Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234), article 164

164. Where either - (a) any seaman or apprentice, whether a citizen of Malta or not, is found in any place and has been shipwrecked f r o m a M a l t e s e s h i p , o r , b y r e a s o n o f h a v i n g b e e n discharged or left behind from any such ship, is in distress in t hat place; or (b) any seaman or apprentice, being a citizen of Malta who has been engaged to serve in a ship belonging to the government of, or registered in, any foreign country, is in distress in any place, the Maltese consular officer at that port, or such person as ma y be designated in the regulations, shall in accordance with and on the conditions prescribed by those regulations , provide in accordan ce with this Act for the return of those seamen or apprentices to a proper return port and also provide for their necessary clothin g and their maintenance until their departure for such port and, in c ase of death, for the repatriation of the deceased and for his burial expenses and, in addition, in the case of shipwrecked seamen or apprenti ces, for the repayment of any expenses incurred in their conveyance to a port after their shipwreck and t heir maintenance while being so conveyed. Recovery of expenses of relief of distressed seamen. Amended by: I.2025.63.