Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234), article 79

79. (1) Where it appears to the Registrar-General that there is any doubt as to the title of any ship registered as a Maltese s hip to be so registered he may direct t he registrar to require evidenc e to be given to his satisfaction that the ship is entitled to be regis tered as a Maltese ship; and if within such time, not being less than thir ty days, as the Registrar-General may specify, satisfactory eviden ce of the title of the ship to be so registered is not given, he may order that the registry of the ship shall be closed. (2) Upon the receipt of any such o rder, the registrar shall make an entry thereof in the register and thereupon the registry of the ship in that book shall be considered as closed except so far a s relates to any unsatisfied mortgages or existing certificates o f mortgage entered therein. Power of Minister to order closure of registry.