Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234), article 182

182. (1) If any person by any means whatever persuades or attempts to persuade a seaman or apprentice belonging to a Malt ese ship to neglect or refuse to joi n or proceed to sea in or to de sert from his ship, or otherwise to absent himself from his duty, he shall for each offence in respect of each seaman or apprentice be lia ble to a fine ( multa) not exceeding fifty units. (2) If a person wilfully harbours or secretes a seaman or apprentice belonging to a Maltese ship who has wilfully neglect ed or refused to join or has desert ed from, his ship, knowing or h aving reason to believe the seaman or apprentice to have so done, he shall for every seaman or apprentice so harboured or secreted be liab le to a fine ( multa) not exceeding fifty units. Deserters from foreign ships. Amended by:  XIII. 1983.5.