 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         1
CHAPTER 234 
MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT
To regulate merchant shipping. 
6th April, 1973;
1st June, 1973;
13th August, 1974;
16th December, 1974;
8th November, 1986
ACT XI of 1973, as amended by Legal Notice No. 148 of 1975 and Acts: XI of 1977, XXXI of
1981, XIII of 1983, XXIV of 1986 and XXXVII of 1988; Legal Notices Nos. 37 of 1989 and 152
of 1989; Acts VIII and XXXVII of 1990, and XVII of 1991; Legal Notices Nos. 86 of 1993 and
125 of 1995; Acts XXIV of 1995 and XXII of 2000; and Legal Notices 278 and 340 of 2002.
ARRANGEMENT OF ACT
  Articles
Part I.  Preliminary  1-2 
Part II. Registry  3-84
Registration of Maltese Ships  3-5 
Registration fees  6-9 
Procedure for registration  10-18A 
Certificate of registry  19-27 
Closure of Registry  28-30 
Transfer and Transmissions  32-37 
Maritime Privileges and Mortgages  37A-49 
Special Privileges  50-54A 
Name of Ship  55-56 
Registry of alteration, Registry anew and Transfer of
Registry  57-63 
Declarations  64-65 
Returns, Inspection of register, and Evidence  67-68 
Forms  69 
Forgery and false declarations  70-71 
Flag and national character  72-76 
Forfeiture of ship  77 
Closure of registry  79 
Measurements of ships and Tonnage  81-84 
Part IIA.  Bareboat Charter Registration  84A-84Y 
Part III.  Taxation and Concessions  85-88A 
Part IV.  Masters and Seamen  89-206
Certificates of Competency  89-98 
Masters  99-105 
Conditions for admission to employment 106-111
Engagement of seamen  112-122C
Certification of able seamen and ship’s cooks 123-124
Discharge of seamen  125-130
  2        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Payment of wages  131-137A 
Rights of seamen in respect of wages  138-146 
Power of Court to receive contracts  147 
Accommodation, Provisions and Health  148-154 
Facilities for making complaint  155 
Deceased and distressed seamen and seamen left behind  156-168A 
Provisions as to discipline  169-182 
Stowaways and seamen carried under compulsion  184-189 
Official Logs  190-194 
Identity Cards  195-203 
Application of Part IV  204-206
Part V. Safety of Life at Sea  206A-308 
1.  Construction and Equipment of Ships  207-249 
Rules as to construction, equipment and safety  207-213 
Declarations of survey  214-216
Certificates in respect of ships  217-231 
Enforcement of Rules  232-241 
Foreign Safety Convention Ships  242-246 
Exemption from safety requirements, and
Interpretation  247-249
2.  Load Line and Loading  250-277 
General Provisions  250-251 
Maltese ships  252-260 
Foreign ships  261-266 
Exemptions  267-271 
Subdivision load lines and deck cargo  272-273 
Miscellaneous and supplementary provisions  274-276 
Ships not subject to load line provisions  277
3.   Unseaworthy Ships  278-283C 
4.   Carriage of Dangerous Goods  284-291 
5.   Prevention of Collisions  292-297 
6.   Miscellaneous Provisions  298-308 
Part VA. Prevention of Pollution From Ships 308A
Part VI. Emigrant Ships  309-311 
Part VII. Special Shipping Inquiries and Courts  312-329 
Inquiries and investigations as to shipping casualties  312-317 
Provisions as to certified officers  318-324 
Rehearing of investigations and inquiries  325 
Court of survey  326-328 
Rules  329 
Part VIII . Wreck and Salvage  330-346 
Vessels in distress  330-334 
Dealing with wreck  335-338 
Removal of wrecks  339-341 
Salvage  342-346
  Articles
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         3
Part IX.  Liability of Shipowners  347-362 
Liability and limitation thereof  347-358 
Apportionment of liability  359-362
Part X.  General Provisions  363-374 
Registrar-General and registrars  363-366
Surveyors of ships  367-369 
Jurisdiction and proceedings  370-372C 
Application of Act to Foreign Ships by Order  373 
Regulations, Rules and Orders  374-375
SCHEDULES
First Schedule  Registration fees 
Second Schedule  Documents to be in the form prescribed by the Minister
Third Schedule National Colours of Maltese Ships 
Fourth Schedule  Form of Maltese Seaman’s Card 
Fifth Schedule  Declaration in lieu of tax return in respect of a company
owning and, or, operating an exempted ship.
  Articles
  4        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
PART I
PRELIMINARY
Short title. 1. The short title of this Act is Merchant Shipping Act.
Interpretation. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4; 
XVII. 1991.82;
XXII. 2000.3.
2. (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires or it
is otherwise expressly provided - 
"Authority" means the Malta Maritime Authority established by
the Malta Maritime Authority Act, 1991;
"clearance" includes a transire;
"cargo ship" means every ship which is not a passenger ship, a
fishing vessel or a pleasure yacht;
"collision regulations" means the regulations made under article
292;
"company" means a limited liability company;
"consular officer" when used in relation to Malta, means the
diplomatic or consular representative of the Government of Malta
or a person serving in a diplomatic, consular or other foreign
service of any country which, by arrangement with the Government
of Malta, has undertaken to represent that Government’s interest;
and when used in relation to any other country, means the officer
recognised by the Government of Malta as a consular officer of the
country;
"court of survey" means the court established by article 326;
"crew accommodation" includes sleeping rooms, mess rooms,
sanitary accommodation, hospital accommodation, recreation
accommodation, store rooms and catering accommodation provided
for the use of seamen and apprentices, not being accommodation
which is also used by, or provided for the use of, passengers;
"effects" in relation to persons, includes clothes and documents
belonging to such persons;
"Gazette" means the Malta Government Gazette; 
"law" includes any instrument having the force of law; 
"Malta" has the same meaning as is assigned to it by article 124
of the Constitution of Malta;
"master" includes every person (except a pilot) having command
or charge of a ship;
"Minister" means the Minister responsible for shipping and
includes any person acting under his authority;
"month" means calendar month;
"name" in relation to a person, includes surname;
"passenger" means any person carried in a ship except -
( a ) persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board
the ship on the business of the ship;
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         5
( b ) a person on board the ship either in pursuance of the
obligation laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked,
distressed or other persons, or by reason of any
circumstances that neither the master nor the owner
could have prevented or forestalled; and
( c ) a child under the age of one year;
"passenger ship" means any ship which carries more than twelve
passengers;
"person" includes a body of persons;
"pilot" means any person not belonging to a ship who has the
conduct thereof;
"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations, rules, orders or
instructions under this Act;
"proper officer" means an officer authorised in that behalf by the
Minister or other appropriate authority;
"proper return port" means either the port at which a seaman or
an apprentice was shipped or a port in the country to which he
belongs or some other port agreed to by the seaman or the
apprentice;
"radio navigation aid" means radio apparatus on board a ship
being apparatus designed for the purpose of determining the
position or direction of ships or other objects;
"register" means the record to be kept by the registrar under
article 365;
"registered" means registered under this Act;
"registrar" means a person appointed as registrar under article
364, and includes any person acting under his authority with the
permission of the Registrar-General;
"Registrar-General" means the Registrar-General of Shipping
and Seamen as provided in article 363, and includes any person
acting under his authority;
"seaman" includes every person (except masters, pilots and
apprentices) employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship;
 "ship" means every description of vessel used in navigation,
whether self propelled or not, and it includes barges, pontoons and
oil rigs and other similar vessels, but not including vessels
propelled by oars, and for those parts of the Act wherever
applicable it shall also include a ship under construction;
"shipping master" means an officer in the office of the Registrar-
General designated by the Minister to perform the functions of
shipping master under this Act and, whether such an officer has or
has not been so designated, includes the Registrar-General;
"surveyor of ships" and "surveyor" means a person appointed as
a surveyor of ships under article 367;
"tonnage regulations" means the regulations for ascertaining the
tonnage of a ship made under article 81;
  6        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
"vessel" includes any ship or boat, or any other description of
vessel used in navigation;
"wages" includes emoluments.
(2) Any notice required to be sent under this Act to the master,
owner, or any other person representing the ship shall be deemed to
have been duly received and notified if sent by registered post to
the last address of the owner registered with the registrar.
PART II 
REGISTRY 
Registration of Maltese ships
Maltese ships. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.5; 
XVII. 1991.87;
XXII. 2000.4.
3. (1) No ship, other than a ship exempted from registry, or a
ship referred to in subarticle (7), shall enjoy the rights and
privileges of a Maltese ship or be recognised as a Maltese ship
unless such ship is registered under this Act.
(2) Ships registered under the Malta Maritime Authority Act,
1991 not exceeding twenty-four metres in length shall be exempted
from registry, and such ships, if not registered elsewhere and if
owned wholly by persons habitually resident in Malta or by bodies
corporate established under and subject to the laws of Malta and
having their principal place of business in Malta, shall also be
deemed to be Maltese ships:
Provided that ships of a length of six metres or over not
employed solely in navigation on the coasts of Malta shall not be
exempted from registry.
(3) It shall be lawful to register any ship which is being built or
equipped and that when built or equipped will be a ship registrable
under this Act.
(4) Pending completion the ship may be assigned an official
number and a name.
(5) For the purposes of identification the owner of such ship
that is being built or equipped shall identify it by painting the
official number, name and port of registry on the keel, such details
to be reproduced on the ship’s side and eventually on the stern, as
may be possible from time to time and prior to the above being
possible the owner shall identify it by painting on a board,
maintained near the place in the yard of builder where the ship is
being built, the assigned number, name and port of registry, on a
dark background, in white or yellow figures and letters of not less
than ten centimetres in length.
(6) The requirements of this Act -
( a ) relating to survey and safety of ships already built, and
( b ) relating to the declaration of ownership of a ship under
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         7
construction where the builders thereof have not yet
affected delivery to the owners, 
shall be suspended under such conditions as the Registrar-General
may impose, until the construction or equipping of the ship is
completed or until delivery has been made, as the case may be.
(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, ships
under six metres in length shall not be registrable under this Act.
(8) No ship shall be registered otherwise than by or with the
express permission of the Registrar-General if the completion of
her first construction occurred more than twenty-five years before
the commencement of the year in which application for registration
is first made under this Act, and the Registrar-General may allow
the registration, or refuse to allow the registration of, any such
ship:
Provided that the Minister may, in any case, direct the
Registrar-General, not to register any ship irrespective of its age in
respect of which an application for registration has been made, if in
the Minister’s opinion it would be detrimental to the national
interest of Malta or the interest of Maltese shipping for the ship to
be registered.
Ships eligible to be 
registered under 
this Act. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.6;
XXII. 2000.5.
4. (1) A ship shall not be eligible to be registered under this
Act unless owned wholly by persons of the following description
(in this Act referred to as persons qualified to own a Maltese ship),
namely -
( a ) citizens of Malta;
( b ) bodies corporate established under and subject to the
laws of Malta having their principal place of business
in Malta or having a place of business in Malta and
satisfying the Minister that they can and will ensure
due observance of the laws of Malta relating to
merchant shipping;
( c ) such other persons as the Minister may, by regulations,
prescribe,
and, saving any other provision of this Act, if a registered ship
ceases to be owned wholly by persons qualified to own a Maltese
ship, such ship shall cease to be a Maltese ship.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, regulations
made under subarticle (1)( c ) may, in particular -
( a ) prescribe the extent of the ownership of a ship or class
of ships eligible to be registered under this Act; and
( b ) prescribe other conditions in conjunction with the
requisite ownership for ships eligible to be registered
under this Act.
(3) A body corporate shall be deemed to satisfy the Minister as
required by subarticle (1)( b ) unless the Minister has made a
declaration to the contrary; and the Minister may, before
withdrawing such declaration, impose such conditions as he may
  8        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
deem fit in the circumstances that may include the provision of a
guarantee or a bond.
(4) For the purposes of subarticle (1)( b ) the Minister may, by
regulations, establish such other conditions as he may deem
expedient in order to ensure the proper application of this Act, and
the due observance of the laws of Malta relating to merchant
shipping.
Home port. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.7.
5. The home port of every ship registered under this Act shall
be Valletta, and the name of the home port shall be shown on any
certificate of registry issued under article 19.
Registration Fees
Registration fees. 
Amended by: 
XXIV. 1986.2.
6. (1) There shall be levied in respect of the registration of a
ship under this Act the fee on first registration and the annual fee
specified in the First Schedule to this Act.
(2) The Minister may with the concurrence of the Minister
responsible for finance, by regulations amend, add to, vary, revoke
or substitute the First Schedule to this Act.
Payment of fees. 
Amended by: 
XI.1977.2; 
XXIV. 1986.3. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.8. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1990.2, 6.
7. (1) The fee due on initial registration and the annual fee
for one year shall be paid before the ship is registered, and no
certificate of registry as described in article 19 shall be issued in
respect of a ship unless the fees have been paid in respect of the
ship:
  Provided that if the registrar is requested to give a service
in respect of a ship prior to such ship being registered under this
Act, the registrar may grant such service on payment of an amount
equivalent to ten per cent of the initial registration fee payable in
terms of article 6 of the Act:
  Provided further that if the ship is registered within one
year from such service being given, such an amount paid shall be
deducted from the fee due on initial registration.
(2) Thereafter the annual fee shall be payable on the
anniversary of the initial registration.
(3) Notwithstanding that the ship remains on the register under
this Act, no registry fees shall be payable unless and until a
certificate of registry or a deletion certificate, as the case may be, is
issued under this Act:
  Provided that in no case may a certificate of registry be
issued as of a date later than the date of expiry of the last valid
certificate of registry, and should a certificate of registry or a
deletion certificate be delivered at a later date, the fees due shall
still accrue from the date of expiry of the last valid certificate of
registry:
Provided further that should a deletion certificate be issued
on closure of registry in terms of article 28A, no registry fees shall
be payable on the issue of such a deletion certificate.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         9
(4) The fees specified in subarticle (1) are paid on the basis of
the tonnage declared by the owner of the ship on the application for
registry and such fees shall be adjusted in accordance with the
tonnage specified in the surveyor’s certificate issued in accordance
with article 14 upon receipt of such certificate by the registrar.
(5) Fees on initial registration and annual fees shall not be
subject to abatement or refund save as provided for in this Act, or
in accordance with regulations which may be made by the Minister.
Collection of fees.
fees due under this Act and with the issue of receipts therefor.
Default of 
payment. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII.1988.9.
9. A registrar is entitled to demand payment of any
outstanding fees, charges or penalties due under this Act prior to
recording any transaction in the register of a ship or prior to
granting any services in connection with a ship:
  Provided that in any case any registered mortgagee shall
always be entitled, on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, to
official documentary evidence as to the status of his mortgage in
the register of any ship.
Procedure for registration
Application for 
registry. 
Amended by: 
XXIV.1986.4. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.9.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.7.
10. An application for registry of a ship, whether provisional
or otherwise, shall contain such information, details and documents
as may be required by the registrar, and shall be made, in the case
of individuals by the person requiring to be registered as owner or
by some one or more of the persons so requiring if more than one,
or by his or their agent, and in the case of bodies corporate by their
agent; and the authority of the agent shall be testified by writing, if
appointed by individuals under the hand of the appointors and, if
appointed by a body corporate under the hand of a person or
persons authorised to authenticate documents for the body
corporate.
Declaration of 
ownership. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.9. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1990.3.
11. A person shall not be entitled to be registered as owner of a
ship or of a share therein until he, or in the case of a body corporate
the person authorised by this Act to make declarations on behalf of
the body corporate, has made and signed a declaration of ownership
referring to the ship as described in the application referred to in
article 10 and containing the following particulars:
( a ) a statement of his qualification to own a Maltese ship
or, in the case of a body corporate, of such
circumstances as prove it to be qualified to own a
Maltese ship;
( b ) a statement of the time and place where the ship was
built or if these are not known, a statement that the
declarant does not know the time and place of her
building;
( c ) a statement of the extent to which he or the body
corporate, as the case may be, is entitled to be
registered as owner;
  10        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
( d ) a declaration that to the best of his knowledge and
belief no unqualified person or body of persons is
entitled as owner to any interest in the ship or any
share therein; and
( e ) a declaration as to what registered encumbrances, if
any, exist on the ship.
Provisional 
registration. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.9.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.8.
12. Upon receipt of an application for registry, whether
provisional or otherwise, made in accordance with article 10
accompanied by a declaration of ownership as required by article
11, and upon the payment of the fees specified in this Act or any
regulations made thereunder, the registrar may, subject to such
conditions as he may deem proper, provisionally register the ship
as a Maltese ship for six months provided the applicant for registry
has furnished evidence satisfactory to the Minister that:
( a ) the ship is either a vessel being built or equipped, or if
already built is seaworthy; and
( b ) where required the registered owner has satisfied such
conditions as may be established in accordance with
the provisions of article 4(3);
  Provided that the registrar may, on good cause being
shown, renew the provisional registry of a ship for a further period
of, or further periods not exceeding in the aggregate, six months:
Provided further that, notwithstanding the provisions of this
article, the registrar may, prior to the provisional registration of a
ship, require such ship to be inspected by an appropriate inspector
or a surveyor of ships.
Documents and 
evidence after 
provisional 
registration. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.9. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1990.4;
XXII. 2000. 9.
13. (1) Within one month of provisional registry, extendable
for good reason for another period of two months, the owner shall,
unless the ship is otherwise exempted, produce to the registrar the
following documents and evidence:
( a ) a builder’s certificate, that is to say a certificate signed
by the builder of the ship (which expression includes
such person as the Registrar-General recognises as
carrying on the business of the builder of a ship) and
containing true account of the proper denomination
and of the tonnage of the ship as estimated by him, and
of the time when and the place where she was built,
and of the name of the person (if any) on whose
account the ship was built or, if there has been any
sale, the bill of sale or other document under which the
ship or a share therein was transferred to the applicant
for registry;
( b ) evidence satisfactory to the registrar, or as may be
prescribed by the Minister, that any foreign certificate
of registry of the ship, or equivalent documents, has
been legally cancelled or the registry has been duly
closed:
  Provided that the Minister may, in such
circumstances as he may deem appropriate, direct that
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         11
no such certificate shall be required where the owner
has attempted to obtain such certificate but due to
reasons beyond the control of the owner inordinate
delay has occurred. The Minister may give any
direction as to the production of such other documents
as he deems fit.
(2) Within six months of provisional registry, extendable for
good reason for a further period of, or further periods not exceeding
in the aggregate, six months, the owner shall, unless the ship is
otherwise exempted, produce to the registrar the following
documents and evidence:
( a ) proof that the ship has been issued with such valid
certificates required by international conventions
(including protocols, annexes and appendices thereto)
which have been ratified or acceded to or accepted by
the Government of Malta;
( b ) certificate of survey issued in terms of article 14 and a
copy of the tonnage measurement certificate:
Provided that the Registrar-General may, subject
to such conditions as he may deem proper, in case of a
ship which is being built, rebuilt or equipped, exempt
such ship from the requirements of this paragraph for a
period of one year extendable for good reason for
another period of one year; and
( c ) a carving and marking note issued in accordance with
article 15 or evidence satisfactory to the registrar that
the vessel has been marked in accordance with article
15.
Survey and 
measurement of 
ship. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.9.
14. (1) Every ship shall before registry be surveyed by a
surveyor of ships and her tonnage ascertained in accordance with
the tonnage regulations of this Act.
(2) The surveyor shall in his certificate specify the ship’s
tonnage and build and such other particulars descriptive of the
identity of the ship as may from time to time be required by the
Minister, and shall certify that the tonnage has been ascertained in
accordance with the tonnage regulations of this Act.
(3) The surveyor’s certificate and the copy of the tonnage
certificate shall be delivered to the registrar before registry.
Marking of ship.  
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.9.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.2.
15. (1) Every ship shall before registry be marked
permanently and conspicuously to the satisfaction of the registrar
as follows:
 ( a ) her name shall be marked on each of her bows and her
name and the name of the home port shall be marked
on her stern, on a dark ground in white or yellow
letters or on a light ground in black letters, such letters
to be of a length of not less than ten centimetres and of
proportionate breadth;
( b ) her official number and the number denoting her
  12        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
registered tonnage shall be cut in on her main beam;
and
( c ) a scale of feet, or decimetres denoting her draught of
water shall be marked on each side of her stern and of
her stern post in Roman capital letters or in figures not
less than fifteen centimetres in length, the lower line
of such letters or figures to coincide with the draught
line denoted thereby, and those letters or figures must
be marked by being cut in and painted white or yellow
on a dark ground or in such other way as the Minister
approves.
(2) The Minister may exempt any class of ships from all or any
of the requirements of this article under such conditions as he may
deem appropriate.
(3) If the scale showing the ship’s draught of water is in any
respect inaccurate so as to be likely to mislead, the owner of the
ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred
units.
(4) The marks required by this article shall be permanently
continued and no alteration shall be made therein except in the
event of any of the particulars thereby denoted being altered in the
manner provided by this Act.
(5) If any owner or master of a ship neglects to keep his ship
marked as required by this article, or if any person conceals,
removes, alters, defaces or obliterates, or suffers any person under
his control to conceal, remove, alter, deface or obliterate any of the
said marks, except in the event aforesaid, or except for the purpose
of escaping capture by an enemy, that owner, master or person shall
for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one
hundred units, and, on a certificate from a surveyor of ships that a
ship is insufficiently or inaccurately marked, the ship may be
detained until the insufficiency or inaccuracy has been remedied.
Compliance with 
the requirements of 
this Act. 
Amended by: 
XXIV. 1986.5. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII.1988.9. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1990.5;
XXII. 2000.2, 10.
16. (1) Saving any provision with regard to ships being built,
rebuilt or equipped, all ships provisionally registered under this Act
shall comply, except where expressly exempted, with the
requirements of this Act within the periods specified in this Act,
and in any case, within a maximum period of twelve months of the
date of provisional registration and thereafter shall observe such
requirements that are laid down in the Act or in any regulations
made thereunder.
(2) Any person who fails to observe the requirements of this
Act within the time limits specified in a notice in writing served by
the registrar upon the owner shall be liable to a penalty of fifty
units per month or part thereof for each violation and any ship not
complying with the requirements of provisional registry within a
maximum period of twelve months shall be liable to a penalty of
two hundred units per month or part thereof and in these cases the
registrar may take steps to cancel such ship in accordance with this
Act.
