by notification, appoint or authorise any officer to act as receiver of wreck within the respective jurisdiction.
(2) The owner, operator, master or person in-charge of vessel, property or cargo, which is wrecked, stranded or in distress or who has found any vessel, property or cargo wrecked, stranded or in distress in the inland waters, shall immediately inform, by all means of communication to the receiver of wreck in whose jurisdiction the vessel, property or cargo is found to be wrecked, stranded or in distress.
(3) The owner of the wreck, whose property or cargo, is wrecked or stranded or is in distress in the inland waters shall inform the receiver of wreck in writing of the finding thereof and of the marks by which such wreck can be distinguished, and in cases, where the wreck is in possession of any person other than the owner, operator, master or person in-charge of vessel, property or cargo, such person shall deliver such wreck to the receiver of wreck.
Explanation.---For the purposes of this Chapter, the word person shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (42) of section 3 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897).