Article 23 Payment of charges

The charges which the Board are authorised to demand, take and recover in respect of vessels and goods under any enactment shall be payable before the removal from the harbour of any vessel or goods in respect of which they are payable and may be demanded, taken and recovered by such persons, at such places, at such times and under such regulations as the Board may from time to time appoint.

An officer as defined in the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979^f1 may refuse clearance of any vessel if he is satisfied that payment of any charges payable to the Board in respect of that vessel or any goods therein has not been made or satisfactorily secured.

Charges payable to the Board shall be payable by the owner of any vessel or goods in relation to which the charges are payable.

Where charges payable to the Board may be recovered by them from more than one person, such persons shall be jointly and severally liable.