(3) The registrar may not re-register any ship, provisionally or
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         13
otherwise, prior to the payment of all penalties previously incurred
and unless satisfactory evidence is supplied to the registrar that the
ship has been registered in a foreign register the penalties for the
intervening period shall also be collected.
(4) It shall be the obligation of the owner throughout the whole
period of registry, whether provisional or otherwise, to notify the
registrar of any changes which might have occurred in the
intervening period since registry, to the information contained in
any certificates and evidence produced before registry.
(5) The registrar may refuse to register provisionally a ship
more than three times in succession even in the name of different
owners, and shall refuse to consecutively register provisionally a
ship more than two times in the name of the same owner.
Entry of particulars 
in register. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII.1988.4,10.
17. As soon as the requirements of this Act preliminary to
registry whether provisional or otherwise, have been complied
with, the registrar shall enter in the register the following
particulars respecting the ship:
( a ) the name of the ship;
( b ) the details comprised in the surveyor’s certificate
where applicable;
( c ) the particulars respecting her origin stated in the
declaration of ownership;
( d ) the name and description of her registered owner or
owners and, if there are more owners than one, the
proportions in which they are interested in her;
( e ) any registered encumberances that may come to the
knowledge of the registrar.
Documents to be 
retained by 
registrar.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.11.
18. On the registry of a ship, the registrar shall retain in his
possession the surveyor’s certificate, a copy of the builder’s
certificate, a copy of the last bill of sale previously made and all
declarations of ownership.
Ship’s managing 
owner to be 
registered.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.12.
18A. (1) The registrar may require such particulars, as he may
deem proper, of the managing owner for the time being of a ship
registered under this Act, to be registered with him.
(2) Where there is not a managing owner, there shall be
registered the particulars of such other person to whom the
management of the ship is entrusted by or on behalf of the owner,
and any person whose particulars are so registered shall, for the
purposes of this Act, be under the same obligations and subject to
the same liabilities in respect of any act performed or omitted to be
performed by him as if such act were performed or omitted to be
performed by the managing owner.
  14        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Certificate of Registry
Certificates of 
registry, 
provisional or 
other. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII.1988.11. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1990.6;
XXII. 2000.13.
19. (1) On completion of the provisional registry of a ship the
registrar shall, subject to such conditions as he may deem proper,
grant a provisional certificate of registry:
  Provided that, unless exempted, if the ship is not in
possession of valid certificates required by international
conventions (including protocols, annexes and appendices thereto)
which have been ratified or acceded to or accepted by the
Government of Malta and such other certificates as the Minister
may by regulations prescribe, the registrar shall grant a non-
operational provisional certificate:
Provided further that unless the requirements for registry
have been completed the registrar shall also issue a non-operational
provisional certificate to any laid up ship qualifying for special
treatment under this Act, or to a ship under tow.
(2) On completion of registry of a ship the registrar shall grant
a certificate of registry:
  Provided that, unless otherwise exempted, if the ship is not
in possession of valid certificates required by international
conventions (including protocols, annexes and appendices thereto)
which have been ratified or acceded to or accepted by the
Government of Malta and such other certificates as the Minister
may by regulations prescribe, the registrar shall issue a non-
operational certificate of registry:
  Provided further that if the requirements for registry have
been completed the registrar shall also issue a non-operational
certificate of registry to any laid up ship qualifying for special
treatment under this Act, or to a ship under tow.
(3) The period of validity of a certificate of registry shall be as
follows:
( a ) if issued within the first twelve months of provisional
registry for the remaining period of the said twelve
months; or
( b ) if issued at the expiry of the first twelve months for a
period of twelve months:
  Provided that the registrar, at the request of the owner and
on payment of the relative annual fees, may issue a certificate of
registry for the combined period of the periods specified in
paragraphs ( a )   and   ( b ) hereof, so however that the fee specified for
the subsequent period of twelve months shall be refunded if the
registry of the ship is closed prior to the commencement of such
period.
(4) Thereafter, all certificates of registry shall be issued for a
period of twelve months provided that within a period of three
months prior to the expiry of such certificate, the registrar, upon
the payment of the annual fee, shall issue a renewal certificate of
registry in the prescribed form.
(5) No certificate may be issued, except in cases of loss or
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         15
destruction of a certificate, other than on the return of the
certificate currently being held by the owner or at the discretion of
the registrar, upon the issue of an undertaking by the owner to
return the certificate within a maximum period of one month.
(6) A certificate of registry, whether provisional or otherwise,
issued to a ship in terms of the provisions of this article, may be
issued subject to such conditions as the registrar may deem proper
and shall include the name and official number of the vessel and
such particulars, if any, as the registrar may deem proper showing
the port of Valletta as the port to which she belongs.
* (7) For the purpose of this article a laid up vessel shall qualify
for special treatment under this Act or any regulations made
thereunder if -
( a ) the registered owner makes a declaration to the effect
that the ship is laid up and shall remain laid up for a
period of not less than twelve months; and
( b ) evidence satisfactory to the registrar is produced to the
effect that the ship is laid up certifying the location
where the ship lies:
  Provided that should the ship be reactivated within six
months from the date of the declaration specified in paragraph ( a )
hereof, the ship shall be deemed not to have been laid up, and the
fees payable in accordance with article 7 shall become due in full
from the date of the declaration:
  Provided further that should the ship be reactivated after
the lapse of six months from the date of declaration specified in
paragraph ( a )   hereof the fees payable under article 7 shall be
payable from the lapse of the initial six months:
  Provided further that where a declaration specified in
paragraph ( a ) hereof is made on a date after the annual fee becomes
due, the difference in the fees payable had the declaration been
made on or before the date on which the annual fee becomes due,
will be deducted only upon the payment of the next annual fee.
Certificate of 
registry in the 
name of the 
charterer.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.14.
19A. Where a ship registered under this Part of this Act is being
operated under charter in any year in respect of which the charterer
shall have paid to a registrar an amount equal to the annual
registration fee for that year in addition to that paid by the owner,
and such ship is not bareboat charter registered in a foreign
registry, the Registrar-General, on submission of an application
made by such charterer accompanied by a copy of the charter
agreement and the consent in writing of the owners of the ship and
all registered mortgagees may, subject to such conditions as he may
deem proper, authorise the issue of a certificate of registry, whether
provisional or otherwise, in the name of such charterer instead of in
the name of the registered owner. The copy of the charter
agreement presented with the application shall not be available for
public inspection.
*This subarticle is not yet in force as far as its applicability to articles 37A, 37B, 37C
and 37D is concerned.
  16        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Custody of 
certificate. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5; 
XXXVII.1988.12;
XXII. 2000.2.
20. (1) Any certificate of registry shall be used only for the
lawful navigation of the ship and shall not be subject to detention
by reason of any title, lien, charge or interest whatever had or
claimed by any owner, mortgagee, or other person to, on or in the
ship.
(2) Except as otherwise authorised or prescribed by or under
this Act, no person, whether interested in the ship or not, shall
refuse on request to deliver up any certificate of registry when in
his possession or under his control to the person entitled to the
custody thereof for the purposes of the lawful navigation of the
ship, or to any registrar or other person entitled by law to require
such delivery; and any person so refusing shall, unless it is shown
that there was reasonable cause for such refusal, be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
Penalty for use of 
improper 
certificate. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5 
XXXVII. 1988.12;
XXII. 2000.2.
21. If the master or owner of a ship uses or attempts to use for
her navigation any certificate of registry not legally granted in
respect of the ship, he shall for each offence be liable to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding five hundred units, or to both such
imprisonment and fine; and the ship shall be liable to forfeiture
under this Act.
Power to grant new 
certificate. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII.1988.4; 
12.
22. The registrar may, with the approval of the Registrar-
General, on the delivery up to him of any certificate of registry of a
ship, grant a new certificate in lieu thereof.
Provision for loss 
of certificate. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5; 
XXXVII.1988.4;
12. 
23. In the event of any certificate of registry of a ship being
mislaid, lost, destroyed or otherwise not recoverable, the registrar
shall grant a new certificate of registry in lieu of the original
certificate.
Endorsement of 
change of master 
on certificate.
24. Repealed by article 14 of Act XXXVII of 1988.
Endorsement of 
change of 
ownership on 
certificate. 
Amended by: 
XII1. 1983.5; 
XXXVII.1988.4;
14;
XXII. 2000.2.
25. (1) Whenever a change occurs in the registered ownership
of a ship, the change of ownership shall, saving any other provision
of this Act, be endorsed on any certificate of registry of the ship.
(2) The master shall, for the purpose of such endorsement by
the registrar, deliver any certificate of registry to the registrar
forthwith after the change if the change occurs when the ship is at
the port at which she has been registered, and if the change occurs
during her absence from that port, and the endorsement under this
article is not made before her return, then upon her first return to
that port. 
 (3) The registrar who is required to make an endorsement under
this article may for that purpose require the master of the ship to
deliver to him the ship’s certificate of registry, so that the ship be
not thereby detained, and the master shall deliver the same
accordingly. 
 (4) If the master fails to deliver up any certificate of registry as
required by this article he shall for each offence be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         17
Delivery up of 
certificate of ship 
lost or ceasing to 
be Maltese. 
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5; 
XXIV.1986.6; 
XXXVII.1988.4;
15;
XXII. 2000.2, 15.
26. (1) In the event of a registered ship whether provisionally
or otherwise, being either actually or constructively lost, taken by
the enemy, burnt or broken up, or ceasing, whether by reason of
transfer to persons not qualified to own a Maltese ship or for any
other reason, to be a Maltese ship, every owner of the ship shall,
immediately on obtaining knowledge of the event, give notice
thereof to the registrar, unless the registrar has already been give
notice of the event or is otherwise already aware of it:
Provided that no transfer of a Maltese ship may take place
in favour of persons who are not qualified to own a Maltese ship,
unless there is produced to the registrar, the consent in writing of
all the mortgagees whose mortgages are duly registered in respect
of the ship, saving where the transfer is made pursuant to an order
or with the approval of a competent court.
(2) In any such case except where the ship’s provisional or
other certificate of registry is lost or destroyed, the master or owner
of the ship shall within four days of such occurrence deliver such
certificates to the registrar and if the owner or master fail, without
reasonable cause, to comply with the provisions of this article, he
shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one
hundred units.
Suspension of 
certificate of 
registry.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.16.
26A. Where under any of the provisions of this Act a certificate
of registry of a Maltese ship, whether provisional or otherwise, is
suspended, the person by whom the suspension is made shall give
to, or cause to be served on, the master or the owner of the ship a
written notice of the suspension, and thereupon the ship shall not
proceed to sea and the master shall forthwith deliver up the
certificate of registry to the registrar or a Maltese consular officer.
Non-operational 
certificate of 
registry.
Added by:
XXII.2000.17.
26B. Where under any of the provisions of this Act a non-
operational certificate of registry, whether provisional or
otherwise, is issued, the ship shall not proceed to sea.
Penalties.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.18.
26C. If any person sends or attempts to send, or is a party to
sending or attempting to send, a ship to sea in contravention of the
provisions of articles 26A and 26B, he shall be liable in respect of
each offence to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years
or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand units or to both
such imprisonment and fine ( multa ).
Validity of 
certificate of 
registry. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.16.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.2.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.19.
27. (1) A certificate of registry, whether provisional or
otherwise, shall cease to have effect:
( a ) on the expiry of its validity date;
( b ) on its suspension in accordance with the provisions of
this Act;
( c ) on its substitution by another certificate issued in
accordance with the provisions of this Act; or
( d ) on closure of registry in accordance with the
provisions of this Act.
  18        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, upon a certificate of
registry, whether provisional or otherwise, ceasing to have effect
the owner or the master shall forthwith forward this certificate to
the registrar or, in case a certificate is suspended in terms of article
26A, to the registrar or a Maltese consular officer.
(3) If any such person as aforesaid fails without reasonable
cause to deliver up the certificate as required by this article, he
shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) of one hundred units.
Closure of Registry
Voluntary closure 
of registry. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII 1988.16.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 20.
28. (1) Where the owner of a Maltese ship desires to close the
register of a ship he shall make an application to that effect to the
registrar, giving all such particulars and information as the registrar
may require for the purpose.
(2) The registrar may refuse such application if all liabilities
and obligations in respect of the ship towards the Authority, the
Government of Malta and any body corporate established by law,
whether for fees, charges, fines or otherwise have not been paid,
and shall refuse such application unless the consent in writing of all
mortgagees whose mortgage is duly registered in respect of the ship
is produced to him.
(3) Where any such application is acceded to the registrar shall
make an entry thereof in the register and thereupon the ship shall
cease to be a Maltese ship and the registry of the ship shall be
considered as closed except so far as relates to any unsatisfied
mortgages or privileges entered therein.
Closure of registry 
on sale of ship 
pursuant to court 
sale or sale by 
mortgagee in 
possession.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.21.
28A. Where the purchaser of a ship is not a person who is
qualified to own a Maltese ship under this Act, upon obtaining
knowledge or on being given notice of such a fact    and - 
( a ) in the case of a sale pursuant to an order or with the
approval of a competent court, upon receiving copies
of the proceedings of the sale certified to his
satisfaction, or 
( b ) in the case of a sale by a mortgagee in possession
pursuant to article 42(1)( b ), upon the production of a
copy of the bill of sale certified to his satisfaction,
the registrar shall make an entry thereof in the register and the
register of the ship shall be considered as closed except in so far as
relates to any unsatisfied mortgages entered therein.
Power to order or 
direct closure of 
registry. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII.1988.16;
XXII. 2000. 22.
29. (1) The Minister may order that a ship shall cease to be
registered if it is in the national interest or in the interest of Maltese
shipping.
(2) The Registrar-General may direct that a ship shall cease
to be registered in the following cases:
( a ) if the annual fee has not been duly paid in accordance
with this Act;
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         19
( b ) if the formalities specified in article 13 are not
complied with within the maximum periods therein
specified;
( c ) if in the event of a registered ship being either actually
or constructively lost, taken by the enemy, burnt or
broken up, or ceasing, whether by reason of a transfer
to persons not qualified to own a Maltese ship or for
any other reason, to be a Maltese ship;
( d ) if the owner fails to observe the provisions of this Act;
( e ) if it is established that the ship will not or cannot be
registered under this Act;
( f ) if, where required, any conditions established by the
Minister in accordance with article 4(4) are not
observed for a period in excess of one month;
( g ) if the owner fails to pay any fine imposed under this
Act, or fails to pay any penalty within one month of
their being demanded in writing by the registrar; or
( h ) if the owner fails to be in possession of a valid
certificate of registry, whether provisional or
otherwise, for a period in excess of one month.
(3) Prior to the issue of any such order or directive the
registrar shall give one month’s notice in writing to the registered
owner and any registered mortgagee of the intention of closure of
registry unless the cause for such closure is remedied. The registrar
shall specify in the notice the reason for closure and the expiry date
for compliance failing which closure will be effected.
(4) Upon the issue of any notice in terms of subarticle (3) the
registrar shall make a note thereof in the register and shall record
the date on which the one month period shall lapse.
(5)  Upon the lapse of the said one month from the giving of
notice and upon receipt of the order from the Minister or the
directive from the Registrar-General, as the case may be, the
registrar shall make an entry thereof in the register and thereupon
the ship shall cease to be a Maltese ship and the registry of the ship
shall be considered as closed except so far as relates to any
unsatisfied mortgages or privileges entered therein, and the
mortgagees shall have the right to demand the immediate sale of
the ship or share therein as if the debtor had not adhered to all the
conditions under which the credit was granted.
Deletion 
certificate. 
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5; 
XXIV.1986.7. 
Substituted by:
XXXVII.1988.16.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 23.
30. (1) When the registry of a ship, whether provisional or
otherwise, has been closed, the registrar shall, upon request of the
registered owner or, when the registry of a ship has been closed in
terms of article 28A upon request of the purchaser, issue a deletion
certificate: 
Provided that the registrar may refuse to issue such
certificate if all liabilities and obligations in respect of the ship
towards the Authority, the Government of Malta and any body
corporate established by law, whether for fees, charges, fines or
  20        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
otherwise have not been paid or if any certificate of registry,
whether provisional or otherwise, has not been surrendered to him.
(2) The registrar shall specify on the deletion certificate the
reason for closure of registry, and, where the registry of a ship,
whether provisional or otherwise, has been closed saving any
unsatisfied mortgage or privilege entered therein, the deletion
certificate shall also include a full description of any unsatisfied
mortgage or privilege, together with a statement that the registry of
the ship was closed saving such mortgage or privilege.
Issue of certificate 
of registry in lieu 
of provisional 
certificate.
31. Repealed by article 16 of Act XXXVII of 1988. 
Transfer and Transmissions
Transfer of a ship 
or share therein. 
Amended by: 
XXIV.1988.8; 
XXXVII.1988.4;
77;
XXII. 2000. 24.
32. (1) A registered ship or a share therein shall be transferred
by a bill of sale.
(2) The bill of sale shall contain such description of the ship as
it contained in the surveyor’s certificate or some other description
sufficient to identify the ship to the satisfaction of the registrar, and
shall be executed by the transferor in the presence of, and attested
by, a witness or witnesses.
(3) No transfer of a Maltese ship may be made in favour of
persons who are not qualified to own a Maltese ship, unless there is
the consent in writing for such transfer of all the mortgagees whose
mortgages are duly registered in respect of the ship, saving where
the transfer is made pursuant to an order or with the approval of a
competent court.
(4) Upon the entry of a transfer of a registered ship or a share
therein in favour of a person qualified to own a Maltese ship the
registrar shall notify accordingly the holder of any registered
mortgage.
Declaration of 
transfer.
33. Where a registered ship or share therein is transferred to a
person qualified to own a Maltese ship, the transferee shall not be
entitled to be registered as owner thereof until he, or in the case of
a body corporate, the person authorised by this Act to make
declarations on behalf of a body corporate, has made a declaration
(in this Act called a "declaration of transfer") referring to the ship
and containing -
( a ) a statement of the qualification of the transferee to
own a Maltese ship or, if the transferee is a body
corporate, of such circumstances as prove it to be
qualified to own a Maltese ship; and
( b ) a declaration that, to the best of his knowledge and
belief, no unqualified person or body of persons is
entitled as owner to any interest in the ship or share
therein.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         21
Registry of 
transfer. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4; 
XXXVII. 1990.8.
34. (1)  Every bill of sale for the transfer of a registered ship
or of a share therein to a person qualified to own a Maltese ship
shall, when duly executed, be produced to the registrar with the
declaration of transfer, and the registrar shall, saving any other
provision of this Act, thereupon enter in the register the name of
the transferee as owner of the ship or share and shall endorse on the
bill of sale the fact of that entry having been made, with the day
and hour thereof.
(2) All such bills of sale shall be entered in the register in the
order of their production to the registrar.
Transmission of 
property in ship. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4; 
XXXVII. 1990.9;
XXIV.1995.362.
35. (1)  Where the property in a registered ship or a share
therein is transmitted on the death of any owner to a person
qualified to own a Maltese ship, that person shall make and sign a
declaration (in this Act called a "declaration of transmission")
identifying the ship and containing the several statements required
by article 33 to be contained in a declaration of transfer, or as near
thereto as circumstances permit, and such declaration of
transmission shall be accompanied by such evidence of the
transmission as would be acceptable by a competent court as proof
of such transmission.
(2) On receipt of the declaration of transmission so
accompanied, the registrar shall enter in the register the name of
the person entitled under the transmission as owner of the ship or
share the property in which has been transmitted and, where there
is more than one such person, shall enter the name of all those
persons.
(3) Where the property in a registered ship or share therein is
transmitted on the death of any owner to a person not qualified to
own a Maltese ship - 
( a ) the Civil Court, First Hall, may on an application by
the unqualified person order a sale of the property so
transmitted and direct that the proceeds of the sale,
after deducting the expenses thereof, be paid to the
person entitled under the transmission or otherwise as
the court directs;
( b ) the court may require any evidence in support of the
application it thinks requisite, and may make the order
on any terms and conditions it thinks just, or may
refuse to make the order, and generally may act in the
case as the justice of the case requires;
( c ) every such application for sale must be made within
four weeks after the occurrence of the death in
consequence of which the transmission has taken
place, or within such further time, not exceeding in the
whole one year from the date of the occurrence, as the
court may allow;
( d ) if an application is not made within the time aforesaid,
or if the court refuses an order for sale, or if
notwithstanding the sale the ship is not owned wholly
by persons qualified to own a Maltese ship, the ship
  22        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
shall cease to be a Maltese ship.
Transfer of ship or 
sale by order of 
court.
36. Where the transfer or sale of any ship or share therein is
ordered by a court, the order of the court shall contain a declaration
vesting in some person named by the court the right to transfer that
ship or share, and that person shall thereupon be entitled to transfer
the ship or share in the manner and to the same extent as if he were
the registered owner thereof; and the requisition of the person so
named in respect of any such transfer shall be obeyed to the same
extent as if such person were the registered owner.
Power of court to 
prohibit transfer. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII.1988.18;
XXIV.1995.362.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 25.
37. (1) The Civil Court, First Hall, may, if it thinks fit (and
without prejudice to the exercise of any other power of the court),
on a demand by writ of summons of a person claiming a right in or
over a ship make an order prohibiting for a specified time, which
shall in no case be of more than a year, any dealing with a ship or
any share therein, and the court may make the order on any terms
and conditions it thinks just, subject to any other provision of this
Act, including, without prejudice to the generality of the above, the
imposition of an obligation to provide appropriate security, for
damages, interests and costs, or may refuse to make the order, or
may discharge the order when made, with or without costs, and
generally may act in the case as the justice of the case requires; and
every registrar, without being made a party to the proceedings,
shall on being served with, or given notice of, the order obey the
same and shall enter a note thereof and the relevant expiry date in
the register of the ship.
(2) The writ of summons shall, on pain of nullity, indicate a
sum in Maltese or foreign currency which shall, for the purposes of
this article, be deemed to be the amount of the claim.
(3) The Court shall not issue an order in terms of subarticle (1)
and shall discharge any such order when made, if it is satisfied that
the rights of the plaintiff are already otherwise secured.
