287. Inspectors of lights and shapes and fog and distress signals.- (1) The Central Government may appoint persons to inspect in any port ships or sailing vessels to which the collision regulations apply, for the purpose of seeing that such ships or sailing vessels are properly provided with lights and shapes and with the means of making fog and distress signals, in pursuance of such regulations. (2) If an inspector appointed under sub-section (1) finds that any ship or sailing vessel is not so provided, he shall give to the owner, master or tindal, notice in writing pointing out the deficiency, and also what, in his opinion, is requisite in order t remedy the same. (3) Every notice so given shall be communicated in the prescribed manner to the customs collector at any port from which such ship or sailing vessel may seek to clear; and no customs collector to whom such communication is made shall grant such ship a port clearance or allow her t proceed to sea without a certificate under the hand of some person appointed as aforesaid, to the effect that the said ship or sailing vessel is properly provided with lights and shapes and with the means of making fog and distress signals in pursuance of the said regulations. | 
