Whenever—
| (b) | the interest of the owner of a South African ship or of the cargo thereof appears to such an officer to require it; or |
| (c) | an allegation of incompetency or misconduct is made to him against the master or any of the ship's officers of a South African ship; or |
| (d) | any South African ship is lost, abandoned or stranded at or near the place where such an officer may be, or whenever the crew or part of the crew of any South African ship which has been lost, abandoned or stranded arrives at that place; or |
| (e) | any loss of life or any serious injury to any person has occurred on board a South African ship at or near that place, |
he may, in his discretion, convene a court (hereinafter referred to as a maritime court) to investigate the said complaint or allegation or the matter affecting the said interest or the cause of the loss, abandonment or stranding of the ship or of the loss of life or of the injury to the person.