(4) Where the respondent either deposits in court the amount
of the claim in the currency indicated therein or gives security,
satisfactory to the court, for such claim, the court shall not issue the
order or where the court has issued the order, it shall revoke the
same with respect to the ship or the share therein, and the
provisions of this article shall thereupon be applicable with respect
to the amount so deposited or the security so given as the case may
be.
(5) The Court shall appoint the writ for hearing within twenty
days of its filing; moreover the court may, on the application of the
plaintiff make a provisional order prohibiting any such dealings
until the court decides definitely on the merits of the writ or until
the court shall have revoked the provisional order.
(6) If the order, other than a provisional order, is issued in
order to secure a claim which has not yet been judicially verified,
unless proceedings on the merits of the claim are already pending,
whether in a Maltese court or any other competent court or in
arbitration, the plaintiff obtaining such order shall be obliged to
prosecute such claim, in Malta or in any other competent court or in
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         23
arbitration, within eight working days of the issue of the definite
order failing which the court issuing the order shall, on the
application of the owner, or any other interested party, revoke the
same; and where the court has issued a provisional order, the
plaintiff shall be obliged to prosecute the claim within thirty days
of the issue of the provisional order or eight days of the definite
order, whichever is the earlier.
Cap. 12.
and Civil Procedure, an order given as aforesaid, even if
provisional, shall be immediately enforceable.
(8) Any order issued hereunder may be extended by the Court
on the application of the plaintiff for a further period or periods
each of not more than one year; provided that the applicant
confirms that the order is still required and the application is filed
at least thirty days prior to the lapse of the then current term of the
order. Upon such application the court shall thereupon extend such
order and such extension shall be notified to the defendant and
shall be served on the registrar who shall enter the new expiry date
in the register of the ship.
(9) An order issued in terms of this article shall not affect:
( a ) the rights of the holder of any mortgage registered
over the ship or recognised in terms of this Act,
including the rights specified in article 42;
( b ) the ability of the registrar to delete a ship or to issue
any deletion certificate thereof pursuant to any
provision of this Act other than on the request of the
owner in terms of article 28;
( c ) the sale of the ship pursuant to an order or with the
approval of a competent court within whose
jurisdiction the ship was at the time of the sale;
( d ) the bareboat charter registration of the ship in a
foreign registry pursuant to the provisions of Part IIA
of this Act.
(10) For the purposes of this article:
( a ) a right in or over a ship or a part thereof shall be a
claim based on:
(i) a right of ownership; or 
(ii) secured by a mortgage; or
(iii) secured by a registered encumbrance; or
(iv) secured by a privilege or a lien over the
ship arising by operation of Maltese law or the
law applicable to the claim; or
(v) any other claim which gives rise to a claim  in
rem  against a vessel under Maltese law;
( b ) a discharge of or an amendment for the purpose of
reducing the amount secured by a mortgage shall not
be deemed to constitute a dealing with a ship or share
therein;
  24        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
( c ) a guarantee by a Maltese bank or by a foreign bank of
repute in the currency of the claim shall qualify as
satisfactory security; provided that in the event that
such guarantee is deposited in the registry of the
courts, the foreign bank issuing the guarantee shall
unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of the
Maltese courts in so far as its obligations under the
guarantee are concerned.
Maritime privileges and mortgages
Detention of ships 
as security for 
debts. 
Added by: 
XXXVII. 1988.19.
37A. (1)  Ships and other vessels constitute a particular class
of moveables whereby they form separate and distinct assets within
the estate of their owners for the security of actions and claims to
which the vessel is subject. In case of bankruptcy of the owner of a
ship, all actions and claims, to which the ship may be subject, shall
have preference, on the said ship, over all other debts of the estate.
(2) A ship shall include together with the hull, all equipment,
machinery and other appurtenances as accessories belonging to the
ship, which are on board or which have been temporarily removed
therefrom.
Types of charges 
over ships.  
Added by: 
XXXVII. 1988.19.
37B. (1)  A ship may constitute security for a debt or other
obligation either by agreement or by operation of the law as
hereinafter provided.
(2) A debt or other obligation may be secured - 
( a ) by means of a mortgage which is a special charge over
a vessel, or
( b ) by a general hypothec which attaches to all the assets
of a debtor including any vessel such debtor may own,
or
( c ) by a special privilege upon the vessel:
  Provided that special privileges arise in virtue of
law and no debt or other obligation other than those
specified at law shall be secured by a special privilege.
Cap. 16.
(3) Subject to the provisions of article 40, separate items upon
a vessel may themselves be subject to special privileges in
accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code, in security of the
debts therein specified.
Priority of claims 
on ship over all 
other debts of 
owner. 
Added by: XXXVII. 
1988.19.
37C. (1)  All registered mortgages, any special privileges and
all actions and claims to which a vessel may be subject shall not be
affected by the bankruptcy of the mortgagor or shipowner
happening after the date on which the mortgage was created or the
special privilege, action or claim arose, notwithstanding that the
owner at the commencement of the bankruptcy had the ship in his
possession, order or disposition, or was the reputed owner thereof,
and such mortgage, privilege, action or claim shall have preference,
on the said vessel, over all other debts, claims or interests of any
other creditor of the bankrupt or of any curator, trustee or receiver,
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         25
acting on behalf of any other creditors.
(2) Any judicial sale proceedings instituted by any registered
mortgagee or privileged creditor shall not be interrupted or in any
way hindered by any curator in bankruptcy, whether voluntary or
compulsory, or any liquidator or receiver of the shipowner for any
cause other than a cause that could be set up by the owner.
Attachment and 
extinguishment of 
charges. 
Added by: 
XXXVII. 1988.19. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1990.10;
XXII. 2000. 26.
37D. (1)  A registered mortgage shall attach to the ship or
share therein in respect of which it is registered until it is
discharged: 
  Provided that where the ship has been forfeited under this
Act the interest of the mortgagee in the ship shall terminate if the
mortgagee has authorised, consented to, or conspired, to the act,
failure or omission in consequence of which the ship is forfeited:
  Provided further, that where a ship has been sold pursuant
to an order or with the approval of a competent court within whose
jurisdiction the vessel was at the time of the sale, the interest of the
mortgagees as well as of any other creditor in the ship shall pass on
to the proceeds of the sale of the ship:
Provided further that where a ship has been sold by a
mortgagee in possession pursuant to his rights in terms of article
42(1)( b ) and it is stated in the bill of sale that the ship is being sold
free from such encumbrance, then the rights arising from such
registered mortgage shall no longer be exercisable in relation to
that ship
Cap. 16.
(2) Any hypothec or privilege whether general or special to
which a ship may be subject under the provisions of the Civil Code
shall not continue to attach to it when the vessel is transferred to
third parties.
(3) Without prejudice to any other cause which may at law
extinguish an obligation the special privileges specified in article
50 are not extinguished by the sale of the vessel, except in case of a
sale made pursuant to an order or with the approval of a competent
court made according to the forms prescribed by law, or where,
subsequent to a voluntary sale a period of one year has elapsed
from the date of the registration, recording or annotation of that
voluntary sale in the registry to which the ship belongs or where no
such registration, recording or annotation are entered in that
registry from the date of closure of the register of the ship in such
registry subsequent to such voluntary sale, unless within such
period of one year an action for the recovery of the claim secured
by such privilege has been brought before a competent court.
Mortgage of ship 
or share. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.20;
XXII. 2000. 27.
38. (1)  A registered ship or a share therein may be made a
security for any debt or other obligation by means of an instrument
creating the security (in this Act called a "mortgage") executed by
the mortgagor in favour of the mortgagee in the presence of, and
attested by, a witness or witnesses.
(2) A mortgage is indivisible notwithstanding the divisibility of
the underlying debt or other obligation which it may secure.
  26        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
(3) A mortgage shall attach to any proceeds from any
indemnity arising from collisions and other mishaps as well as any
insurance proceeds.
(4) It shall be lawful for a mortgage to be executed and
registered in favour of a security trustee appointed or acting under a
trust for the benefit of persons to whom a debt or other obligation is
due. Such security trustee shall, in any such case, be recognised as
the mortgagee of the particular mortgage and shall be entitled to
exercise all the rights in relation to that mortgage as are accorded to
mortgagees by this Act or any other enactment.
(5) A mortgage registered under this Act may be drawn up to
secure the payment of a principal sum and interest, an account
current, as well as the performance of any other obligation. It shall
not be necessary to indicate the monetary value of the indebtedness
in the mortgage.
Cap. 13.
(6) For the purposes of this Act, the term ''account current''
means any indebtedness of a mortgagor in favour of a mortgagee
arising and determinable in accordance with an underlying
obligation and all the provisions of the Commercial Code relative
to the contract of account current including the provisions of article
264 thereof shall not apply thereto unless expressly agreed to by
the parties.
Registration of 
mortgages. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4; 
21; 
XXXVII. 1990.11;
XXII. 2000. 28.
39. (1)  On the production of a mortgage for registration the
registrar shall record it in the register.
(2) Mortgages shall be recorded by the registrar in the order in
time in which they are produced to him for that purpose, and the
registrar shall by memorandum under his hand notify on each
mortgage that it has been recorded by him, stating the day and hour
of that record.
(3) Where it is stated in the mortgage instrument that it is
prohibited to create further mortgages over a vessel without the
prior written consent of the mortgagee, the registrar shall make a
note in the register to such effect, and the registrar shall not record
such further mortgage unless the consent in writing of the holder of
a prior mortgage is produced to him, and any mortgage registered
in violation of this provision shall be null and void:
Provided that where such further mortgage is executed in
favour of an existing mortgagee, no such consent shall be required
from such mortgagee.
(4) When it is stated in the mortgage instrument that it is
prohibited to effect the transfer of the ship which is being
mortgaged, or of a share therein, without the previous written
consent of the mortgagee, the registrar shall make a note in the
register to such effect, and the registrar, notwithstanding any other
provision of this Act, shall not record any transfer of such ship or
of a share therein unless the consent in writing of such mortgagee is
produced to him, saving where the transfer is made pursuant to a
court order in a sale by auction of such a ship or pursuant to any
other court order, and any transfer registered in violation of this
provision shall be null and void.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         27
Preservation of 
special privileges 
on accessories of 
ship. 
Amended by: 
XXIV. 1986.9. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.22.
40. (1)  Upon the registration of any mortgage in the register
the rights of any mortgagee shall not be affected by:
( a ) the creation of any separate privilege or charge on any
part, appurtenance or accessory of a ship which may
attach in virtue of any law; or
( b ) the reservation of ownership rights by a seller of any
part, appurtenance or accessory sold to a shipowner
under a contract of sale, hire purchase or any similar
contract:
Provided that provisions, fuel and other consumable goods
shall not be considered as appurtenances: 
  Provided further that the provision of this article shall in no
way prejudice or reduce the rights of any creditor enjoying a
privilege or reserving ownership rights in relation to any creditor
other than the mortgagee.
(2) At any time prior to the registration of a mortgage over a
ship any creditor having a separate privilege or charge over any
part, appurtenance or accessory of a ship may register such
privilege or charge in the register of the ship by means of an
instrument executed by the owner in the presence of a witness in
the form specified by the Minister; and on the production of such
instrument the registrar shall by memorandum under his hand
notify on each charge that it has been recorded by him stating the
day and hour of that record.
(3) A seller reserving ownership rights in any part,
appurtenance or accessory of a ship may also register his interest in
the register of the ship at any time prior to the registration of a
mortgage.
(4) The registration of such a charge or reservation of
ownership rights prior to the registration of a mortgage shall
preserve the creditor’s rights on that part, appurtenance or
accessory in relation to any subsequent mortgagee.
(5) A privilege or reservation of ownership rights registered
over a ship under subarticle (2) shall be cancelled upon production
by the owner of a receipt for the price and other charges relative to
the transfer of such part, appurtenance or accessory, and the
registrar, upon production of such receipt duly signed and attested
to his satisfaction, shall make an entry in the register to the effect
that the privilege or reservation of ownership rights have been
cancelled.
(6) The transfer of the interest of any creditor enjoying a
privilege or reservation of ownership rights registered in terms of
this article may on the production of proof to the satisfaction of the
registrar be recorded by the registrar who shall enter in the register
the name of the transferee and shall by memorandum under his
hand notify on the instrument of transfer that it has been recorded
by him.
  28        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Priority of 
mortgages. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4; 
23;
XXII. 2000. 29.
41. (1) If there are more mortgages than one registered in
respect of the same ship or share, the mortgagees shall,
notwithstanding any express, implied or constructive notice, be
entitled in priority, one over the other, according to the date and the
time at which each mortgage is recorded in the register.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subarticle (1), it shall be
lawful for any registered mortgagee in respect of a ship or share
therein by instrument in writing to agree to waive or otherwise
postpone his rights under the mortgage, and on the production to
him of a demand or consent in writing by such mortgagee the
registrar shall cause a note to be entered in the register of the
particular ship to the effect that the rights of the said mortgagee
have been waived or postponed as the case may be, and shall record
such waiver or postponement in the register:
Provided that such waiver or postponement shall not affect
third parties unless such annotation has been entered in the register.
Rights of 
mortgagee. 
Amended by: 
XXIV. 1986.10; 
XXXVII. 1988.24;
XXII. 2000. 30.
42. (1) In the event of default of any term or condition of a
registered mortgage or of any document or agreement referred to
therein, the mortgagee shall, upon giving notice to the mortgagor -
( a ) be entitled to take possession of the ship or share
therein in respect of which he is registered; but except
so far as may be necessary for making a mortgaged
ship or share available as a security for the mortgage
debt, the mortgagee shall not by reason of the
mortgage be deemed to be the owner of the ship or
share, nor shall the mortgagor be deemed to have
ceased to be the owner thereof;
( b ) have power absolutely to sell the ship or share in
respect of which he is registered; but where there are
more persons than one registered as mortgagees of the
same ship or share, a subsequent mortgagee shall not,
except under the order of a court of competent
jurisdiction, sell the ship or share without the
concurrence of every prior mortgagee; and if the
proceeds of sale, after discharging the mortgage debt,
show a surplus in his hands, the mortgagee shall
deposit the same for the benefit of other creditors and
of the mortgagor;
( c ) have power to apply for any extensions, pay fees,
receive certificates, and generally do all such things in
the name of the owner as may be required in order to
maintain the status and validity of the registration of
the ship.
Cap. 12.
(2) A registered mortgage shall be deemed to be an executive
title for the purposes of article 253 of the Code of Organization and
Civil Procedure where the obligation it secures is a debt certain
liquidated and due and not consisting in the performance of an act.
(3) The provisions of this article shall apply to all registered
mortgages which secure debts resulting from any account current or
overdraft or other credit facility.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         29
(4) In connection with the enforcement of any mortgage, not
being a mortgage contemplated in subarticle (2), for the purpose of
determining the amount certain liquidated and due in connection
with any judicial sale of a ship, the mortgagee shall specify the sum
due at the time of enforcement by means of an affidavit served on
the mortgagor:
Provided that this shall be without prejudice to the right of
any interested party to contest such amount according to law.
(5) For the purpose of the proceedings referred to in this article
the debtor shall be deemed to be duly served if the application or
other act is served on the master of the vessel, or if he is absent
from these Islands, on the local agent appointed for the vessel by
the owners or their agent, or in the absence of such local agent on a
curator appointed by the court to represent the debtor and the ship.
Mortgage not 
affected by 
bankruptcy.
43. Repealed by article 25 of Act XXXVII of 1988.
Transfer of 
mortgages. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4;
XXII. 2000. 31.
44. (1) A registered mortgage of a ship or share may be
transferred to any person by an instrument of transfer executed by
the transferor in the presence of, and attested by, a witness or
witnesses; and on the production of such instrument for registration
the registrar shall record it by entering in the register the name of
the transferee as mortgagee of the ship or share, and shall by
memorandum under his hand notify on the instrument of transfer
that it has been recorded by him, stating the day and hour of the
record.
Cap. 16.
registration of the instrument of transfer of a registered mortgage of
a ship or share made by the registrar in the register of that ship in
terms of the provisions of this article shall be deemed to constitute
due notice of the assignment of such mortgage to the mortgagor.
Assignment of part 
of a debt or other 
obligation.
Added by:
XXII. 2000. 32.
44A. (1) It shall be lawful for the assignee of part of a debt or
other obligation secured by a registered mortgage of a ship or share
to demand that the assignment be entered in the registry of the
particular ship for the part so assigned and the registrar shall, upon
the production to him of the relative instrument of transfer together
with the mortgage to which it relates, forthwith proceed to record
such partial assignment by entering in the register the name of the
assignee as co-mortgagee of the ship or share, and shall by
memorandum under his hand notify on the mortgage that such
assignment has been recorded by him, stating the day and hour of
the record.
(2) The provisions of article 44(2) shall be applicable  mutatis
mutandis  to the assignments contemplated in subarticle (1).
Transmission of 
interest of 
mortgagee by 
death. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4.
45. (1)  Where the interest of the mortgagee in a ship or share
is transmitted by death, the person to whom the interest is
transmitted shall make and sign a declaration containing a
statement of the manner in which and the person to whom the
property has been transmitted and such declaration shall be
  30        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
accompanied by the like evidence as is by this Act required in case
of a corresponding transmission of the ownership of a ship or share.
(2) On the receipt of the declaration and the production of the
evidence aforesaid, the registrar shall enter the name of the person
entitled upon the transmission in the register as mortgagee of the
ship or share.
Amendment of 
mortgage. 
Added by: 
XXIV. 1986.11. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII.1988.26;
XXII. 2000. 33.
45A. (1)  Where a registered mortgage is amended the registrar
shall on the production of the instrument of mortgage executed in
accordance with the provisions of article 38 containing the
amendment, together with the written consent on the said
instrument, of the mortgagee whose mortgage has been amended,
make a note thereof in the register to the effect that the mortgage
has been amended, and any such amendment shall form an integral
part of the registered mortgage which it amends and such mortgage,
as amended, shall continue to have the same priority as it had
before the amendment was noted.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this article, an amendment of a
mortgage may be effected for any purpose.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, and
subject always to the provisions of subarticles (4), (5) and (6), an
amendment of a mortgage shall be effected for any one or more of
the following purposes:
( a ) to increase the amount secured by such mortgage; and
( b ) to extend such mortgage to secure any other obligation
of the mortgagor, whether as principal or as surety for
any other person, in favour of the mortgagee.
(4) An amendment of a mortgage may not be effected after the
obligation secured by the registered mortgage has been satisfied.
(5) Where any mortgages other than the mortgage that it is
intended to amend are entered in the register of the ship an
amendment shall not be noted unless the consent in writing of all
the other mortgagees whose interests may be prejudiced by the
amendment, is produced to the registrar.
(6) The consent to an amendment to a mortgage shall be
signified by means of a declaration executed by the mortgagee in
the presence of, and attested by a witness or witnesses.
Entry of discharge 
of mortgage. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4.
46. Where a registered mortgage is discharged the registrar
shall, on the production of the mortgage deed, with a receipt for the
mortgage money endorsed thereon, duly signed and attested, make
an entry in the register to the effect that the mortgage has been
discharged.
Transfers and 
mortgages not to 
have effect unless 
registered.
47. A transfer or mortgage of a registered ship or share therein,
and a transfer of a registered mortgage, shall have no effect in
regard to the ship or share or against any person other than the
transferor or the mortgagor, or their heirs, unless the transfer or
mortgage has been registered under and in accordance with this
Act.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         31
Loss of original 
mortgage deed. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.27.
48. (1)  In case of loss of any registered mortgage instrument
the registrar shall, at the request of the mortgagee alone, or together
with the mortgagor, reconstitute the original mortgage and certify
this instrument as a reconstituted original of the mortgage
instrument. The registrar shall only accede to such a request upon
the production by the party making the request of a sworn
declaration to the effect that the original has been lost.
(2) In such a case the registrar shall make a note in the register
that a reconstituted mortgage instrument has been issued, reciting
at whose request such a reconstituted mortgage has been issued.
(3) In case of loss of any original mortgage instrument, the
registrar may enter any transfer or discharge of mortgage if the
mortgagee produces a sworn declaration that he is the holder of the
mortgage, the instrument of which has been lost, and that he is
discharging or transferring the said security in virtue of the sworn
declaration.
(4) In such a case the registrar shall, on production of the said
sworn declaration, treat such declaration as the mortgage
instrument and shall follow the procedure specified in this Act for
the transfer or discharge of mortgage; the registrar shall make a
note in the register that the transfer or discharge of mortgage has
taken place in virtue of a sworn declaration.
Recognition of 
foreign mortgages. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.27.
49. A foreign mortgage shall be recognised as a mortgage with
the status and all the rights and powers specified in this Act,
notwithstanding the fact that it is not entered over a registered ship
if:
( a ) such mortgage has been validly recorded in the
registry of ships of the country under whose laws the
ship is documented;
( b ) such registry is a public registry;
( c ) such mortgage appears upon a search of the registry
and
( d ) such mortgage is granted a preferential and generally
equivalent status as a mortgage under this Act under
the laws of the country where the mortgage is
registered.
Special privileges
Special privileges 
on ships. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.27.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 2, 34.
50. The debts hereunder specified are secured by a special
privilege upon the vessel, as well as any proceeds from any
indemnity arising from collisions and other mishaps as well as any
insurance proceeds:
( a ) judicial costs incurred in respect of the sale of the ship
and the distribution of the proceeds thereof;
( b ) fees and other charges due to the registrar of Maltese
ships arising under this Act;
( c ) tonnage dues;
  32        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
( d ) wages and expenses for assistance, recovery of
salvage, and for pilotage;
( e ) the wages of watchmen, and the expenses of watching
the ship from the time of her entry into port up to the
time of sale;
( f ) rent of the warehouses in which the ship’s tackle and
apparel are stored;
( g ) the expenses incurred for the preservation of the ship
and of her tackle including supplies and provisions to
her crew incurred after her last entry into port;
( h ) wages and other sums due to the master, officers and
other members of the vessel’s complement in respect
of their employment on the vessel, including costs of
repatriation and social insurance contributions payable
on their behalf;
( i ) damages and interest due to any seaman for death or
personal injury and expenses attendant on the illness,
hurt or injury of any seaman;
( j ) moneys due to creditors for labour, work and repairs
previously to the departure of the ship on her last
voyage:
     Provided that such privilege shall not be
competent where the debt has not been contracted
directly by the owner of the ship, or by the master, or
by an authorised agent of the owner;
( k ) ship agency fees due for the ship after her last entry
into port, in accordance with port tariffs, and any
disbursements incurred during such period not
enjoying a privilege in paragraphs ( a ) to ( i ), though in
any case for a sum in the aggregate not in excess of
four thousand units;   
( l ) moneys lent to the master for the necessary expenses
of the vessel during her last voyage, and the
reimbursement of the price of goods sold by him for
the same purpose;
( m ) moneys due to creditors for provisions, victuals, outfit
and apparel, previously to the departure of the ship on
her last voyage:
        Provided that such privilege shall not be
competent where the debt has not been contracted
directly by the owner of the ship, or by the master, or
by an authorised agent of the owner;
( n ) damages and interest due to the freighters for non-
delivery of the goods shipped, and for injuries
sustained by such goods through the fault of the master
or the crew;
( o ) damages and interest due to another vessel or to her
cargo in cases of collision of vessels;
Cap. 16. ( p ) the debt specified in article 2009( d ) of the Civil Code
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         33
for the balance of the price from the sale of a ship.
