Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234), article 150

150. (1) Where three or more members of the crew of a Maltese ship consider that the provisions or water provided for the use of the crew are, at any time, of bad quality or deficient in quantity, they may complain thereof to a registrar or a Maltese consular officer or an appropriate inspector, who may either examine the provisions or water complained of, or cause them to be examined. (2) Where the person making an examination under this article finds that the provisions or water are of bad quality or deficient in quantity, he shall communicate that fact in writing to the master of the ship, and if the master does not replace them with provisions or water fit for human consumption within a reasonable time or, without reasonable excuse, permits them to be used, he shall be liable to a fine (multa) not exceeding one thousand units unless he proves that the failure to replace them or permit them to be used was not due to his neglect or default. (3) The person making the examination shall enter a statement of the result of the examination in the official log book and send a report thereof to a registrar, and that report shall be admissible in evidence in the manner provided by this Act. (4) Where the person making the examination certifies in his statement that there was no reasonable ground for complaint, each of the complainants is liable to forfeit to the owner out of his wages a sum not exceeding one week’s wages. Allowance for short or bad provisions. Added by: XXII. 2000.71.