32. Performance of services by Board or other person.
(1)The Board shall have power to undertake the following services, namely:-(a)stevedoring, landing, shipping or trans shipping passengers and goods between vessels in port and the wharves, piers, quays or docks belonging to or in the possession of the Board;(b)receiving, removing, shifting, transporting, storing or delivering goods brought within the Board's premises;(c)carrying passengers within the limits of the port or port approaches, by such means and subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Board may think fit to impose; and(d)piloting, hauling, mooring, rumouring, hooking or measuring of vessels or any other service in respect of vessels.(2)The Board may, if so requested by the owner, take charge of the goods for the purpose of performing the service or services and shall give a receipt in such form as the Board may specify by the regulations.(3)Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Board may authorize any person to perform any of the services mentioned in sub-section (1) on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon.(4)No person authorized under sub-section (3) shall charge or recover for such service any sum in excess of the amount leviable according to the scale framed under sections 37, 38 or 40.(5)Any such person shall, if so required by the owner perform in respect of the goods any of the services and for that purpose take charge of the goods and give a receipt in such form as the Board may specify.(6)The responsibility of any such person for the loss, destruction or deterioration of goods of which he has taken charge shall, subject to the other provisions of this Act, be that of a bailee under sections 151, 152 and 161 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.(7)After any goods have been taken charge of and a receipt given for them under this section, no liability for any loss or damage which may occur to them shall attach to any person to whom a receipt has been given or to the master or owner of the vessel from which the goods have been landed or transhipped.