Debts contracted in 
different ports. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.27.
51. Where debts of a nature similar to the ones mentioned in
paragraphs ( a ) to ( p ), both inclusive, of article 50 shall have been
contracted in different ports, or on the occasion of several forced
returns to the same port, the priority established by the said article
shall be observed with regard to the several debts contracted on the
occasion of each arrival or return, but the debts contracted on the
occasion of a subsequent arrival or return shall have preference
over those contracted on the occasion of a former arrival or return.
Privileges of seller 
to be registered. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII.1988.27. 
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 35.
Cap. 16.
52. (1) The privilege granted to the seller for the price of the
thing sold under the provisions of article 2009 ( d )of the Civil Code
is not effectual in regard to vessels, unless the claim for such price
be registered, in the case of ships registered under Part II of this
Act, in the register of the said ship, within two days from the date
of the sale. Such privilege is registered by delivery to the registrar
on the prescribed form duly completed and signed by the seller.
(2) The said privilege shall not be effectual in regard to any
other vessel unless the claim for such price be registered in the
Public Registry within two days from the date of the sale.
(3) The same rule shall apply with regard to the right of
recovering the thing sold, as provided in the said Code.
(4) Such privilege shall be extinguished upon payment of the
price and relative charges, and upon production of a receipt issued
by the seller, attested by a witness, the registrar or the Director of
Public Registry, as the case may be, shall make a note in the
register notifying the discharge thereof.
(5) The provisions of articles 44, 45, 45A and 48 shall  mutatis
mutandis  apply in respect of the aforementioned privilege and right
of recovery of the seller with regard to ships registered under Part
II of this Act.
Seller bound to 
make debts known 
to buyer. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.27.
53. (1)  The seller of a vessel is bound to inform the purchaser
of all privileged debts, and to furnish him with a list thereof duly
signed by himself.
(2) If the aforesaid list is not given to the purchaser, or if, in
the list given to him, any of the aforesaid debts is omitted, he may,
in the event of his sustaining any damage therefrom, exercise such
rights as are competent to him against the seller, with all such
means as the law provides against debtors committing fraud in
contracting debts.
Possessory lien or 
privilege. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.27.
Amended by:
XXIV.1995.362;
XXII. 2000. 36.
54. (1)  Any ship repairer, shipbuilder or other creditor into
whose care and authority a ship has been placed for the execution
of works or other purposes shall have a possessory lien over the
ship.
(2) A possessory lien shall entitle the creditor to retain
possession over the ship on which he has worked or carried out
activity until such creditor is paid the debts due to him for such
building, repairs or activity.
  34        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
(3) A possessory lien shall be extinguished by the voluntary
release of the ship from the custody of the creditor.
(4) A possessory lien shall not be extinguished if the vessel is
released pursuant to a court order or following a judicial sale of the
vessel. In the latter case the creditor shall enjoy the priority
specified in article 54A over the proceeds of sale of the ship.
Cap. 12.
(5) The creditor shall be obliged to release the ship if he is paid
the sum claimed, or adequate security is deposited in the Civil
Court, First Hall, under the provisions of the Code of Organisation
and Civil Procedure:
Provided that the creditor shall enjoy the same priority over
such sum.
(6) For the purposes of this article, the creditor upon a demand
by judicial letter served upon him by any person interested in the
ship, shall be obliged to declare the amount of his claim by judicial
act to be filed within a period of two days from the date of
notification to him of the aforesaid demand failing which he shall
be obliged to release the ship forthwith.
Ranking of 
creditors. 
Added by: 
XXXVII.I988.27.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 37.
54A. (1)  The debts specified in article 50 shall rank in the
order therein set out and in preference to other hypothecary and
privileged claims, notwithstanding that the ship is still in the
possession of the debtor, and the debts specified in article 50( a )
and ( b ) shall under all circumstances rank in preference to any
claim.
(2) Any debt secured by a possessory lien or privilege over a
ship as stated in article 54, shall be paid in preference to all other
claims except the debts specified in article 50( c ), ( d ), ( e ), ( f ), ( g ),
( h ), ( i ), and ( j ) if such debts were created prior to the debt of the
creditor enjoying the possessory lien. 
(3) Any debt secured by a mortgage registered under the
provisions of this Act or secured by a foreign mortgage recognised
under this Act shall rank after the debts specified in article 54 and
in article 50( c ), ( d ), ( e ), ( f ), ( g ), ( h ), ( i ), ( j ) and ( k ) but before the
debts specified in article 50( l ),  (m ), ( n ),   ( o ) and   ( p ) and in
preference to other hypothecary and privileged claims.
(4) Where the fund is insufficient, competing creditors under
the same heading shall share in such fund ratably.
Name of ship
Ships’ names. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII.1988.28.
55. (1)  The Minister may make regulations enabling him to
refuse the registry of any ship by the name by which it is proposed
to register that ship if it is already the name of a registered Maltese
ship or a name so similar as to be calculated to deceive, and may by
those regulations require notice to be given in such manner as may
be directed by the regulations before the name of the ship is marked
on the ship, or before the name of the ship is entered in the register.
(2) If the registry of a ship by the name by which it is proposed
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         35
to register that ship is refused by the Minister, or if any
requirements of the regulations are not complied with in the case of
any ship which it is proposed to register, that ship shall not be
registered under the name proposed, or until the regulations are
complied with, as the case may be.
(3) The owner of a ship intending to register a ship under this
Act, may, on payment of such fee as may be prescribed and on
application to the registrar, reserve the proposed name of the ship
for a maximum period of three months.
(4) The application referred to in subarticle (3) may be made
together with the application for registry of a ship, or with the
application for permission to change the name of a ship, or by any
other writing provided that the ship for which the reservation is
being made is adequately identified.
Rules as to name of 
ship. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5; 
XXXVII.1988.4;
29;
XXII. 2000. 2, 38. 
56. (1)  A ship shall not be described by any name other than
that by which it is for the time being registered.
(2) A change shall not be made in the name of a ship without
the previous written permission of the Registrar-General.
(3) Application for that permission shall be in writing and if
the Registrar-General is of opinion that the application is
reasonable he may entertain it and thereupon require notice thereof
to be published or otherwise publicised, in such form and manner
as he thinks fit.
(4) On permission being granted to change the name, the ship’s
name shall forthwith be altered in the register, in the ship’s
certificate of registry and on her bows and stern and the Registrar-
General shall forthwith proceed to notify in writing any registered
mortgagee of the alteration in the register.
(5) If it is shown to the satisfaction of the Registrar-General
that the name of a ship has been changed without his permission, he
shall direct that her name be altered into that which she bore before
the change and the name shall be altered in the register, in the
ship’s certificate of registry and on her bows and stern accordingly.
(6) Where a ship having once been registered under this Act
ceases to be so registered, no person unless ignorant of the previous
registry (proof whereof shall lie on him) shall apply to register, and
no registrar shall knowingly register, the ship except by the name
by which she was previously registered unless with the previous
written permission of the Registrar-General.
(7) Where a ship has not at any previous time been registered
under this Act, no person shall apply to register, and no registrar
shall knowingly register, the ship except by the name which she
bore immediately before the application for registry unless with the
previous written permission of the Registrar-General.
(8) If any person acts, or suffers any person under his control to
act, in contravention of this article, or omits to do, or suffers any
person under his control to omit to do, anything required by this
article, he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding one hundred units, and (except in the case of an
  36        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
application for registry made with respect to a ship which has not
previously been registered under this Act) the ship may be detained
until this article is complied with.
Registry of alterations, Registry anew and Transfer of registry 
Registry of 
alterations. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5; 
XXXVII. 1988.30;
XXII. 2000.2.
57. (1)  Where a registered ship is so altered as not to
correspond with the particulars relating to her tonnage or
description contained in the register, an application accompanied
by a certificate from the proper surveyor, requesting the
registration of the alteration shall be made to the registrar who
shall, on receipt thereof accompanied as aforesaid, either cause the
alteration to be registered or direct that the ship be registered anew.
(2) If default is made in making an application as required by
this article, or in registering anew a ship if so directed as aforesaid,
the owner of the ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
one hundred units and, in addition to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
five units for every day during which the offence continues after
conviction.
Regulations for 
registry of 
alterations. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII.1988.31.
58. (1)  For the purposes of the registry of an alteration in a
ship, the ship’s certificate of registry shall be produced to the
registrar and the registrar shall in his discretion either retain the
certificate of registry and grant a new certificate of registry
containing a description of the ship as altered or endorse and sign
on the existing certificate a memorandum of the alteration.
(2) The particulars of the alteration so made and the fact of the
new certificate having been granted or endorsement having been
made, shall be entered by the registrar in the register.
Provisional 
certificate or 
endorsement where 
ship is to be 
registered anew.
59. Repealed by article 32 of Act XXXVII of 1988.
Registry anew on 
change of 
ownership. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4.
60. Where the ownership of any ship is changed the registrar
may, on the application of the owner of the ship, register the ship
anew, although registration anew is not required under this Act.
Procedure for 
registry anew.
61. (1)  Where a ship is to be registered anew, the registrar
shall proceed as in the case of first registry, and on delivery up to
him of the existing certificate of registry, and on the other
requisites to registry, or in the case of a change of ownership such
of them as he thinks material, having been duly complied with, he
shall make such registry anew and grant a certificate thereof.
(2) When a ship is registered anew, her former register shall be
considered as closed except so far as relates to any unsatisfied
mortgages or existing certificates of mortgage or sale entered
therein, but the names of all persons appearing on the former
register to be interested in the ship as owners or mortgagees shall
be entered in the new register, and the registry anew shall not in
any way affect the rights of any of those persons.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         37
Transfer of 
registry.
62. Repealed by article 32 of Act XXXVII of 1988.
Restriction on re-
registration of 
abandoned ships.
63. Where a ship has ceased to be registered as a Maltese ship
by reason of having been wrecked or abandoned or for any reason
other than capture by the enemy or transfer to a person not
qualified to own a Maltese ship, the ship shall not be re-registered
until she has, at the expense of the applicant for registration, been
surveyed by a surveyor of ships and certified by him to be
seaworthy.
Declarations 
Power of registrar 
to dispense with 
declarations and 
other evidence. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1990.13.
64. (1)  Where under Part II and Part IIA of this Act any
person is required to make a declaration on behalf of himself or of
any body corporate, or any evidence is required to be produced to a
registrar, and it is shown to the satisfaction of the registrar that
from any reasonable cause that person is unable to make that
declaration, or that the evidence cannot be produced, the registrar
may, with the approval of the Registrar-General and on the
production of such other evidence and subject to such terms as the
Registrar-General may think fit, dispense with the declaration or
evidence.
(2) Nothing in this article shall be construed as requiring the
dispensation of the registrar or the approval of the Registrar-
General for the making of any declaration, or the doing of anything
required or permitted by this Act to be made or done, by the person
having the legal representation of a person interested in a ship or
share therein and who is incapable of making that declaration or
doing that thing by reason of minority, insanity or other cause; all
acts lawfully so done shall be as effectual as if done by the person
whom he represents.
Mode of making 
declarations. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1990.13.
65. (1)  Declarations required by Part II and Part IIA of this
Act shall be made before a registrar or a commissioner for oaths or
a Maltese consular officer.
(2) Declarations required by Part II and Part IIA of this Act
may be made on behalf of a body corporate by the secretary or by a
duly authorised representative.
Returns, Inspection of register and Evidence 
Returns to be made 
by registrars.
66. Repealed by article 32 of Act XXXVII of 1988.
Inspection of 
register and 
transcript and 
extract of register. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.33.
67. Saving any other provisions of this Act, a person may, on
payment of such fee as may be prescribed and on application to the
registrar at all reasonable time during the hours of his official
attendance, inspect any register, and obtain a transcript or extract
of the register.
  38        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Evidence of 
register and other 
documents. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4: 
XXXVII. 1990.13.
68. (1)  The following documents shall be admissible in
evidence without the necessity of any proof of their authenticity
other than that which appears on the face of them and shall, until
the contrary is proved, be evidence of their contents:
( a ) any register under Part II and Part IIA of this Act on its
production from the custody of the registrar or other
person having the lawful custody thereof;
( b ) a certificate of registry under Part II and Part IIA of
this Act purporting to be signed by the registrar or
other proper officer;
( c ) an endorsement on a certificate of registry purporting
to be signed by the registrar or other proper officer. 
(2) A copy of any document aforesaid or an extract therefrom
shall also be so admissible in evidence if it purports to be signed
and certified as a true copy or extract by the officer having the
lawful custody thereof.
Forms  
Forms of 
documents. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4.
69. (1)  The several instruments and documents specified in
the Second Schedule to this Act shall be in the form from time to
time prescribed by the Minister or as near thereto as circumstances
permit.
(2) Except with the special direction of the Registrar-General, a
registrar shall not be required to receive or enter in the register any
of the aforesaid instruments or documents which is made in any
form other than that for the time being prescribed, or which
contains any particulars other than those contained in such form;
but the Minister shall, before altering the forms, give such public
notice thereof as he may deem necessary to prevent inconvenience.
Forgery and false declarations
Forgery of 
documents. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4; 
XXXVII. 1990.13.
70. If any person forges or fraudulently alters, or assists in
forging or fraudulently altering, or procures to be forged or
fraudulently altered, any of the following documents, namely, any
register, builder’s certificate, surveyor’s certificate, certificate of
registry, declaration, bill of sale, instrument of mortgage, or
certificate of mortgage or sale under Part II and Part IIA of this
Act, or any entry or endorsement required by Part II and Part IIA of
this Act to be made in or on any of those documents, that person
shall, in respect of each offence, be liable to imprisonment for a
period of not less than two years and not exceeding five years.
False declarations. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5; 
XXXVII.1988.34;
XXII. 2000.2.
71. If any person, in the case of any declaration made in the
presence of or produced to a registrar under this Part of this Act, or
in any document or other evidence produced to such registrar- 
( a ) wilfully makes, or assists in making, or procures to be
made, any false statement concerning the title to or
ownership of any registered encumbrance or mortgage
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         39
existing on, or the interest existing in, any ship or
share therein; or
( b ) utters, produces or makes use of any declaration or
document containing any such false statement
knowing the same to be false,
he shall, in respect of each offence, be liable to imprisonment for a
period not exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
five hundred units or to both such imprisonment and fine.
Flag and National character
National colours 
for Maltese ships.  
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
72. (1)  The flag as set out in the Third Schedule to this Act,
without any defacement or modification whatsoever, is hereby
declared to be the proper national colours for all Maltese ships.
(2) If any distinctive national colours, except the Maltese flag,
are hoisted on board any Maltese ship, the master of the ship, or the
owner thereof if on board the same, and every other person hoisting
the colours, shall, for each offence, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding five hundred units.
Penalty on ship not 
showing colours. 
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
73. (1) A registered ship shall hoist the Maltese flag on
entering or leaving any foreign port and, if of fifty tons gross
tonnage or upwards, on entering or leaving any port in Malta.
(2) If default is made on board any such ship in complying with
this article, the master of the ship shall, for each offence, be liable
to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
National character 
to be declared 
before clearance.
74. (1) No clearance shall be granted for any ship until the
master of such ship has declared to the officer from whom the
clearance is required the name of the nation to which he claims that
she belongs, and that officer shall thereupon inscribe that name on
the clearance.
(2) If the ship attempts to proceed to sea without such
clearance she may be detained until the declaration is made.
Penalty for unduly 
assuming Maltese 
character.
75. If a person uses the Maltese flag and assumes the Maltese
national character on board a ship which is not a Maltese ship for
the purpose of making a ship appear to be a Maltese ship, the ship
shall be subject to forfeiture under this Act, unless the assumption
has been made for the purpose of escaping capture by an enemy or
by a foreign ship of war in the exercise of some belligerent right.
Penalty for 
concealment of 
Maltese or 
assumption of 
foreign character. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
76. If the master or owner of a Maltese ship does anything or
permits anything to be done, or carries or permits to be carried
papers or documents, with intent to conceal the Maltese character
of the ship from any person entitled by the law of Malta to inquire
into the same, or with intent to assume a foreign character, or with
intent to deceive any person so entitled as aforesaid, the ship shall
be subject to forfeiture under this Act; and the master, if he
commits or is privy to the commission of the offence, shall in
respect of each offence be liable to imprisonment for a period not
  40        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred
units or to both such imprisonment and fine.
Forfeiture of ship
Proceedings on 
forfeiture of ship
Amended by: 
XXIV.1995.362.
77. (1) Where any ship has either wholly or as to any share
therein become subject to forfeiture under this Act, any officer
authorised in that behalf by the Minister and any Maltese consular
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 and
furniture to be forfeited to the Government of Malta and make such
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 whomsoever
in respect of any seizure or detention as aforesaid, notwithstanding
that the ship has not been brought in for adjudication or, if so
brought in, is declared not to be liable to forfeiture, if it is shown
that there were reasonable grounds for such seizure or detention.
Transfer to foreign 
registry.
78. Repealed by article 35 of Act XXXVII of 1988.
Inquiry into 
title of ship 
to be registered. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4.
79. (1) Where it appears to the Minister that there is any doubt
as to the title of any ship registered as a Maltese ship to be so
registered he may direct the registrar to require evidence to be
given to his satisfaction that the ship is entitled to be registered as a
Maltese ship; and if within such time, not being less than thirty
days, as the Minister may specify, satisfactory evidence 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 order, 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 as
relates to any unsatisfied mortgages or existing certificates of
mortgage entered therein.
Power of Minister 
to order closure of 
registry.
80. Repealed by article 35 of Act XXXVII of 1988. 
Measurement of ship and Tonnage
Tonnage 
regulations. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
81. (1) The tonnage of any ship to be registered under this Act
shall be ascertained in accordance with regulations made by the
Minister, and those regulations shall be taken to be the provisions
referred to in this Act as the tonnage regulations of this Act.
(2) Regulations under this article may -
( a ) make different provision for different description of
ships or for the same description of ships in different
circumstances;
( b ) make any provision thereof dependant on compliance
with such conditions, to be evidenced in such manner,
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         41
as may be specified in the regulations;
( c ) prohibit or restrict the carriage of goods or stores in
spaces not included in the registered tonnage of a ship
and may provide for making the master and owner
each liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred
units where such a prohibition or restriction is
contravened.
(3) Regulations under this article may make provision for
assigning to a ship, either instead of or as an alternative to the
tonnage ascertained in accordance with the other provisions of the
regulations, a lower tonnage applicable where the ship is not loaded
to the full depth to which she can be safely loaded, and for
indicating on the ship, by such mark as may be specified in the
regulations, that such a lower tonnage has been assigned to her and,
where it has been assigned to her as an alternative, the depth to
which the ship may be loaded for the lower tonnage to be
applicable.
(4) Regulations under this article may provide for the issue of
documents certifying the registered tonnage of any ship or the
tonnage which is to be taken for any purpose specified in the
regulations as the tonnage of a ship not registered in Malta.
(5) Where regulations under this article are amended, such
regulations may make provision for the alteration of the particulars
relating to the registered tonnage of any ship registered before the
coming into operation of the amendment.
(6) Regulations under this article may prescribe the fees to be
paid in respect of the measurement of a ship’s tonnage.
Tonnage 
ascertained to be 
tonnage of ship.
82. Wherever the tonnage of any ship has been ascertained and
registered in accordance with the tonnage regulations of this Act,
the same shall thenceforth be deemed to be the tonnage of the ship
and shall be repeated in any subsequent registry thereof, unless any
alteration is made in the form or capacity of the ship, or unless it is
discovered that the tonnage of the ship has been erroneously
computed, or unless the tonnage regulations of this Act are
amended and make provision for the alteration of the particulars of
the registered tonnage of any ship registered before the coming into
operation of the amendment; and in any such case the ship shall be
re-measured and her tonnage determined and re-registered
according to the tonnage regulations of this Act then in force.
Tonnage of ships 
of other countries 
adopting 
regulations.
83. (1) Whenever it appears to the Minister that the tonnage
regulations of this Act have been adopted by any country, and are
in force there, the Minister may order that the ships of that country
shall, without being re-measured, be deemed to be of the tonnage
denoted in their certificates of registry or other equivalent
documents, in the same manner, to the same extent, and for the
same purposes, as the tonnage denoted in the certificate of registry
of a Maltese ship is deemed to be the tonnage of that ship; and any
space shown by the certificate of registry or other equivalent
document of any such ship as deducted from the tonnage shall,
where a similar deduction in the case of a Maltese ship depends on
  42        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
compliance with any conditions or on the compliance being
evidenced in any manner, be deemed to comply with those
conditions and be so evidenced, unless a surveyor of ships certifies
to the Minister that the construction and equipment of the ship as
respects that space do not come up to the standard which would be
required if the ship were a ship registered under this Act.
(2) The Minister may limit the time during which the order is
to remain in operation and make the order subject to such
conditions and qualifications as he may deem expedient, and the
operation of the order shall be limited and modified accordingly.
(3) If it is made to appear to the Minister that the tonnage of
any ship, as measured by the rules of the country to which she
belongs, materially differs from that which would be her tonnage if
measured under this Act, the Minister may order that,
notwithstanding any other order for the time being in force under
this article, any of the ships of that country may, for all or any of
the purposes of this Act, be re-measured in accordance with this
Act.
Survey and 
measurement to be 
performed by 
surveyors.
