Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234), article 77

77. (1) Where any ship has either wholly or as to any share therein become subject to forfeiture under this Act, any office r authorised in that behalf by the Minister and any Maltese consu lar officer may seize and detain the ship and may bring her for adjudication before the Civil Court, First Hall, in Malta, and the court may thereupon adjudge the ship with her tackle, apparel a nd furniture to be forfeited to the Government of Malta and make s uch order in the case as to the court seems just. (2) Any such officer as in this article mentioned shall not be responsible either civilly or criminally to any person whomsoev er in respect of any seizure or det ention as afores aid, notwithsta nding that the ship has not been brought in for adjudication or, if s o brought in, is declared not to be liable to forfeiture, if it i s shown that there were reasonable groun ds for such seizure or detentio n. Transfer to foreign registry.