Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234), article 371

371. (1) Where under this Act a ship is to be or may be detained, any commissioned officer on full pay in the naval or military service of the Republic of Malta, or any police office r not below the rank of inspector, or any officer of customs, or any officer of the Ministry responsible for shipping, or any Maltes e consular officer, or an appropriate inspector, may detain the s hip, and if the ship after detention or after service on the master of any notice of or order for detentio n proceeds to sea before it is r eleased by competent authority, the master of the ship, and also the ow ner or the bareboat charterer and any person who sends the ship to sea, if that owner, or bareboat charterer or person is party or priv y to the offence, shall be liable for each offence to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding two hundred units. (2) Where a ship so proceeding to sea takes to sea when on M E R C H A N T S H I P P I N G [CAP. 234. 169 board thereof there is, in the execution of his duty, any offic er authorised to detain the ship, or any surveyor or officer of th e Ministry responsible for shipping or any officer of customs, th e owner or the bareboat charterer and master of the ship shall ea ch be liable to pay all expenses of and incidental to the officer or surveyor being so taken to sea, and also to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding two hu ndred units. (3) Where under this Act a ship is to be detained, the officer authorised to clear the ship outwards shall, and where under th is Act a ship may be detained such officer may, refuse to clear th at ship outwards or to grant a transire to that ship. Authority to give notice of prisoners on board merchant ships to magistrate. Added by: II. 2015.2.