84. All duties in relation to the survey and measurement of
ships shall be performed by surveyors of ships in accordance with
regulations made or instructions given by the Minister.
Added by: 
XXXVII. 1990.14.
PART IIA
BAREBOAT CHARTER REGISTRATION
Interpretation. 84A. (1) For the purposes of this Part of this Act, unless the
context otherwise requires - 
"bareboat charter" means the contract for the lease or sub-lease
of a ship, hereinafter referred to as charter, for a stipulated period
of time, by virtue of which the charterer shall acquire full control
and complete possession of the ship, including the right to appoint
her master and crew for the duration of the charter but excluding
the right to sell or mortgage the ship;
"bareboat charter registration" means the registration of a ship in
a bareboat charter registry under the name of the charterer;
 "bareboat charter registry" means the registry of the State whose
flag the ship is entitled to fly during the period in which the
charterer is registered as the bareboat charterer;
"compatible registry" means a ship registry of a foreign State
declared by the Minister to be a compatible registry in terms of
article 84B;
"day" means calendar day;
"underlying registry" means the registry of the State in which the
owners of a ship are registered as owners and to which jurisdiction
and control will revert upon termination of the bareboat charter
registration, and "underlying register" and "underlying
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         43
registration" shall be construed accordingly.
(2) Article 76 shall be construed for the purpose of this Part of
this Act, as if for the words "If the master or owner" there were
substituted the words "If the master or charterer or owner".
Compatible 
registries.
84B .  Whenever it appears to the Minister that the provisions of
the law of a State with regards to bareboat charter registration are
compatible with the provisions of this Act, he may declare the ship
registry of that State to be a compatible registry for the purposes of
this Part of this Act.
Eligibility and 
conditions for 
bareboat charter 
registration.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.39.
84C. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in article 4, a
ship not eligible in terms of the said article to be registered as a
Maltese ship shall be eligible to be registered as a Maltese ship
under this Part of this Act provided that - 
( a ) the ship is bareboat chartered to a citizen of Malta, or
to bodies corporate or such other persons qualified to
own a Maltese ship in terms of article 4;
( b ) the ship is not a Maltese ship, and is registered in a
compatible registry;
( c ) is not registered in another bareboat charter registry;
and
( d ) the following certified documents are submitted to the
registrar to his satisfaction:
(i) an application for registry under this Part of this
Act made by the charterer or his authorised
agent containing such information as may be
required by the registrar;
(ii) a declaration of bareboat charter made by the
charterer accompanied by a copy of the charter
agreement, which charter agreement shall not be
available for public inspection;
(iii) a transcript or an extract of the underlying
registration of the ship which shall include a
description of the ship, the owners and, where
applicable, all registered mortgages and
encumbrances of the ship, and such document
shall be available for public inspection; and
(iv) the consent in writing for the ship to be bareboat
charter registered in Malta of:
( a ) the appropriate authorities of the
underlying registry who may be further
required by the registrar to declare that
during the period of bareboat charter
registration the ship will not be entitled to
fly their flag;
( b ) the owners of the ship; and 
( c ) all registered mortgagees.
(2) Any amendments or modifications to the bareboat charter
  44        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
shall within thirty days be produced to the registrar by the
charterer.
(3) Whenever any amendments or modifications are effected to
the underlying registration the charterer shall - 
( a ) within seven days from such amendments being
effected communicate to the registrar any such
amendments or modifications; and
( b ) within thirty days of such amendments or
modifications having been entered in the underlying
register produce to the registrar a transcript or an
extract of the underlying registration showing such
amendments or modifications.
Ascertainment of 
tonnage.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 40.
84D.   The tonnage of a ship to be registered under this Part of
this Act shall be ascertained in accordance with the tonnage
regulations made under this Act:
  Provided that at the request of the charterer the registrar
may accept the tonnage of such ship to be that registered in the
underlying registry if he is satisfied that the provisions of the
International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships signed
in London on 23 June, 1969 (including any protocol or amendment
to such convention ratified, acceded to or accepted by the
Government of Malta), if applicable to such ship and unless such
ship has been exempted from them, have been adhered to, and the
certificate of survey provided for in article 14 shall be that issued
by the underlying registry.
Name of ship 
bareboat chartered 
registered in Malta.
84E. (1) Subject to the provisions of subarticle (2) a ship shall
be registered under this Part of this Act by the name under which it
is registered in the underlying registry, provided that such name is
not already the name of a registered Maltese ship or a name so
similar as to be calculated to deceive.
(2) The name of a ship to be registered or of a ship already
registered under this Part of this Act, may be changed prior or
subsequent to registration under this Part of this Act as the case
may be, provided the appropriate authorities of the underlying
registry, the owners, and the registered mortgagees, if any, have
consented thereto and provided also that such change is made in
accordance with the provisions of article 56.
Bareboat charter 
registration.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.41.
84F. (1) The registrar, if satisfied that all conditions for
registration specified in this Part and in other Parts of this Act,
where applicable, have been complied with, and on payment of the
prescribed fee shall -
( a ) enter in the register of Maltese ships provided for in
article 365, all particulars of the ship and its
underlying registration, owners and charterers, stating
that it is a bareboat charter registration, the expiry date
of such registration, and that the register does not
contain an official record of any mortgages affecting
the ship;
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         45
( b ) inform the appropriate authorities of the underlying
registry of the registration under this Part; and
( c ) issue a provisional certificate of bareboat charter
registry or a certificate of bareboat charter registry, as
the case may be, which shall include the expiry date
thereof, the name and official number of the ship, the
name of the home port Valletta and such particulars, if
any, as the registrar may deem proper:
Provided that, unless otherwise exempted, if the
ship is not in possession of valid certificates required
by international conventions (including protocols,
annexes and appendices thereto) which have been
ratified or acceded to or accepted by the Government
of Malta and such other certificates as the Minister
may by regulations prescribe, the registrar shall issue a
non-operational provisional certificate of bareboat
charter registry or a non-operational certificate of
bareboat charter registry, as the case may be.
(2) Upon the issue of a certificate of bareboat charter registry,
whether provisional or otherwise, all documents issued to the ship
by the underlying registry, shall be surrendered to the appropriate
authorities of that registry and, within thirty days of the issue of the
certificate as aforesaid, the charterer shall make and deliver to the
registrar a declaration to that effect.
Duration of 
bareboat charter 
registration.
84G.   Subject to the provisions of article 84H the duration of
such registration shall be for a period not exceeding the duration of
the bareboat charter or the expiry date of the underlying
registration, whichever is the shorter period, but in no case for a
period exceeding two years.
Extension of 
bareboat charter 
registration.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 42.  
84H. (1) At the request of the charterer or his authorised agent
the registrar may extend and further extend the registration for the
remaining period of the charter or until the expiry date of the
underlying registry, whichever is the shorter period, but in no case
for periods exceeding two years at a time, provided that he has not
received any objections to this extension from the appropriate
authorities of the underlying registry, the owners and the registered
mortgagees, if any, within seven days from the registrar having
informed them of such request for extension.
(2) Upon the grant of an extension in terms of subarticle (1),
the registrar shall - 
( a ) enter the new date of expiry in the register of the ship; 
( b ) issue a renewal certificate of bareboat charter registry
which shall include the date of expiry thereof, the
name and official number of the ship, the name of the
home port Valletta and such particulars, if any, as the
registrar may deem proper; and
( c ) inform the appropriate authorities of the underlying
registry.
  46        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
International 
convention 
certificates of ship 
bareboat charter 
registered in Malta.
84I.   A ship bareboat charter registered under this Part required
to be issued with international convention certificates in terms of
an international convention to which Malta is a party shall be
issued with such certificates under the authority of the Government
of Malta:
  Provided that where Malta is not a party to such convention
a certificate required under that convention may be issued, with the
permission of the registrar, under the authority of the government
of the underlying registry.
Jurisdiction over a 
ship registered 
under this Part of 
this Act.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 43.
84J. (1) A ship registered under this Part of this Act shall be
deemed to be a Maltese ship and except where otherwise provided
shall be under the jurisdiction and control of Malta and shall
comply with all the laws applicable to Maltese ships.
(2) A ship registered under this Part of this Act shall only hoist
the Malta flag as provided for in this Act.
(3) The home port of a ship registered under this Part of this
Act shall be Valletta and shall be shown on the certificate of
bareboat charter registry, whether provisional or otherwise, and
shall be marked on the stern in accordance with the provisions of
the Act.
Ownership of ship 
registered under 
this Part of this 
Act.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 44.
84K. (1) This Act shall not assert any ownership rights over a
ship registered under this Part of this Act and it shall have no effect
with regards to title and transfer and transmission of such ship or
shares therein.
(2) Any transfer of ownership of a ship registered under this
Part of this Act shall be notified by the charterers to the registrar,
and the registration of the ship under this Part of this Act may be
closed unless the new owners, within seven days, have informed
the registrar that they have no objection to the registration of the
ship under this Part of this Act, and, within thirty days of having
made such declaration, delivered to the registrar their consent in
writing to such registration.
Payment of fees. 84L.   A ship registered under this Part of this Act shall be
subject to the payment of the initial and annual registration fees and
of any other fees set out in this Act, or in any regulations made
thereunder.
Mortgages and 
encumberances.
84M.   Mortgages and encumbrances may not be registered under
this Act in respect of a ship registered under this Part of this Act,
and the registrar shall refuse to register any such mortgages and
encumbrances; such power of registration shall remain vested in
the underlying registry.
Closure of 
bareboat charter 
registration.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 45.
84N. (1) The Minister may order that the registration of a ship
under this Part of this Act shall be closed if it is in the national
interest or in the interest of Maltese shipping.
(2) The Registrar-General may direct that the registration of a
ship under this Part of this Act shall be closed for any reason
specified in article 29(2), in as far as the same may be applicable to
a ship registered under this Part of this Act.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         47
(3) Prior to the issue of any such order or directive the
registrar shall give one month’s notice in writing to the charterer of
the intention of closure of registry unless the cause of such closure
is remedied. The registrar shall specify in the notice the reason for
closure and the expiry date for compliance failing which closure
will be effected.
(4) Upon the issue of any notice in terms of subarticle (3) the
registrar shall make a note thereof in the register and shall record
the date on which the one month period shall lapse.
(5) Upon the lapse of the said one month from the giving of
notice and upon receipt of the order from the Minister or the
directive from the Registrar-General, as the case may be, the
registrar shall make an entry thereof in the register and thereupon
the ship shall cease to be a Maltese ship and the registry of the ship
shall be considered as closed. 
(6) Where the charterer of a ship, registered under this Part of
this Act, desires to close the bareboat charter registration of such
ship, he shall make an application to that effect to the registrar
giving all such particulars and information as the registrar may
require for the purpose, and the registrar may refuse such
application if all liabilities and obligations in respect of the ship
towards the Authority, the Government of Malta and any body
corporate established by law, whether for fees, charges, fines or
otherwise have been paid.
(7) The registrar shall close the registration of a ship under this
Part of this Act, and shall make an entry to that effect in the
register, if -
( a ) the Minister has ordered such closure in terms of
subarticle (1);
( b ) the Registrar-General has directed such closure in
terms of subarticle (2);
( c ) a voluntary closure of registry has been requested and
such request has been acceded to by the registrar in
terms of subarticle (6);
( d ) the appropriate authorities of the underlying registry,
or the owners, or any of the mortgagees, if any, have
withdrawn their consent to the bareboat charter
registration in Malta;
( e ) the registration in the underlying registry has for any
reason been terminated;
( f ) the charter lapses or is terminated by any of the parties
to it; or
( g ) the period for which the ship has been bareboat charter
registered lapses and no extension has been granted in
accordance with article 84H.
(8) Upon the closure of a registration in terms of subarticle (7)
the ship shall cease to be a Maltese ship and the registrar shall
immediately notify the appropriate authorities of the underlying
registry, the owners and the mortgagees, if any, of such closure.
  48        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
(9) The registrar may refuse to issue a deletion certificate or a
transcript of registry showing the closure of registry until -
( a ) any certificate of bareboat charter registry, whether
provisional or otherwise, issued in terms of article 84F
has been surrendered to him; and
( b ) all liabilities and obligations in respect of the ship
towards the Authority, the Government of Malta and
any body corporate established by law, whether for
fees, charges, fines or otherwise have been paid.
Bareboat charter 
registration in a 
foreign registry.
84O.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act a Maltese
ship registered under Part II of this Act may be bareboat charter
registered in a foreign registry if the Registrar-General gives his
consent in writing thereto in terms of article 84P.
Consent of the 
Registrar-General.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 46.
84P. (1) The Registrar-General may, under such conditions as
he may deem fit to impose, give his consent referred to in article
84O if - 
( a ) the ship is registered as a Maltese ship under Part II of
this Act;
( b ) the bareboat charter registry where the ship is to be
registered is a compatible registry; and
( c ) the following documents are submitted to him:
(i) an application for bareboat charter registration
in a foreign registry made by the owners
containing such information as may be required
by the Registrar-General;
(ii) the consent in writing to such registration of all
registered mortgagees, if any;
(iii) a written undertaking by the owners to surrender
the certificate of registry issued under this Act
within thirty days from entry into the bareboat
charter registry;
(iv) a written undertaking by the charterer that the
Maltese flag shall not be hoisted during the
period of bareboat charter registration; and
(v) a copy of the bareboat charter,
and such consent shall be valid for a period not exceeding the
duration of the bareboat charter or for a period not exceeding two
years, whichever is the shorter period, and, in any case, such
consent shall lapse on the expiry of the registry of the ship under
Part II of this Act unless this has been extended as provided for in
that same Part of this Act.
(2) At the request of the owner or his authorised agent the
Registrar-General may extend and further extend his consent
referred to in article 84O for the remaining period of the charter or
until the expiry of the registration of the ship under Part II of this
Act, whichever is the shorter period, but in no case for periods
exceeding two years at a time.
(3) The owners shall produce to the registrar any amendments
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         49
or modifications to the bareboat charter within thirty days of such
amendments or modifications being effected.
Name of ship 
bareboat charter 
registered in a 
foreign registry.
84Q. (1) Subject to the provisions of subarticle (2) a ship
registered under Part II of this Act shall be bareboat charter
registered in a foreign registry by the name under which it is
registered under this Act.
(2) The name of a Maltese registered ship bareboat charter
registered in a foreign registry may be changed with the written
permission of the Registrar-General in terms of article 56 only if
such change is being effected also in the bareboat charter registry.
Registration in a 
foreign bareboat 
charter registry not 
in terms of this 
Act.
84R.   The registration in a foreign bareboat charter registry of a
ship registered under this Act not made in accordance with the
provisions of this Part of this Act shall be null and void.
Bareboat charter 
registration of a 
Maltese ship in a 
foreign registry.
84S. (1) Upon the bareboat charter registration of a Maltese
ship in a foreign registry -
( a ) the owners shall immediately notify the registrar of
such registration, and within thirty days surrender to
the registrar the certificate of registry issued to the
ship under this Act and deliver to the registrar a
transcript or an extract of the foreign bareboat charter
registration; and
( b ) the registrar, if satisfied that such registration has been
effected according to the provisions of this Act, shall
make an entry thereof in the register of the said ship.
(2) The owners shall immediately notify the registrar of the
closure or lapse of the bareboat charter registration in a foreign
registry, and shall within thirty days of the closure of such registry,
deliver to the registrar a transcript or an extract of the foreign
bareboat charter registration showing such closure.
Obligations while 
ship is a foreign 
bareboat charter 
registry.
84T. (1) Unless otherwise provided for in this Part of this Act,
the owners of a Maltese ship bareboat charter registered in a
foreign registry shall comply with all the provisions of this Act as
if the ship were not so registered in the foreign registry.
(2) During the time a Maltese ship is bareboat charter
registered in a foreign registry in terms of the provisions of this
Part of this Act -
( a ) notwithstanding the provisions of article 73, such ship
shall not hoist the Maltese flag; and 
( b ) notwithstanding the provisions of article 5, the home
port of such ship shall be that of the bareboat charter
registry.
(3) The owners shall, within fifteen days from the entry into
the foreign bareboat charter registry, make and deliver to the
registrar a declaration to the effect that the name of the foreign
home port has been marked on the stern of the ship in lieu of the
name Valletta.
  50        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Payment of fees 
while ship is in 
foreign bareboat 
charter registry.
84U.   A Maltese ship bareboat charter registered in a foreign
registry shall, notwithstanding such registration, continue to be
subject to the payment of all the fees set out in this Act, or in any
regulations made thereunder, in respect of Maltese ships.
International 
convention 
certificates of ship 
bareboat charter 
registered in 
foreign registry.
84V.   A Maltese ship bareboat charter registered in a foreign
registry required to be issued with international convention
certificates in terms of an international convention to which Malta
is a party shall be issued with such certificates under the authority
of the government of the bareboat charter registry:
Provided that where the State of the bareboat charter
registry is not a party to such convention the certificate required
under such convention may be issued under the authority of the
Government of Malta.
Title, mortgages 
and encumbrances 
of ship bareboat 
charter registered 
in a foreign 
registry.
84W. (1) Notwithstanding that a Maltese ship may be bareboat
charter registered in a foreign registry, all matters with respect to
title over the ship, mortgages and encumbrances shall continue to
be governed by Maltese law.
(2) Any transaction affecting the title over the ship or relating
to the registration, amendment, transfer and transmission and
discharge of mortgages shall be made and registered in accordance
with the provisions of this Act and only by the persons specified
therein.
(3) The registration of any mortgages or encumbrances in the
bareboat charter registry shall be null and void.
Termination of 
bareboat charter 
registration in 
foreign registry.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 47.
84X. (1) The Registrar-General may withdraw the consent
referred to in article 84O, if any of the applicable provisions of this
Act are not complied with:
Provided that the Registrar-General shall withdraw such
consent, if -
( a ) the Minister, in the national interest or in the interest
of Maltese shipping, has ordered the Registrar-General
to withdraw his consent;
( b ) any of the conditions required to be fulfilled in terms
of subarticle (1) of article 84P is not so fulfilled; or
( c ) the charter terminates or is terminated by any of the
parties to it.
(2) Upon the withdrawal of the consent of the Registrar-
General in terms of subarticle (1) -
( a ) the registrar shall inform the appropriate authorities of
the bareboat charter registry, the owners, the
charterers, and the mortgagees, if any, of such
withdrawal; and
( b ) the bareboat charter registration shall be terminated. 
(3) Upon the termination of the bareboat charter registration -
( a ) the registrar shall make an entry thereof in the register,
and the ship shall thereupon be again subject to all the
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         51
provisions of Maltese law;
( b ) within thirty days from the termination of such
registration the owners shall make and deliver a
declaration to the registrar that the certificate of
bareboat charter registration has been surrendered to
the foreign bareboat charter registry, and thereupon
the registrar, unless the registry of the ship under Part
II of this Act is also being closed, shall again deliver to
the owners the certificate of registry which had been
surrendered to him in terms of article 84S; and
( c ) within thirty days from the termination of such
registration the owners shall deliver to the registrar a
transcript or an extract of register showing that the
bareboat charter registration has been cancelled.
Certification of 
documents.
84Y.   All documents required by the registrar for the purposes of
this Act shall be certified as required by the registrar.
PART III
 TAXATION AND CONCESSIONS
Definitions and 
Registration of 
companies under 
this Part of this
Act.
Amended by: 
XXIV.1986.12; 
XXXVII.1988.36; 
XXXVII.1990.15;
XXII. 2000. 49.
Cap. 123.
85. (1) For the purposes of this Part of this Act, unless the
context otherwise requires -
"dividend" has the same meaning as is assigned to it by article 2
of the Income Tax Act;
"exempted ship" means either a ship declared to be an exempted
ship by the Minister in terms of article 85A, or a ship owned
entirely, or chartered by a company or companies registered under
this Part of this Act, being a ship of not less than one thousand nett
tons engaged in the carriage of goods or passengers registered
under Part II or Part IIA of this Act and in respect of which the
registration fees provided for in article 6 have been duly paid;
"operation" in respect of an exempted ship means the operation
of such ship by the owner thereof and includes the operation of
such ship under charter in any year in respect of which the charterer
shall have paid to a registrar an amount equal to the annual
registration fee for that year in addition to that paid by the owner;
 "resident in Malta" means:
( a ) in the case of an individual, a person who is either
ordinarily resident in Malta or is domiciled in Malta;
and
( b ) in the case of a body of persons, any such body as is
formed and registered in Malta, or which has its
principal place of business in Malta or which is
controlled, directly or indirectly by a person or persons
resident in Malta.
  52        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
(2) A company qualified to own a Maltese ship wishing to own
or operate exempted ships shall register with the Minister
responsible for finance by submitting to him in writing the
following particulars:
( a ) the name of the company;
( b ) the address of the registered office of the company; 
( c ) the name and tonnage of the ship which it wishes to
own or operate as an exempted ship;
and shall notify the Minister in writing from time to time of any
alterations in such particulars.
Minister may 
declare a ship to be 
an exempted ship. 
Added by: 
XXIV. 1986.13.
85A. (1) The Minister may with the concurrence of the
Minister responsible for finance and subject to such conditions as
he may deem appropriate, declare to be an exempted ship, a ship of
any nett tonnage, irrespective of operations or trade in which
engaged, which but for such tonnage, operations or trade would
otherwise satisfy all other requirements of an exempted ship under
subarticle (1) of article 85.
(2) A company qualified to own Maltese ships wishing to have
a ship as is referred to in subarticle (1) declared to be an exempted
ship shall apply to the Minister in writing to have the ship so
declared, entering in the application the particulars mentioned in
article 85(2); and shall notify the Minister in writing from time to
time of any alterations in such particulars.
(3) The Minister shall once every year publish in the Gazette a
list of the declarations made in accordance with subarticle (1)
during the preceding year.
Exemption from 
Income Tax. 
Amended by: 
XXIV.1986.14; 
XXXVII.1988.37;
XXXVII.1990.16;
XXII. 2000.50. 
Cap. 123.
86. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Income Tax
Act, or in any enactment replacing that Act, if the condition
contained in subarticle (3) is complied with, no tax under that Act
shall be charged or payable on the income of a company registered
under this Part of this Act in respect of gains or profits derived
from the ownership or operation of an exempted ship while she was
an exempted ship or on any dividend paid to the shareholders of
such company and where the shareholder is itself a company, any
dividend paid to the shareholders of such company to the extent
that such dividend is paid out of gains or profits derived from the
ownership or operation of an exempted ship while she was an
exempted ship or out of such company’s share in such profits.
