Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234), article 361

361. Where loss of life or personal injuries are suffered by any person on board a vessel owing to the fault of that vessel and of any other vessel or vessels, the liability of the owners of the ves sels shall be joint and several: Provided that nothing in this article shall be construed as depriving any person of any right of defence on which, independently of this article, he might have relied in an actio n brought against him by the person injured, or any person or per sons entitled to sue in respect of such loss of life, or shall affec t the right of any person to limit his liability in cases to which this art icle relates in the manner provided by law. Right of contribution.