Section 61. Repairs and modifications

1. Before any repair or modification
  is made to the structure or engineering plant of a public vessel, or any
  repair  or  modification  is  made  that  may  affect   the   stability,
  seaworthiness or safe operation of a public vessel, or in the event that
  the  owner  of  a  public  vessel  becomes  aware  of any such repair or
  modification, the owner shall notify the  inspector  of  the  repair  or
  modification   or  proposed  repair  or  modification  in  writing.  The
  inspector shall be authorized to determine whether a proposed repair  or
  modification  may  be  made,  whether  inspection of the vessel shall be
  required before any proposed repair or modification is made, or  whether
  inspection  should  be  made after repair or modification. The inspector
  shall also be authorized to determine whether the vessel may be operated
  pending inspection, or whether the vessel may  only  be  operated  after
  inspection,  or whether it may not be operated. The inspector may impose
  conditions on any such repair or modification, inspection and  operation
  taking  into consideration the nature of the proposed or existing repair
  or modification, the condition of the vessel and any other  factors  the
  inspector  deems  relevant  to  the  stability,  seaworthiness  and safe
  operation of such vessel. The owner shall comply with the  determination
  of the inspector.
    2.  An  owner  who  fails  to  give  notification  as required by this
  section, or who modifies or permits the  repair  or  modification  of  a
  public  vessel  in  contravention  of  the requirements of this section,
  shall be guilty of a  violation  punishable  as  set  forth  in  section
  seventy-three-c of this article.
    3.  A  public  vessel which the inspector has directed to be inspected
  prior to operation pursuant to the provisions of this section shall  not
  be  operated  upon  the navigable waters of the state if such vessel has
  not been inspected. A public vessel which the inspector has directed not
  to be operated pursuant to the provisions of this section shall  not  be
  operated  upon  the  navigable waters of the state. An owner who permits
  the operation of a public vessel in contravention of this section  shall
  be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as set forth in seventy-three-b of
  this  article,  and  the certificate of inspection of said public vessel
  may, in the discretion of the inspector, be suspended until such time as
  the inspector determines that said vessel is stable, seaworthy and safe.