Cap. 123.  (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Income Tax Act
or in any enactment replacing that Act, no tax under that Act shall
be payable by any person on interest or other income payable to
him by any company registered in terms of Part III of this Act in
respect of any debt or other obligation contracted or undertaken by
such company in relation to any ship:
Provided that the application of such exemption to persons
resident in Malta shall be restricted to such persons who are
licensed banks, credit or financial institutions under the provisions
of applicable law.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         53
(3) The condition referred to in subarticle (1) is that in respect
of the year or other period in respect of which exemption from tax
is claimed, separate accounts were kept clearly distinguishing the
payments and receipts by the company in respect of the ownership
and operation of an exempted ship and payments and receipts in
respect of any other business.
Cap. 281. 
Cap. 12. 
Cap. 123.
(4) In the case of a company whose objects are limited for the
sole purpose of owning and, or, operating exempted ships, and
ancillary transactions and which actually owns and, or, operates
only exempted ships, a declaration may be submitted to the
Commissioner of Inland Revenue in the form set out in the Fifth
Schedule to this Act by a person holding the warrant of a certified
public accountant and auditor under the Accountancy Profession
Act, or by a person holding the warrant of advocate in terms of the
Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure in lieu of a tax return
required in terms of the Income Tax Act, and the relative
provisions of the Income Tax Act shall, for the purpose of this Act,
be construed accordingly.
Exemption from 
death and donation 
duties. 
Amended by: 
XXIV. 1986.15.
87. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Death and
Donation Duty Act or in any enactment replacing that Act, if the
conditions contained in subarticle (2) are complied with -
( a ) shares in a company registered under this Part of this
Act and devoted solely to the business of owning or
operating exempted ships shall be exempt from all
duties under that Act to the extent of such part of the
value thereof as is attributable to - 
(i) the value of an exempted ship or any part
thereof; 
(ii) the proceeds of sale of an exempted ship;
(iii) other assets of the company acquired directly out
of the profits derived from the ownership or
operation of an exempted ship or out of the
proceeds of sale of such other assets;
( b ) to the extent that the value of such shares is exempt
from duty under paragraph ( a ), such value shall not be
taken into account in determining the rate of duty
payable under the said Act.
(2) The conditions referred to in subarticle (1) are:
( a ) that it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioner
of Inland Revenue that the shares and debentures of
the company and of any other company holding,
whether directly or indirectly, shares or debentures of
the company are wholly owned by persons having their
ordinary place of residence outside Malta; and
( b ) that accounts of the company are produced to the
Commissioner of Inland Revenue and have been kept
in such manner as to show clearly -
(i) the profits of the company derived from the
ownership or operation of an exempted ship as
  54        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
distinct from profits arising in any other way;
(ii) the amounts from time to time expended by the
company directly out of such profits on the
acquisition of other assets and out of the
proceeds of sale of such other assets on the
acquisition of further assets; and
(iii) the proceeds of sale of exempted ships.
(3) A company registered under this Part of this Act shall be
regarded as devoted wholly to the business of owning or operating
exempted ships notwithstanding that it has power to engage in and
has engaged in operations incidental to the ownership or operation
of exempted ships or the investment in other assets of the profits
derived from such ownership or operation or the variation of such
other assets, provided that the principal business of the company
remains that of owning or operating exempted ships.
Exemption from 
duty on 
documents. 
Amended by: 
XXXI. 1981.64; 
XXIV.1986.16; 
XXXVI.1988.39; 
XXXVII. 1990.17.
88. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Duty on
Documents Act, or in any enactment replacing that Act, no duty
chargeable in accordance with that Act shall be payable in respect
of any instrument connected with or involving:
( a ) the registration of an exempted ship under Part II and
Part IIA of this Act and other registrations relating to
an exempted ship made under the said part; or
( b ) the allotment of any newly issued share or stock of a
company registered under this Part of this Act or the
purchase, transfer, assignment or negotiation of any
share or stock of any such company; or
( c ) the sale or other transfer of an exempted ship or share
thereof; or
( d ) the registration of any mortgage or other charge over
any registered ship, the transfer or the discharge
thereof, any receipt relative thereto, and any
assignments granted in connection with:
(i) the financing of any registered ship, or
(ii) the securing of any claims against such ship. 
Concessions at 
option of company. 
Added by: 
XXXVII.1988.40.
88A .  The concessions and other benefits granted by this Act are
so granted at the option of the company benefiting therefrom and
any such company may, by notice in writing to the Minister, opt not
to be entitled to any such concession which shall be thereby waived
and such waiver shall be indefinite and irrevocable in respect
thereof.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         55
PART IV
 MASTERS AND SEAMEN
Certificate of competency
Interpretation. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
Substituted by:
XXXVII.1990.18.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.102.
89. For the purposes of this Part of this Act, unless the context
otherwise requires, the term ''certificate of competency'' includes
certificate of proficiency and licence and any other similar
document.
Manning of 
Maltese ships.
Substituted by:
XXXVII.1990.18.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.102.
90. (1) Every Maltese ship when going to sea from any place
shall be provided with such number and description of officers and
crew as the Minister may by regulations prescribe:
Provided that the Minister may in such regulations
authorise the Registrar-General to exempt any ship or a class of
ships from all or any of the requirements of such regulations.
(2) If the requirements of subarticle (1) are not complied with,
the master or owners of the ship shall for each offence be liable to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred units. 
Certificates of 
competency.
Substituted by:
XXXVII.1990.18
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.102..
91. The Minister may by regulations prescribe:
( a ) the grades in respect of which certificates of
competency shall be granted, recognised or endorsed
in accordance with this Act;
( b ) the conditions for the issue, recognition or
endorsement of certificates of competency granted,
recognised or endorsed in accordance with this Act;
( c ) the conditions for the replacement, suspension,
cancellation and alteration of certificates of
competency issued, recognised or endorsed in
accordance with this Act; and
( d ) any other matter affecting certificates of competency.
Examination for 
certificates of 
competency.
92. Repealed by Act XXXVII of 1990.
Grant of 
certificates on 
passing 
examination.
93. Repealed by Act XXXVII of 1990.
Foreign certificates 
of competency, etc.
94. Repealed by Act XXXVII of 1990.
Form and record of 
certificates.
95. (1) All certificates of competency granted under this Act,
and all recognitions of certificates of competency under this Act,
shall be made in duplicate, one part to be delivered to the person
entitled to the certificate or recognition and one to be preserved.
(2) Such last-mentioned part of the certificate or recognition
shall be preserved, and a record thereof and of all certificates
deemed to be granted under this Act, and of any suspension,
  56        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
cancellation or alteration thereof, and of any other matter affecting
them, shall be kept, in such manner as the Minister directs, by the
Registrar-General or by such other person as the Minister directs.
(3) Any such certificate or recognition and any record under
this article shall be admissible in evidence without the necessity of
any proof of their authenticity other than that which appears on the
face of them and shall, until the contrary is proved, be evidence of
their contents.
Loss of certificate. 96. Repealed by Act XXXVII of 1990.
Production of 
certificates of 
competency.
97. (1) The master of every Maltese ship -
( a ) on signing the agreement with the crew before the
shipping master, shall produce to him the certificates
of competency or the recognitions of certificates of
competency required by this Act in respect of the
master, mates and engineers of the ship; and
( b ) in the case of a running agreement shall also, before
the second and every subsequent voyage, produce to
the shipping master the certificate or recognition as
aforesaid of any mate or engineer then first engaged by
him who is required by this Act to hold a certificate or
a recognition of a certificate.
(2) Upon the production of the documents aforesaid, the
shipping master shall, if the documents are such as the master,
mates and engineers of the ship ought to hold, give to the master a
certificate (in this Act referred to as the shipping master’s
certificate) to the effect that the proper certificates of competency
have been so produced.
(3) The master shall, before proceeding to sea, produce the
shipping master’s certificate to the person from whom clearance is
required, and the ship may be detained until the certificate is
produced.
Forgery of 
certificates of 
competency. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
98. If any person -
( a ) forges or fraudulently alters, or assists in forging or
fraudulently altering, or procures to be forged or
fraudulently altered, any certificate of competency or
any recognition of a certificate of competency, or an
official copy of any such certificate or recognition; or
( b ) makes, assists in making, or procures to be made, any
false representation for the purpose of procuring, or
having recognised, either for himself or for any other
person, a certificate of competency; or
( c ) fraudulently uses a certificate, or a recognition of a
certificate, or a copy of a certificate or of a recognition
of a certificate, of competency which has been forged,
altered, cancelled or suspended, or to which he is not
entitled; or
( d ) fraudulently lends his certificate of competency or
recognition of a certificate of competency, or allows it
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         57
to be used by any other person,
that person shall for each offence be liable to imprisonment for a
period not exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
five hundred units or to both such imprisonment and fine.
Masters 
Appointment and 
dismissal of 
master.
99. (1) The master is appointed and may be dismissed by the
owner of the ship; and any agreement purporting to deprive the
owner of the power to dismiss the master shall have no effect.
(2) A master shall not be entitled to any compensation if he is
dismissed with good cause or is removed by the court.
(3) Where a master is dismissed without good cause he shall,
unless it is by agreement otherwise provided, be entitled to an
indemnity related to the length of his service with the ship or the
owner thereof and, where the master is so dismissed during the
course of the voyage, the indemnity shall not be less than his wages
for the entire voyage and the expenses of his repatriation.
Duties and liability 
of the master.
100. (1) In the discharge of his duties the master shall be
responsible for any negligence or misconduct even where the fault
is slight, and shall be answerable for all damage resulting from
non-observance of any law or regulation; his liability ceases only if
it is shown that he exercised all proper care.
(2) The master shall be responsible for the proper management
and navigation of the vessel, for the safety of the vessel, her crews
and passengers, for the prompt receipt and proper stowage, care
and discharge of cargo, and for the maintenance of discipline on
board; and he shall be on board at all times during the voyage.
(3) The master shall also be responsible for the loss of, or any
damage to, articles taken in or put on board by passengers,
including any loss through theft, or injury caused, by members of
the crew except in case of theft or injury committed by force of
arms or happening through circumstances over which the master
had no control.
(4) The master shall not carry goods on deck unless the shipper
consents, and if he does so he shall be answerable for any damage
due to the goods having been so carried:
Provided that, in the absence of an agreement to the
contrary, this subarticle shall not apply to voyages between Malta
and Sicily or Malta and Tripoli or Tunis or to goods which
according to usage are carried on deck.
(5) The master shall give to the owners a true and faithful
account of all dealings and other matters relating to the ship at such
reasonable times as he may be directed so to do.
(6) Nothing in this article shall affect the provisions of Part IX
of this Act.
  58        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Powers of the 
master.
101. (1) The master may, in the absence of the owner, or if
communication in time is impossible, incur expense, or bind the
owner by contract, for necessary repairs to the ship or for the
supply of necessaries, and may borrow money on the credit of the
owner to pay for necessaries to be supplied.
(2) The master may also, where this course is necessary and is
the best course, and communication with the owner in time is
impossible, sell the ship.
Ship’s papers. 102.   The master of every ship shall keep on board: 
( a ) the certificate of registry of the ship;
( b ) the certificates required by Part V of this Act to be in
force in respect of the ship;
( c ) the bill of health;
( d ) the agreement with the crew and the muster roll; 
( e ) the bills of lading and charter-parties;
( f ) the official log book.
Passengers’ list. 
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.51.
103. (1) The master of every Maltese ship and the master of
every ship carrying passengers on any voyage to Malta from a place
outside Malta, or from Malta to any place outside Malta, shall
furnish to such person as the Minister may by regulations direct a
return giving the total number of persons on board as well as such
other information relative to such persons as may be prescribed, in
such form and manner and within such time as may be prescribed.
(2) The Minister may by such regulations exempt any
passenger ship or any passenger ship undertaking such voyage or
voyages as may be prescribed in the regulations generally or in
respect of any voyages or classes of voyages from the provisions of
such regulations.
(3) Any passenger to which regulations under subarticle (1)
refer shall furnish the master with such information required by the
master for making any such return.
(4) If -
( a ) the master of a ship fails to make a return as required
by this article or makes a false return;
( b ) any passenger refuses to give information required by
the master of the ship for the purpose of the return, or
for that purpose gives the master information which he
knows to be false or recklessly gives information
which is false,
the master, or as the case may be, the passenger, shall be guilty of
an offence against this article and shall on conviction be liable to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred units in the case of the
master, and not exceeding one hundred units in the case of a
passenger.
(5) The Minister may extend the provisions of these
regulations to the owner, bareboat charterer, manager, or any other
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         59
person or organisation who may have assumed responsibility for
operating the passenger ship from the owner, the obligations of the
master with regard to such regulations, and may moreover provide
that any person or organisation to whom such obligations may have
been so extended preserve and keep such records for such period
and in such manner as may be prescribed and supply such periodic
or other returns thereof as may be prescribed, and the provisions of
subarticle (4) hereof shall apply  mutatis mutandis  to such person or
organisation as they apply to the master.
(6) The provisions of this article and of any regulations made
hereunder shall not apply to ships of war and troop ships and to
pleasure yachts unless such pleasure yachts are or will be crewed
and carry more than twelve passengers for commercial purposes.
Sea-protest.
Amended by:
XXIV.1995.362.
104. (1) Where a vessel sustains damage, or is stranded,
abandoned or lost, or where owing to stress of weather or other
cause is forced to enter any port, the master shall, within twenty-
four hours after the event if the event happens in any port, or within
twenty-four hours after his arrival in any port if the event happens
elsewhere, make a sea-protest in manner provided by this article.
(2) The master shall also, at the time of making his sea-protest,
produce his official log book and the ship’s log and cause them to
be endorsed by the authority before whom the sea-protest is made.
(3) In Malta, the sea-protest shall be made before the judge of
the Civil Court, First Hall; elsewhere it shall be made before a
Maltese consular officer or, in the absence of such officer, before a
local authority.
(4) In the sea-protest the master shall state on oath the place
and time of sailing, the nature of his cargo, the course pursued, the
perils encountered and the damage sustained by the vessel, and all
other relevant facts, in particular those relating to the casualty in
respect of which the sea-protest is made.
(5) The authority before whom the sea-protest is made shall,
immediately after the master has made his statement, examine on
oath not less than three members of the crew and, where
practicable, some of the passengers.
(6) Where a sea-protest is required to be made, the master
shall, except in the case of imminent danger, not discharge any
goods from the vessel until he makes the sea-protest.
(7) It shall be competent to any interested party to prove any
fact contrary to those stated in a sea-protest; and if a sea-protest is
not made within the time specified in subarticle (1), any interested
party may prove any fact which should have resulted from the sea-
protest, or otherwise related to the casualty, by any other means.
(8) If the master fails to comply with any of the provisions of
this article he shall be answerable to any interested party for any
damages and interest.
  60        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Documents to be 
handed over to 
successor.  
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
105. (1) If during the progress of a voyage the master is
dismissed, removed or superseded, or for any other reason quits the
ship, and is succeeded in the command by some other person, he
shall deliver to his successor the various documents relating to the
navigation of the ship and to the crew thereof which are in his
custody; and if he fails without reasonable cause so to do he shall
be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
(2) The successor shall immediately on assuming the command
of the ship enter in the official log book a list of the documents so
delivered to him.
Conditions for admission to employment
Employment of 
children and 
persons under 
eighteen years.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 52.
106. (1) Subject to the provisions of this article and
notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or of any
regulations, rules and orders made or deemed to be made
thereunder, no person under the age of sixteen years shall be
employed in any Maltese ship.
(2) The Minister may make regulations -
( a ) prescribing circumstances and capacities in which and
the conditions subject to which persons under the age
of sixteen years but who have attained such age as may
be prescribed in the regulations may be employed in a
Maltese ship;
( b ) prescribing circumstances and capacities in which
persons over the age of sixteen years but under the age
of eighteen years or under such lower age as may be
specified in the regulations may not be employed in a
Maltese ship or may be so employed only subject to
such conditions as may be specified in the regulations. 
(3) Regulations made for the purposes of this article may make
different provision for different employments and different
descriptions of ship and any other different circumstances.
Registration of 
persons under 
eighteen years who 
are members of the 
crew.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 52.
107. (1) There shall be included in every agreement with the
crew a list of all persons under the age of eighteen years who are
members of the crew, together with particulars of the dates of their
birth, and, in the case of a ship in which there is no such agreement,
the master of the ship shall, if persons under the age of eighteen
years are employed therein, keep a register of those persons with
particulars of the dates of their birth and of the dates on which they
become or cease to be members of the crew, and the register so kept
shall at all times be open to inspection by the Minister or an officer
authorised by the Minister in that behalf or an appropriate
inspector, or any other person having power to enforce compliance
with the provisions of this Act.
(2) There shall be included in every agreement with the crew a
short summary of the provisions of this article and of article 106.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         61
Medical 
examination.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 52.
108. (1) Subject to the provisions of this article, no person
shall be employed in any capacity in any Maltese ship unless there
has been delivered to the master of the ship a certificate granted by
a duly qualified medical practitioner certifying that the person is fit
to be employed in that capacity.
(2) The provisions of subarticle (1) shall not apply to the
employment of a person authorised to be so employed on the
ground of urgency by the shipping master or by a Maltese consular
officer, but a person in whose case any such authorisation is given
shall not be employed for more than a single voyage, except in
accordance with and subject to the provisions of subarticle (1).
(3) The Minister may make regulations as appear to him to be
necessary for the medical examination of all persons seeking
employment in any capacity on board ships and the issue of
medical certificates in respect of such persons.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
subarticle, regulations made thereunder may, in particular -
( a ) prescribe the nature of the medical examination or
examinations to be made and the particulars to be
included in the medical certificates;
( b ) prescribe the period of validity of medical certificates;
( c ) provide for the acceptance, in substitution of a medical
certificate, of evidence in a prescribed form that the
required certificate has been issued; and
( d ) provide for any other matter affecting the medical
examination or examinations to be made and the
medical certificates to be issued or recognised.
(5) For the purposes of this article, ''duly qualified medical
practitioner'' means a medical practitioner authorized by law to
practice as a legally qualified medical practitioner in Malta or
unless otherwise prescribed in the country in which such certificate
is issued.
Penalties.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 52.
109. (1) If any person is employed in any ship in
contravention of any of the provisions of articles 106 and 108 or in
contravention of any regulations made under these articles, the
master or owner of the ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding five hundred units, or, in the case of a second or
subsequent offence, not exceeding one thousand units; and where a
person under the age of sixteen years or a person under the age of
eighteen years is taken into employment in any ship in
contravention of the aforesaid provisions of this Act on the
production by, or with the privity of, the parent of a false or forged
certificate or on a fake representation by the parent that the person
is of an age at which such employment is not in contravention of
the said provisions, that parent shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding five hundred units.
(2) If the master of a ship fails to comply with any of the
provisions of article 107, or on being so required by the Minister or
an officer authorised by the Minister in that behalf or an
  62        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
appropriate inspector, or any other person having power to enforce
compliance with the provisions of this Act, refuses or neglects to
produce for inspection by that officer any register as is required to
be kept by him under the article aforesaid or any certificate
delivered to him under articles 106 or 108 or in terms of any
regulations made under these articles, he shall be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding five hundred units.
Medical 
examination of 
young persons and 
children. 
110. Repealed by article 52 of Act XXII of 2000.
Penalties.
Amended by:
XIII. 1983.5.
111. Repealed by article 52 of Act XXII of 2000.
Engagement of seamen
Not lawful to 
engage in business 
of finding 
employment for 
seamen. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
112. Repealed by article 53 of Act XXII of 2000.
Agreements with 
crew. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
113. (1) The master of every Maltese ship, other than ships
employed solely in navigation on the coasts of Malta, shall enter
into an agreement (in this Act called the "agreement with the
crew") in accordance with this Act with every seaman whom he
carries to sea as one of his crew from any port.
(2) If a master of a ship carries any seaman to sea without
entering into an agreement with him in accordance with this Act, he
shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty
units.
Form, period and 
conditions of 
agreements with 
crew.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 54.
114. (1) An agreement with the crew shall be in a form
approved by the Minister and shall be dated at the time of the first
signature thereof, and shall be signed by the master before a
seaman signs his name.
(2) The agreement with the crew shall show the place at which
it is made, the surname and other names of the seaman, his
birthplace, and his age or the date of his birth, and shall contain as
terms thereof the following particulars:
( a ) the name of the ship on board which the seaman
undertakes to serve;
( b ) either the nature and, as far as is practicable, the
duration of the intended voyage or engagement, or the
maximum period of the voyage or engagement, which
shall not exceed twelve months, and the places or parts
of the world, if any, to which the voyage or
engagement is not to extend;
( c ) the number and description of the crew;
( d ) if possible, the place and date at which each seaman is
to be on board or to begin work;
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         63
( e ) the capacity in which each seaman is to serve;
( f ) the amount of wages which each seaman is to receive;
( g ) the agreed leave, being agreed leave not less
favourable to the crew than that, if any, prescribed
under this Act;
( h ) any regulations as to conduct on board and as to fines
( multa ) and other lawful punishment for misconduct
which have been approved by the Minister as
regulations proper to be adopted and which the parties
agree to adopt;
( i ) any regulations as to the provisions to be provided for
seamen employed in Maltese ships;
( j ) a list of persons under the age of eighteen years and
the dates of their births.
(3) The agreement with the crew shall be so framed as to admit
of such stipulations to be adopted at the will of the master and
seaman in each case, whether respecting the advance and allotment
of wages or otherwise, as are not contrary to law.
(4) Saving any other provision of this Act, an agreement with
the crew under this article shall be terminated by -
( a ) the mutual consent of the parties thereto; or
( b ) the death of the seaman; or
( c ) the loss or total unseaworthiness of the ship; or
( d ) the sale of the ship; or
( e ) the expiration of time.
Special provisions 
as to agreements 
with crew. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2, 55.
