Who is the custodian of a wreck in India, and what powers does the Receiver of Wreck have?

flowchart LR
  A["Wreck reported (s.236)"] --> B["Receiver of Wreck takes possession (s.235)"]
  B --> C{"Owner proves claim within one year, pays salvage and charges? (s.245)"}
  C -->|Yes| D["Wreck returned to the owner"]
  C -->|No| E["Disposed of under the Act"]
  B --> F["Wreck improperly held: warrant from the nearest Judicial Magistrate (s.241)"]

• Answer: the custodian of wreck is the Receiver of Wreck, appointed by the Central Government under MS Act 2025 s.235, not the deputy conservator of ports.
• Powers: takes possession of wreck and recovered property; acts on the wreck report (s.236); boarding and plunder prohibited (s.240).
• Recovery: for wreck improperly held he applies to the nearest Judicial Magistrate for a search and recovery warrant (s.241).
• Owner’s claim: within one year, on proving the claim and paying salvage and charges (s.245); unclaimed wreck is disposed of under the Act.
• Scheme: the Chapter (s.233) implements the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention 2007 (s.234): a hazardous wreck is marked, located and removed by the owner.
• As Chief Engineer: in a casualty I run SOPEP pollution prevention and support reporting, salvage and removal.