In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,--
         ¹[(1) "Magistrate" means a person exercising powers under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974);]
         (2) "master", when used in relation to any vessel ²[or any aircraft making use of any port], means, subject to the provisions of any other enactment for the time being in force, any person (except a pilot or harbour-master ²[of the port]) having for the time being the charge or control of the vessel 6[or the aircraft, as the case may be];
         (3) "pilot" means a person for the time being authorised by the ³[Government] to pilot vessels;
         (4) "port" includes also any part of a river or channel in which this Act is for the time being in force;
         (5) "port officer" is synonymous with master-attendant;
         ⁴[(6) "ton" means a ton as determined or determinable by the rules made under section 74 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), for regulating the measurement of the gross tonnage of ships;]
         (7) "vessel" includes anything made for the conveyance ⁵[mainly] by water of human beings or of property;
         ⁶[(8) "major port" means any port which the Central Government may by notification in the Official Gazette declare, or may under any law for the time being in force ha ve declared, to be a major port; ⁷[and]
         (9) "Government", as respects major ports, for all purposes, and, a s respects other ports, for the purposes of making rules under clause (p) of section 6 (1) and of the appointment and control of port health-officers under section 17, means the Central Government, and save as aforesaid, means the State Government.]
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