115.   The following provisions shall have effect with respect to
agreements with the crew:
( a ) the agreement shall (subject to the provisions of this
Act as to substitutes) be signed by each seaman;
( b ) the master shall cause the agreement to be read over
and explained to each seaman, or otherwise ascertain
that each seaman understands the same, before he
signs it, and shall attest each signature;
( c ) when the crew is first engaged, the agreement shall be
signed in duplicate and one part shall be retained by
the master and the other shall be delivered to the
shipping master, and shall contain a special place or
form for the descriptions and signatures of substitutes
or persons engaged subsequently to the first departures
of the ship;
( d ) where a substitute is engaged in the place of a seaman
who duly signed the agreement and whose services are
within twenty-four hours of the ship’s putting to sea
lost by death, desertion or other unforeseen cause, the
master shall, before the ship puts to sea, if practicable,
and if not, as soon afterwards as possible, cause the
agreement to be read over and explained to the
  64        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
substitute, and the substitute shall thereupon sign the
same in the presence of a witness, and the witness
shall attest the signature;
( e ) an agreement may be made for a voyage or, if the
voyages of the ship average less than six months in
duration, may be made to extend over two or more
voyages, and agreements so made to extend over two
or more voyages are in this Act referred to as "running
agreements";
( f ) a running agreement shall not extend beyond the
twelve months’ period of time next following the date
of the making of the agreement or the first arrival of
the ship at her port of destination after the termination
of that period;
( g ) on every return to the port where the crew was
engaged before the final termination of a running
agreement, the master shall make on the agreement an
endorsement as to the engagement or discharge of
seamen, either that no engagements or discharges have
been made or are intended to be made before the ship
leaves port, or that all those made have been made as
required by law, and if the master wilfully makes a
false statement in any such endorsement or if he omits
to make an endorsement which he is required to make
under this paragraph, he shall for each offence be
liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units;
( h ) the duplicate of the agreement retained by the master
on the first engagement of the crew as well as any
endorsements made on the agreement shall, on the
expiration of the agreement, be delivered to the
shipping master who shall retain same for a period of
five years after the expiration of the agreement;
( i ) the duplicate of the agreement delivered to the
shipping master on the first engagement of the crew
shall be kept by the shipping master until he receives
the other duplicate of the agreement retained by the
master on the expiration of same.
Terms not to be 
contrary to the 
provisions of this 
Act. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5. 
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 56.
116. To the extent that any terms or conditions adopted by the
parties to an agreement with the crew are contrary to the provisions
of this Act in matters relating to wages and conditions of
employment of seamen and masters on board ships such terms and
conditions shall have no effect and the relevant provisions of this
Act shall be deemed to apply.
Copy of agreement 
to be accessible to 
crew. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
117.   The master shall, at the commencement of every voyage or
engagement, cause a legible copy of the agreement with the crew to
be posted up in some part of the ship which is accessible to the
crew, and if he fails without reasonable cause so to do he shall for
each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding ten units.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         65
Forgery etc. of 
agreements with 
crew. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
118.   If any person fraudulently alters, makes any false entry in,
or delivers a false copy of, any agreement with the crew, or assists
in committing or procures to be committed any such offence, that
person shall for each offence be liable to imprisonment for a period
not exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five
hundred units or to both such imprisonment and fine.
Alterations in 
agreements with 
crew.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 57.
119.   Every erasure, interlineation, or alteration in any
agreement with the crew (except additions made for the purpose of
shipping substitutes or persons engaged after the first departure of
the ship) shall be wholly inoperative unless proved to have been
made with the consent of all the persons interested in the erasure,
interlineation or alteration by the written attestation of two
witnesses.
Seaman not bound 
to produce 
agreement.
120.  In any legal or other proceeding a seaman may bring
forward evidence to prove the contents of any agreement with the
crew or otherwise to support his case without producing, or giving
notice to produce, the agreement or any copy thereof.
Engagement of 
seamen in foreign 
ports. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
121. Repealed by article 58 of Act XXII of 2000.
Deposit of list of 
the crew.
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 59.
122. The master shall, every time there are changes in the crew
of a Maltese ship, deliver to the Registrar General a list of the crew
or a copy thereof:
Provided that the Registrar General may exempt any ship or
class of ships from the requirement of this article, either absolutely
or subject to such conditions as he thinks fit.
Use of English 
language.
Added by:
XXII. 2000. 59.
122A. (1) Except where otherwise provided in this Act, all
correspondence, documents, forms or other writings shall be in the
English language:
Provided that a foreign language version of any document
may be appended to the English language version thereof.
(2) All written signs displayed on board a Maltese ship shall be
in the English language with, if it is considered necessary by the
master, a foreign language version appended thereto.
Crew’s knowledge 
of English.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.59.
122B. (1) Where in the opinion of an appropriate inspector the
crew of a Maltese ship consists of or includes persons who do not
understand orders given to them in the course of their duty because
of their insufficient knowledge of English and the absence of
adequate arrangements for transmitting the orders in a language of
which they have sufficient knowledge, the appropriate inspector
shall inform the master of his opinion and the ship shall not go to
sea and may be detained.
(2) If a ship goes to sea or attempts to go to sea in
contravention of this article, the master or owner of the ship shall
be liable to a fine ( multa ) of five hundred units.
  66        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Conditions of 
service regulations.
Added by:
XXII. 2000. 59.
122C. (1) Subject to the provisions of this article and
notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or of any
regulations, rules and orders made or deemed to be made
thereunder, the conditions of service of persons employed on
Maltese ships and of Maltese citizens serving in foreign ships shall
be governed by regulations made by the Minister under this article.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
subarticle, regulations made thereunder may, in particular, make
provision in respect of -
( a ) apprenticeship in a calling aboard a ship;
( b ) the engagement of persons on Maltese ships and the
engagement by foreign ships of Maltese citizens;
( c ) the implementation of any international convention
relating to the employment, welfare, security,
certification or status of seafarers;
( d ) the avoidance of agreements made contrary to such
regulations;
( e ) wages in general, and the rights related thereto of
persons employed in Maltese ships, securing safe
working conditions, health and welfare for seafarers
and apprentices employed in ships;
( f ) the minimum wage payable to persons employed on
Maltese ships;
( g ) the annual leave and holidays entitlement of persons
employed on Maltese ships;
( h ) the maximum hours of work or the minimum hours of
rest for persons employed on Maltese ships;
( i ) the maintenance of records of daily hours of work or
of daily hours of rest of persons employed on Maltese
ships;
( j ) the maximum duration of service periods on board
Maltese ships following which a seafarer is entitled to
repatriation;
( k ) the posting on board Maltese ships of a table
containing the shipboard working arrangements;
( l ) the employment of persons under the age of eighteen
years:
Provided that unless specified in regulations made under
this article the minimum wage shall be that prescribed in the
Seafarers’ Wages, Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships
Recommendation, 1996 (No. 187) of the International Labour
Organisation, including any revisions thereof.
(3) Regulations made under this article may provide that a
person who contravenes the provisions thereof shall be liable to
such penalty as may be provided for in the regulations, being a
penalty of not more than one thousand units.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         67
Certification of Able Seamen and Ships’ Cooks
Rating of seaman 
as A.B.
123. Repealed by Act XXXVII of 1990.
Certificated cooks 
for certain ships. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
124. Repealed by Act XXXVII of 1990.
Discharge of seamen
Discharge. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2, 60.
125. (1) When a seaman serving in a Maltese ship under an
agreement with the crew is on the termination of his engagement
discharged, he shall be discharged in manner provided by this Act:
Provided that this subarticle shall not apply where the
seaman is proceeding on temporary leave while remaining in the
service of the owner of the ship.
(2) If the master or owner of a ship acts in contravention of this
article he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding ten units.
Certificate of 
discharge and 
return of 
certificates of 
competency. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
126. (1) The master of a Maltese ship shall sign and give to a
seaman discharged from his ship at any place, either on his
discharge or on payment of his wages, a certificate of his discharge
in a form approved by the Minister, specifying the period of his
service and the time and place of his discharge, and if the master
fails to do so he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding ten units.
(2) The master shall also, upon the discharge of every
certificated officer whose certificate of competency has been
delivered to and retained by him, return the certificate to the
officer, and if without reasonable cause he fails to do so he shall for
each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
Reports of 
seamen’s 
character.'
127. Repealed by article 61 of Act XXII of 2000.
False or forged 
certificate of 
discharge or report 
of character. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
128.   If any person -
( a ) makes a false report of character under this Act,
knowing the same to be false; or
( b ) forges or fraudulently alters any certificate of
discharge or report of character or copy of a report of
character; or
( c ) assists in committing, or procures to be committed,
any of such offences as aforesaid; or
( d ) fraudulently uses any certificate of discharge or report
of character or copy of a report of character which is
false or altered or does not belong to him, 
he shall for each offence be liable to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred
units or to both such imprisonment and fine.
  68        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Discharge of 
seamen on change 
of ownership. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 62.
129. (1) Where a Maltese ship is transferred or disposed of,
any seaman or apprentice belonging to that ship shall be discharged
unless he consents in writing to complete the voyage of the ship if
it is continued.
(2) Where a seaman or apprentice is discharged under this
article the provisions of this Act as to the certificate of discharge
and the return of the seaman to a proper return port shall apply as if
his service had terminated otherwise than by his consent to be
discharged during the currency of the agreement.
Owner responsible 
for return of 
seaman left behind 
at a port other than 
the port of 
engagement.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.63.
129A. (1) Except as hereinafter provided, every agreement with
the crew shall be deemed to provide that the seaman or apprentice,
if the agreement terminates at a port other than the port of
engagement (whether by effluxion of time, or by any act of the
parties, or by shipwreck or sale of the ship, or by the inability of
the seaman or apprentice to proceed in the ship by reason of
sickness or injury or any other cause whatsoever) be returned to a
proper return port at the expense of the master or owner of the ship,
and such master or owner, whether principal or agent, shall make
such arrangements as may be necessary and defray all expenses
incurred for the return of such seaman or apprentice and such
liability shall include the cost of any maintenance and medical
treatment which is necessary for the seaman or apprentice until his
arrival at a proper return port, and such seaman or apprentice shall
not become a charge upon the Government of Malta.
(2) A seaman or an apprentice who has been left behind or
discharged from his ship as a result of his desertion, or his
imprisonment, or his inability to proceed in the ship owing to
sickness or infirmity wilfully concealed at the time of the
engagement, shall not be entitled to be returned at the expense of
the owner or master under subarticle (1) but such master or owner,
whether principal or agent, shall make all arrangements necessary
and defray all expenses incurred for the return of the seaman or
apprentice to a proper return port as if he was so entitled, and such
master or owner may be reimbursed his expenses out of any wages
owing to the seaman or apprentice at the time he left the ship or out
of the proceeds from the sale of any of his effects left on board or,
if this should not prove sufficient by ordinary process of law, but
such seaman or apprentice shall not become a charge upon the
Government.
(3) A registrar or a Maltese consular officer may demand a
guarantee from the master or owner (whether principal or agent) of
a ship from which a seaman or an apprentice is to be discharged or
left behind, for the proper discharge of any obligations imposed by
this article, and if this is refused he may withhold his consent to the
discharge.
(4) Where a seaman or an apprentice becomes eligible to
receive, and receives, medical aid or periodical payments at the
expense of his employer under the terms of any law providing for
compensation to injured or sick workmen such receipt shall be in
full or part payment as the case may be of the entitlement under this
article and not in addition thereto.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         69
(5) This article shall apply in respect of a foreign ship that
engages a seaman or an apprentice in Malta; and ''owner'' in such a
case includes any person appointed or nominated by the owner or
the charterer if the ship is on demise charter, to act as his agent and
who was so acting at the time the seaman or apprentice was
engaged.
Repatriation of 
seamen on 
termination of 
service at foreign 
port.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 64.
130. (1) Where the service of a seaman or of an apprentice
belonging to a Maltese ship terminates otherwise than by the
consent of the seaman to be discharged during the currency of the
agreement, the master of the ship shall, besides giving the
certificate of discharge required under this Act and besides paying
the wages to which the seaman or apprentice is entitled, make
adequate provision in accordance with this Act for his maintenance
and for his return to a proper return port, and if the service
terminates at a port in which there is a registrar or a Maltese
consular officer, such officer shall endorse upon the agreement
with the crew of the ship which the seaman or apprentice is leaving
the particulars of any provision so made.
(2) If the master fails, without reasonable cause, to comply
with this article, the expenses of maintenance and of the journey to
the proper return port - 
( a ) if defrayed by the seaman or apprentice, shall be
recoverable as wages due to him;
( b ) if defrayed by any such officer as aforesaid or by any
other person, shall (unless the seaman has been guilty
of barratry) be a charge on the ship to which the
seaman or the apprentice belonged, and may also be
recovered against the person who is the owner of the
ship for the time being or, where the ship has been
lost, against the person who was the owner of the ship
at the time of the loss, or, where the ship has been
transferred to some person not being a Maltese citizen
or not being a body corporate established under the
laws of Malta either against the owner for the time
being or against the person who was the owner at the
time of the transfer, at the suit of the person defraying
the expenses, or, in the case they have been allowed
out of public money, as a debt due to the Government
of Malta.
Payment of wages
Time of payment 
of wages.
131.   All wages to which a seaman may be entitled, subject to
deductions made in accordance with this Act, shall be paid before
or at the time the seaman lawfully leaves the ship at the end of his
engagement; and in the event of a seaman’s wages or any part
thereof not being so paid or settled, then, unless the delay is due to
the act or default of the seaman or to any reasonable dispute as to
liability or to any other cause not being the wrongful act or default
of the owner or master, the seaman’s wages shall continue to run
and be payable until the time of the final settlement thereof.
  70        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Payment of wages 
before shipping 
master. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
132.   Repealed by article 65 of Act XXII of 2000.
Master to deliver 
account of wages. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000. 2, 66.
133. (1) The master of every Maltese ship shall before paying
off or discharging any seaman deliver at the time and in the manner
provided by this Act a full and true account, in a form approved by
the Minister, of the seaman’s wages and of all deductions to be
made therefrom on any account whatever.
(2) The said account shall be delivered not less than twenty-
four hours before his discharge or payment off.
(3) If the master of a ship fails without reasonable cause to
comply with this article he shall for each offence be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
Settlement of 
wages.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.67.
134. (1) Where a seaman is discharged, and the settlement of
his wages completed, he shall sign a release, in a form approved by
the Minister, of all claims in respect of the past voyage or
engagement and the release shall also be signed by the master or
owner of the ship.
(2) The release so signed and attested shall operate as a mutual
discharge and settlement of all demands between the parties thereto
in respect of the past voyage or engagement.
(3) The release shall be delivered to and retained by the
shipping master and on production from his custody shall, until the
contrary is proved, be evidence of its contents, provided its
authenticity is proved.
(4) Notwithstanding anything in this article, a seaman may
except from the release signed by him under this article any
specified claim or demand against the master or owner of the ship,
and a note of any claim or demand so excepted shall be entered
upon the release. The release shall not operate as a discharge and
settlement of any claim or demand so noted, nor shall subarticle (4)
apply to any payment, receipt or settlement made with respect to
any such claim or demand.
Deductions from 
wages and book to 
be kept for that 
purpose.
135. (1) A deduction from the wages of a seaman shall not be
allowed unless it is included in the account delivered in pursuance
of article 133, except in respect of a matter happening after the
delivery.
(2) The master shall during the voyage enter the various
matters in respect of which the deductions are made, with the
amounts of the respective deductions, as they occur, in a book to be
kept for that purpose, and shall, if required, produce the book at the
time of the payment of wages and also upon the hearing before any
competent authority of any complaint or question relating to that
payment.
Notice of disrating 
of seaman.
136. (1) Where the master of a Maltese ship disrates a seaman
he shall forthwith enter or cause to be entered in the official log
book a statement of the disrating, and furnish the seaman with a
copy of the entry; and any reduction of wages consequent on the
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         71
disrating shall not take effect until the entry has been so made and
the copy so furnished.
(2) Any reduction of wages consequent on the disrating of a
seaman shall be deemed to be a deduction from wages within the
meaning of articles 133 and 135 and treated accordingly.
Deduction and 
payment of fines 
due under 
agreement.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.68.
137. (1) Every fine imposed on a seaman or apprentice for any
act of misconduct for which his agreement imposes a fine shall be
collected by deduction from his wages and, when so deducted, shall
be remitted forthwith to the shipping master.
(2) If a master or owner fails without reasonable cause to pay
or remit any fine as required by this article he shall for each offence
be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding six times the amount of the
fine not so paid or remitted.
(3) An act of misconduct for which any fine has been inflicted
and paid by, or deducted from the wages of, a seaman or apprentice
shall not be otherwise punished under this Act.
Rate of exchange.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.69.
137A. Where a seaman has agreed with the master of a Maltese
ship for payment of his wages in a specific currency, any payment
of or on account of his wages if made in any other currency than
that stated in the agreement, shall, notwithstanding anything in the
agreement, be made at the rate of exchange for the money stated in
the agreement for the time being current at the place where the
payment is made.
Rights of seamen in respect of wages
When right to 
wages begins.
138.   A seaman’s right to wages and provisions shall be taken to
begin at the time at which he commences work or at the time
specified in the agreement for his commencement of work or
presence on board, whichever first happens.
Right to recover 
wages and salvage 
not to be forfeited.
139. (1) A seaman shall not by any agreement forfeit his rights
on the ship, or be deprived of any remedy for the recovery of his
wages, to which in the absence of the agreement he would be
entitled, and shall not by any agreement abandon his right to wages
in case of the loss of the ship, or abandon any right that he may
have or obtain in the nature of salvage; and every stipulation in any
agreement inconsistent with any provision of this Act shall be void.
(2) Nothing in this article shall apply to a stipulation made by
the seamen belonging to any ship, which according to the terms of
the agreement is to be employed on salvage service, with respect to
the remuneration to be paid to them for salvage services to be
rendered by that ship to any other ship.
Wages not to 
depend on freight.
140.   The right to wages shall not depend on the earning of
freight; and every seaman and apprentice who would be entitled to
demand and recover any wages if the ship in which he has served
had earned freight shall, subject to all other rules of law and
conditions applicable to the case, be entitled to demand and recover
the same, notwithstanding that freight has not been earned; but in
  72        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
all cases of wreck or loss of the ship, proof that the seaman has not
exerted himself to the utmost to save the ship, cargo and stores,
shall bar his claim to wages.
Termination of 
service by wreck or 
loss of ship.
141. (1) Where by reason of the wreck or loss of the ship on
which a seaman is employed his service terminates before the date
contemplated in the agreement, he shall, subject to the provisions
of this article, be entitled, in respect of each day on which he is in
fact unemployed during a period of two months from the date of the
termination of the service, to receive wages at the rate to which he
was entitled at that date.
(2) A seaman shall not be entitled to receive wages under this
article if the owner shows that the unemployment was not due to
the wreck or loss of the ship, and shall not be entitled to receive
wages under this article in respect of any day if the owner shows
that the seaman was able to obtain suitable employment on that
day.
(3) In this article "seaman" includes every person employed or
engaged in any capacity on board any ship but, in the case of a ship
which is a fishing boat, does not include any person who is entitled
to be remunerated only by a share in the profits or the gross
earnings of the working of the boat.
Termination of 
service by illness, 
etc.
142.   Where the service of a seaman terminates before the date
contemplated in the agreement by reason of his being left on shore
at any place abroad under a certificate granted as provided by this
Act of his unfitness or inability to proceed on the voyage, he shall
be entitled to wages up to the time of such termination, but not for
any longer period.
Wages not to 
accrue during 
refusal to work or 
imprisonment.
143.   A seaman or apprentice shall not be entitled to wages for
any time during which he unlawfully refuses or neglects to work,
when required, whether before or after the time fixed by the
agreement for his commencement of such work, nor, unless the
court hearing the case otherwise directs, for any period during
which he is lawfully imprisoned for any offence committed by him.
Forfeiture of wages 
when illness 
caused by own 
fault.
144.   When a seaman is by reason of illness incapable of
performing his duty and it is proved that the illness has been caused
by his own wilful act or default, he shall not be entitled to wages
for the time during which he is by reason of the illness incapable of
performing his duty.
Compensation to 
seaman improperly 
discharged.
145.   If a seaman, having signed an agreement, is discharged
otherwise than in accordance with the terms thereof before the
commencement of the voyage or before one month’s wages are
earned, without fault on his part justifying that discharge, and
without his consent, he shall be entitled to receive from the master
or owner, in addition to any wages he may have earned, due
compensation for any damage caused to him by the discharge not
exceeding one month’s wages, and that compensation shall be
treated as if it were wages duly earned.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         73
Restriction on 
assignment of, and 
charge upon, 
wages.
Cap. 12.
146.   As respects wages due or accruing to a seaman or
apprentice to the sea service -
( a ) they shall not be subject to a garnishee order in
accordance with but subject to the provisions of article
382 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure;
( b ) any assignment thereof made prior to the accruing
thereof shall not bind the person making the same; 
( c ) any authority for the receipt thereof shall not be
irrevocable;
( d ) a payment of wages to the seaman or apprentice shall
be valid notwithstanding any previous assignment of
those wages.
Power of court to rescind contracts
Power of court to 
rescind contract 
between owner or 
master and 
seaman.
147.   Where a proceeding is instituted before any court in
relation to any dispute between an owner or master of a ship and a
seaman or apprentice arising out of or incidental to their relation as
such, or is instituted for the purpose of this article, the court, if
having regard to all the circumstances of the case thinks just to do
so, may rescind any contract between the owner or master and the
seaman or apprentice upon such terms as the court may think just,
and this power shall be in addition to any other jurisdiction which
the court can exercise independently of this article.
Accommodation, Provisions and Health
Accommodation 
for seamen. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2, 70.
148. (1) The Minister may make regulations with respect to
the crew accommodation to be provided in Maltese ships of a class
specified in the regulations.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
subarticle, regulations made thereunder may in particular -
( a ) prescribe the minimum space per person which shall
be provided by way of sleeping accommodation for
seamen and apprentices and the maximum number of
persons by whom a specified part of such sleeping
accommodation may be used;
( b ) prescribe the equipment to be provided for the
sleeping accommodation, mess rooms, sanitary
accommodation and galleys in a ship;
( c ) regulate the spaces in the ship in which the crew
accommodation or any part thereof may be located and
the standards to be observed in the construction,
equipment and furnishing of any such accommodation;
( d ) provide for the protection of the crew against injury,
condensation, heat, cold and noise on a ship; 
( e ) prescribe the water, heating, lighting, ventilation and
sanitary facilities to be provided on a ship; 
  74        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
( f ) require the submission to a surveyor of ships of plans
and specifications of any works proposed to be carried
out for the purpose of the provision or alteration of any
such accommodation, and authorise the surveyor to
inspect any such works;
( g ) provide for the maintenance and repair of any such
accommodation and prohibit or restrict the use of any
such accommodation for purposes other than those for
which it is designed; and
( h ) provide for the inspection, measuring and marking of
crew accommodation on a ship and its certification for
the purpose of ascertaining tonnage.
