(1)For the purpose of investigations and inquiries under this Part, a shipping casualty shall be deemed to occur when-(a)on or near the coasts of India, any ship is lost, abandoned, stranded or materially damaged;(b)on or near the coasts of India, any ship causes loss or material damage to any other ship;(c)any loss of life ensues by reason of any casualty happening to or on board any ship on or near the coasts of India;(d)in any place, any such loss, abandonment, stranding, material damage or casualty as above mentioned occurs to or on board any Indian ship, and any competent witness thereof is found in India;(e)any Indian ship is lost or is supposed to have been lost and any evidence is obtainable in India as to the circumstances under which she proceeded to sea or was last heard of.
