248. Number of passengers on board not to exceed that allowed by or under this Part.- (1) An unberthed passenger ship or a pilgrim ship shall not carry a number of unberthed passengers or pilgrims, which is greater than the number allowed for the ship or under this Part. (2) Any officer authorised in this behalf by the Central Government may cause all unberthed passengers or pilgrims over and above the number allowed by or under this Part to disembark, and may forward them to any port at which they may have contracted to land, and recover the cost of so forwarding them from the master, owner or a agent of the ship as if the cost were a fine imposed under this Part, and a certificate under the hand of that officer shall be conclusive proof of the amount of the cost aforesaid. | 
