Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234), article 126

126. (1) The master of a Maltese ship shall sign and give to a seaman discharged from his ship at any place, either on his discharge or on payment of his w ages, a certificate of his disc harge in a form approved by the Minister, specifying the period of hi s service and the time and place of his discharge, and if the mas ter fails to do so he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa) not exceeding ten units. (2) The master shall also, upon the discharge of every certificated officer whose certifi cate of competency has been delivered to and retained by him , return the certificate to the officer, and if without reasonable cause he fails to do so he s hall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa) not exceeding twenty units. Reports of seamen’s character.'