(1) If at any port outside India a ship becomes entitled to be registered as an Indian ship, the Indian consular officer there may grant to her master on his application a provisional certificate containing such particulars as may be prescribed in relation to the ship and shall forward a copy of the certificate at the first convenient opportunity to the Director-General.
     (2) Such a provisional certificate shall have the effect of a certificate of registry until the expiration of six months from its date or until the arrival of the ship at a port where there is a registrar whichever first happens, and on either of those events happening shall cease to have effect.