Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234), article 168

168. (1) Where a distressed seaman or apprentice is, for the purposes of his return to a proper return port, placed on board a Maltese ship, the officer by whom he is so placed shall endorse on the agreement with the crew of the ship the name of the seaman or apprentice so placed on board, together with any particulars directed to be endorsed by the the regulations. (2) The master of every Maltese ship shall receive on board his ship, and afford a passage and maintenance to, all distressed seamen or apprentices whom he is required under this Act to take on board his ship, not exceeding one for every fifty nett tons, and shall during the passage provide every such distressed seaman or apprentice with a proper berth or sleeping place, effectually protected against sea and weather. (3) On the production of a certificate, signed by the officer by whose direction any such distressed seaman or apprentice was received on board, specifying the number and names thereof and the time when each of them was received on board, and on a declaration made by the master before any officer authorised to administer oaths, stating a number of days during which each distressed seaman or apprentice has received maintenance, and stating the full complement of his crew and the actual number of seamen employed on board his ship, and any variation in that number, whilst the distressed seamen or apprentices received maintenance, the master shall be entitled to be paid, in respect of the maintenance and passage of every seaman or apprentice so conveyed, maintained and provided for by him, exceeding the number (if any) wanted to make up the complement of his crew, such sum per diem as the Minister allows. (4) If any master of a Maltese ship fails without reasonable cause to comply with this article in the case of any distressed seaman or apprentice, he shall for each offence be liable to a fine (multa) not exceeding one hundred units. Provision of insurance policy. Added by: XXII. 2000. 77. Amended by: XV. 2009.52.