(1) Subject to subsections ( 2) and (3), where the Council is satisfied that material included in the national maritime collection:
(a) is unfit for the collection; or
(b) is not required as part of the collection;
the Council may determine that the material be disposed of by sale, exchange, gift or destruction.
(2) The Council shall not determine that material included in the national maritime collection be disposed of until the Council has obtained and considered reports from 2 independent experts setting out the views of those experts on the importance of the material to the national maritime collection.
(3) The Council shall not determine that material included in the national maritime collection be disposed of by destruction unless the Council is satisfied that the material cannot be disposed of by sale, exchange or gift.
(4) If the Council has determined, in accordance with this section, that material included in the national maritime collection be disposed of, the Museum may dispose of that material accordingly.
Note: Particulars of any such disposals must be included in the annual report (see section 48).
(5) Subsection (4) is subject to section 47 (about restrictions on financial transactions).