(3) Regulations made under this article may -
( a ) make different provision with respect to different
classes of ships or with respect to ships which were
registered in Malta at different dates or the
construction of which was begun at different dates and
with respect to crew accommodation provided for
seamen and apprentices of different descriptions;
( b ) exempt any ship or class of ships from any
requirements of the regulations, either absolutely or
subject to such conditions as the Minister thinks fit;
( c ) require the master of a ship or any officer authorised
by him for the purpose to carry out such inspections of
the crew accommodation as may be prescribed.
(4) If the provisions of any regulations made under this article
are contravened in the case of a ship, the owner or master of the
ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred
units.
(5) Regulations under this article may be made by reference in
whole or in part to the requirements of the Accommodation of
Crews Convention (Revised), 1949 (No.92) and the
Accommodation of Crews (Supplementary Provisions) Convention,
1970 (No. 133) both of the International Labour Organisation,
including any revisions thereof.
Provisions and 
water.
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.71.
149. (1) The Minister may make regulations requiring
provisions and water to be provided for persons employed in
Maltese ships or any class of ships as may be specified in the
regulations.
(2) The Minister may exempt any ship or class of ships from
any requirements of regulations made under this article, either
absolutely or subject to such conditions as he thinks fit.
(3) Where the provisions of any regulations made under this
article are not complied with in the case of a ship the master or
owner shall be liable, in addition to paying compensation under
article 150A, to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand units
unless he proves that the failure to comply was not due to his
neglect or default.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         75
(4) Where a person empowered under this Act to inspect the
provisions and water to be supplied to the persons employed in a
Maltese ship is not satisfied that they are in accordance with
regulations made under this article, he shall inform the master of
the ship of his opinion, and the ship’s certificate of registry,
whether provisional or otherwise, may be suspended until the
defects are remedied.
Complaint as to 
provisions or 
water.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.71.
150. (1) Where three or more members of the crew of a
Maltese ship consider that the provisions or water provided for the
use of the crew are, at any time, of bad quality or deficient in
quantity, they may complain thereof to a registrar or a Maltese
consular officer or an appropriate inspector, who may either
examine the provisions or water complained of, or cause them to be
examined.
(2) Where the person making an examination under this article
finds that the provisions or water are of bad quality or deficient in
quantity, he shall communicate that fact in writing to the master of
the ship, and if the master does not replace them with provisions or
water fit for human consumption within a reasonable time or,
without reasonable excuse, permits them to be used, he shall be
liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand units unless he
proves that the failure to replace them or permit them to be used
was not due to his neglect or default.
(3) The person making the examination shall enter a statement
of the result of the examination in the official log book and send a
report thereof to a registrar, and that report shall be admissible in
evidence in the manner provided by this Act.
(4) Where the person making the examination certifies in his
statement that there was no reasonable ground for complaint, each
of the complainants is liable to forfeit to the owner out of his wages
a sum not exceeding one week’s wages.
Allowance for 
short or bad 
provisions.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.71.
150A. (1) If during the voyage of a Maltese ship the allowance
of provisions provided for a person is less than that prescribed or
any of those provisions are of bad quality, the person shall receive
by way of compensation for the deficiency or bad quality, for so
long as it lasts, such amounts as may be prescribed to be paid to
him in addition to, and to be recoverable as, wages.
(2) Where the deficiency occurred because the provisions
could not be procured or supplied in proper quantities and proper
equivalent substitutes were supplied in lieu thereof, those
circumstances shall be taken into consideration for the purposes of
subarticle (1) and the compensation reduced or denied accordingly.
Weights and 
measures on board. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
151. (1) The master of a Maltese ship shall keep on board
proper weights and measures for determining the quantities of the
several provisions and articles served out, and shall allow the same
to be used at the time of serving out the provisions and articles in
the presence of a witness whenever any dispute arises as to
quantities.
(2) If the master of a ship fails without reasonable cause to
  76        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
comply with this article he shall for each offence be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding ten units.
Medical stores 
regulations. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 72.
152. (1) The Minister may make regulations protecting the
health of persons on board Maltese ships and requiring Maltese
ships to carry such medicines, medical stores, equipment, facilities,
appliances and books containing instructions and advice, as may be
specified in the regulations, and the regulations may make different
provisions for different descriptions of ships or different
circumstances.
(2) The owner and master of every Maltese ship shall ensure
that the ship carries medicines, medical stores, equipment,
facilities, appliances and books in accordance with the scales laid
down under subarticle (1).
(3) Where an appropriate inspector is of the opinion that the
medicines, medical stores, equipment, facilities, appliances and
books on a Maltese ship are deficient in quantity or quality or are
placed in improper receptacles, he shall give notice in writing to
the master, owner or agent of the ship, and the ship’s certificate of
registry, whether provisional or otherwise, may be suspended until
the default has been remedied:
Provided that if the master or owner of the ship fails to
remedy the default and comply with the requirements of this
article, the master or owner shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding five hundred units unless he proves that the non-
compliance was not caused through his inattention, neglect or
wilful default.
Occupational 
safety regulations. 
Amended by: 
X111. 1983.5.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.73.
153.   (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law the
Minister may make regulations for securing, as far as is practicable,
safe working conditions and safe means of access for persons
employed in Maltese ships.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subarticle (1) and to
any provision of this Act, or any regulations, rules or orders made
thereunder, regulations under this article may -
( a ) make provisions for -
(i) the structural features of the ship, 
(ii) any machinery or equipment used on board, 
(iii) special safety measures on and below deck, 
(iv) any loading equipment, 
(v) fire-fighting and fire prevention, 
(vi) any anchors, chains and lines, 
(vii) dangerous cargo and ballast, and 
(viii) personal protective equipment;
( b ) require the maintenance, inspection and testing of any
equipment and impose conditions on its use;
( c ) require, prohibit, or regulate the use of any material or
process;
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         77
( d ) require the provision and use of any protective
clothing or equipment;
( e ) limit the hours of employment of masters, seamen and
apprentices in any specified operation or in any
specified circumstances;
( f ) make provision for the discharge by persons appointed
from among the persons employed in a ship, of
functions in connection with the arrangements to be
made under regulations; and
( g ) make provision specifying the respective
responsibilities and duties of the Authority, owners,
masters, seamen, pilots and apprentices in the
prevention of accidents at sea.
(3) Regulations made under this article may provide that a
person who contravenes the provisions thereof shall be liable to
such penalty as may be provided for in the regulations, being a
penalty of not more than one thousand units.
Appropriate 
inspectors. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2, 74.
154. (1) The Minister may charge such persons as he may
deem proper (in this Act referred to as “appropriate inspectors”)
with ensuring compliance with the provisions of this Act relating to
ships, their operation, crew, equipment, accommodation,
provisions and water and conditions on board, and in so doing may
in particular charge an appropriate inspector either with ensuring
compliance with the provisions of this Act in general or of any
particular provision or provisions thereof.
(2) Appropriate inspectors shall perform their duties according
to instructions given from time to time by the Minister, and in the
performance of their duties they may- 
( a ) go on board any ship and inspect the same or any part
thereof or any article on board to which the aforesaid
provisions of this Act apply;
( b ) require the production of all books, certificates
(including certificates of competency), papers or
documents which they consider important;
( c ) require the attendance of such persons as they think fit
to call before them and examine, and administer the
oath to, such persons.
(3) If any person obstructs an appropriate inspector in the
performance of his duty, or refuses or neglects to attend as a
witness before him after having been required to do so, or refuses
to make any answer or to produce any document in his possession,
that person shall for each offence be liable to fine ( multa ) not
exceeding one hundred units.
(4) The Minister may by regulations under this Act, provide
that appropriate inspectors shall carry such identity card showing
such details and containing such information as may be prescribed.
  78        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Facilities for making complaint
Facilities for 
making complaint. 
Amended by:
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
155. (1) If a seaman or apprentice whilst on board states to the
master of the ship his desire to make a complaint to the shipping
master, or to an appropriate inspector, or to a Maltese consular
officer, against the master or any of the crew, the master shall, so
soon as the service of the ship will permit -
( a ) if the ship is at a place where there is any such person
as aforesaid to whom the complaint is to be made, after
such statement; and
( b ) if the ship is not then at such place, after her first
arrival at such a place,
allow the complainant to go ashore or send him ashore in proper
custody so that he may be enabled to make his complaint.
(2) If the master of a ship fails without reasonable cause to
comply with this article, he shall for each offence be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding ten units.
Deceased and distressed seamen and seamen left behind
Effects and wages 
of deceased 
seamen. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
156.   If any seaman or apprentice belonging to a Maltese ship
dies while he belongs to that ship, the following provisions shall
have effect with respect to any money or effects belonging to the
seaman or apprentice and to any wages due to him:
( a ) the master of the ship shall take charge of any moneys
or effects belonging to the seaman or apprentice which
are on board;
( b ) if the seaman or apprentice dies while the ship is in
Malta, the shipping master, and in any other case, the
Maltese consular officer at or near the place of the
occurrence, shall claim and take charge of any such
money or effects which are at such place and not on
board the ship;
( c ) the shipping master or the Maltese consular officer
may, if he thinks fit, sell any of the property delivered
to him, or of which he takes charge, under this article,
and the proceeds of any such sale shall be deemed to
form part of the said property;
( d ) the master of the ship shall enter in the official log
book:
(i) a statement of the amount of the money and a
description of the effects;
(ii) a statement of the sum due to the deceased for
wages and the amount of deduction, if any, to be
made from the wages, and the entry shall be
signed by the master and attested by a mate and
some other member of the crew;
( e ) the master shall pay and deliver all such property and
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         79
wages to the shipping master, if his port of destination
is in Malta, within forty-eight hours after his arrival at
that port, and in any other case, to the Maltese
consular officer of the first port, at which the ship
touches and remains for forty-eight hours, in which
there is such an officer;
( f ) a consular officer taking charge or receiving any such
property and wages shall remit the same to the
Minister or shall deal with such property and wages as
the Minister directs;
( g ) in all cases in which a seaman or apprentice dies
during the progress of a voyage or engagement, the
master shall give to the shipping master or consular
officer to whom payment and delivery are made as
aforesaid, such account and in such form as they may
require of the property of the deceased and of any
wages due to him, and no deduction claimed by the
master shall be allowed unless claimed in such account
and unless verified by an entry in the official log book
made and attested as required by this Act;
( h ) if the master of the ship fails to comply with this
article, he shall be accountable for the property to the
Minister and shall deliver and pay the same
accordingly, and shall in addition be liable for each
offence to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding treble the value
of the property not accounted for or, if such value is
not ascertained, not exceeding fifty units.
Effects and wages 
of seamen left 
behind. 
Amended by:
XIII.1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
157. (1) If a seaman or apprentice belonging to a Maltese ship
is left behind, the master of the ship shall -
( a ) as soon as may be enter in the official log book a
statement of the property left on board by the seaman
or apprentice and of the amount due to him on account
of wages at the time he was left behind; and
( b ) on the termination of the voyage during which the
seaman or apprentice was left behind, furnish, within
forty-eight hours after the arrival of the ship at the port
at which the voyage terminates, the shipping master, if
the voyage terminates in Malta, or, if the voyage
terminates at a port in which there is a Maltese
consular officer, to such officer, such accounts and in
such form as they may require of the property left on
board by the seaman or apprentice and of any wages
due to him, as well as of the deductions, if any, to be
made from such wages, and of any expenses caused to
the master or owner of the ship by the absence of the
seaman where the absence is due to desertion, neglect
to join his ship or other conduct constituting offence
under article 171.
(2) The master of the ship shall deliver to the officer to whom
the account aforesaid is made the property of the seaman or
  80        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
apprentice as shown in that account and, subject to any deductions
or expenses allowed under this article, the amount due for wages as
shown in that account; and that officer shall give to the master a
receipt therefor.
(3) No deduction claimed by the master shall be allowed unless
claimed in such account and verified by an entry in the official log
book made and attested as required by this Act; and no expenses
claimed by the master or owner shall be allowed unless claimed in
the account aforesaid and appear to the officer receiving the
account to be properly chargeable and, when so required by him,
verified by vouchers.
(4) The officer to whom payment and delivery as aforesaid
have been made shall remit the property and any amount received
on account of wages under this article to the Minister or deal with
such property and wages in such manner as the Minister directs.
(5) If the master of a ship fails without reasonable cause to
comply with this article, he shall (in addition to any other liability)
be liable for each offence to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
Expenses of 
medical attendance 
in case of injury or 
illness.
158. (1) If the master of, or a seaman or apprentice belonging
to, a Maltese ship receives any hurt or injury in the service of the
ship, or suffers from any illness (not being an illness due to his own
wilful act or to his own misbehaviour), the expenses of providing
the necessary surgical and medical advice and attendance and
medicine, and also the expenses of the maintenance of the master or
seaman or apprentice until he is cured, dies, or is returned to a
proper return port, including any period during which he is
unemployed after he has been cured and before he has been
returned to a proper return port, and of his conveyance to the port,
and, in the case of death, the expenses (if any) of his burial, shall be
defrayed by the owner of the ship, without any deduction on that
account from his wages:
Provided that an owner shall not be liable by virtue of this
article to pay the expenses of the maintenance of any person during
any period after he has been cured or of his conveyance to a proper
return port if he shows that that person has failed to accept suitable
employment on board a Maltese ship proceeding within a
reasonable time to a proper return port or had failed to comply with
any other reasonable arrangements made for his return to a proper
return port.
(2) If the master or seaman or apprentice is, on account of any
illness, temporarily removed from his ship for the purpose of
preventing infection, or otherwise for the convenience of the ship,
and subsequently returns to his duty, the expenses of the removal
and of providing the necessary advice and attendance and
medicine, and of his maintenance while away from the ship shall be
defrayed in like manner.
(3) The expenses of all medicines, surgical and medical advice
and attendance given to a master or seaman or apprentice whilst on
board his ship shall be defrayed in like manner.
(4) In all other cases any reasonable expenses duly incurred by
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         81
the owner for any seaman or apprentice in respect of illness, and
also any reasonable expenses duly incurred by the owner in respect
of the burial of any seaman or apprentice who dies whilst on
service shall, if duly proved, be deducted from the wages of the
seaman or apprentice.
Recovery of 
expenses from 
owner.
159. (1) If any of the expenses attendant on the illness, hurt or
injury of a seaman or apprentice, which are to be paid under this
Act by the master or owner, are paid by any authority on behalf of
the Government of Malta, or if any other expenses in respect of the
illness, hurt or injury of any seaman or apprentice whose wages are
not accounted for under this Act to that authority, are so paid, those
expenses shall be repaid to the authority by the master or owner of
the ship.
(2) If the expenses are not so repaid, the amount thereof shall
with costs be a charge upon the ship and be recoverable from the
master or from the owner of the ship for the time being or, where
the ship has been lost, from the person who was the owner of the
ship at the time of the loss, or, where the ship has been transferred
to some person not being a Maltese citizen or not being a body
corporate established under the laws of Malta, either from the
owner for the time being or from the person who was the owner of
the ship at the time of the transfer, at the suit of the person
defraying the expenses or as a debt due to the Government of
Malta.
(3) In any proceeding for such recovery, a certificate of the
facts signed by that authority, together with such vouchers (if any)
as the case requires, shall be sufficient proof that the said expenses
were duly paid by that authority.
Certificate required 
where seaman is 
left behind. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
160. (1) The master of a Maltese ship shall not leave a seaman
or an apprentice behind at any place, ashore or at sea (except where
the seaman is discharged in accordance with this Act), unless he
previously obtains, endorsed on the agreement with the crew the
certificate of the shipping master or of a Maltese consular officer
stating the cause of the seaman or apprentice being left behind,
whether the cause be unfitness or inability to proceed to sea,
desertion, disappearance, or otherwise.
(2) The officer to whom an application is made for a certificate
under this article shall examine into the grounds on which a seaman
or an apprentice is to be left behind, and for that purpose may, if he
thinks fit, administer oaths, and may grant or refuse the certificate
as he thinks just, but the certificate shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
(3) If the master of a ship fails to comply with this article he
shall (without prejudice to his liability under any other provision of
this Act) be liable for each offence to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred
units or to both such imprisonment and fine, and in any legal
proceedings for the offence it shall lie on the master to prove that
the certificate was obtained, or could not be obtained, or could not
be obtained without unreasonable delay to the ship, or was
  82        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
unreasonably withheld.
Account and 
payment of wages 
in case of seaman 
left behind. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
161. (1) Where a master of a Maltese ship leaves a seaman or
an apprentice behind on shore at any place on the ground of his
unfitness or inability to proceed to sea, he shall deliver in duplicate
to the officer giving the certificate required by this Act a full and
true account of the wages due to the seaman or apprentice.
(2) The master shall pay the amount of wages due as aforesaid
either to the seaman or apprentice himself, or to the said officer.
(3) Where payment is made to the shipping master or to a
consular officer, that officer shall retain one duplicate of the
account delivered to him and, if satisfied with the account, endorse
on the other duplicate a receipt for the payment and return it to the
master, and the master shall deliver the duplicate within forty-eight
hours of his return to his port of destination, if that port is in Malta,
to the shipping master, and in any other case to the Maltese
consular officer of that port.
(4) If the master fails without reasonable cause to comply with
this article or knowingly delivers a false account, he shall for each
offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
Application of 
payments on 
account of wages.
162.   Where the amount of wages due to a seaman or to an
apprentice left behind on the ground of unfitness or inability to
proceed to sea is paid to the shipping master or to a consular
officer, that officer shall deal with the sum so paid to him in the
following manner:
( a ) if the seaman or apprentice subsequently obtains
employment at or quits the port at which the payment
has been made, he shall deduct out of the sum any
expenses incurred by him in respect of his
maintenance, except such as the owner or master is by
this Act required to defray, and shall pay the
remainder to the seaman or apprentice and deliver to
him an account of the sums so received and expended
on his behalf;
( b ) if the seaman or apprentice dies he shall deal with the
sum as part of the property of a deceased seaman; 
( c ) if the seaman or apprentice is sent to a proper return
port at public expense he shall account for the sum to
the Minister.
Regulations as to 
relief and 
maintenance of 
distressed seamen.
163.   The Minister may make regulations with respect to the
relief, maintenance and return to a proper return port of
shipwrecked seamen and apprentices and of seamen and
apprentices found otherwise in distress in any place and may by
those regulations (in this Act referred to as the "distressed seamen
regulations") make such conditions as he thinks fit with regard to
that relief, maintenance and sending to a proper return port; and
where the regulations so provide, any payment made thereunder
shall be a charge on the Consolidated Fund.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         83
Provision for relief 
and maintenance of 
distressed seamen.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 75.
164.   Where either -
( a ) any seaman or apprentice, whether a citizen of Malta
or not, is found in any place and has been shipwrecked
from a Maltese ship, or, by reason of having been
discharged or left behind from any such ship, is in
distress in that place; or
( b ) any seaman or apprentice, being a citizen of Malta
who has been engaged to serve in a ship belonging to
the government of, or registered in, any foreign
country, is in distress in any place, 
the Maltese consular officer at that port, or such person as may be
designated in the distressed seamen regulations, shall in accordance
with and on the conditions prescribed by those regulations, provide
in accordance with this Act for the return of those seamen or
apprentices to a proper return port and also provide for their
necessary clothing and their maintenance until their departure for
such port and, in case of death, for burial expenses and, in addition,
in the case of shipwrecked seamen or apprentices, for the
repayment of any expenses incurred in their conveyance to a port
after their shipwreck and their maintenance while being so
conveyed.
Recovery of 
expenses of relief 
of distressed 
seamen.
165. (1) Where any expenses (other than excepted expenses as
defined by this article) are incurred by or on behalf of the
Government of Malta, or are incurred by the government of a
foreign country and are repaid or repayable to that government by
or on behalf of the Government of Malta, on account of a distressed
seaman or apprentice, either for his maintenance, necessary
clothing, conveyance to a proper return port or, in case of death, for
his burial, or otherwise in accordance with this Act, those expenses
(together with the wages, if any, due to the seaman or apprentice)
shall be a charge upon the ship, whether Maltese or foreign, to
which the distressed seaman or apprentice belonged, and shall be
recoverable as a debt due to the Government of Malta from the
master of the ship or from the owner of the ship for the time being
or, where the ship has been lost, from the person who was the
owner of the ship at the time of the loss or, where the ship has been
transferred to some person not being a Maltese citizen or not being
a body corporate established under the laws of Malta, either from
the owner for the time being or from the person who was the owner
of the ship at the time of the transfer, and also, if the ship is a
foreign ship, from the person who, whether as principal or as agent,
engaged the seaman or apprentice for service in the ship.
(2) In any proceedings for such recovery, a certificate of the
expenses signed by the person defraying the expenses together with
such vouchers (if any) as the case requires, shall be sufficient proof
that the said expenses were duly paid.
(3) For the purposes of this article, "excepted expenses" are
expenses incurred in cases where the certificate obtained under this
Act on leaving a seaman or apprentice behind states, or the
Minister is otherwise satisfied, that the cause of the seaman or
apprentice being left behind is desertion, disappearance,
  84        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
imprisonment for misconduct or discharge from his ship by a
competent court on the ground of misconduct, and expenses
incurred on account of the return to the proper port of a distressed
seaman or apprentice who has been discharged at the port at which
he was shipped or at some neighbouring port.
Penalty for forcing 
men ashore.  
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
166.   A person belonging to a Maltese ship shall not wrongfully
force a seaman or an apprentice on shore and leave him behind or
otherwise cause a seaman or an apprentice to be wrongfully left
behind at any place, either on shore or at sea, and if he does so he
shall for each offence be liable to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred
units or to both such imprisonment and fine.
Mode of providing 
for return.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.76.
167. (1) A seaman or apprentice may be sent to a proper return
port by any reasonable route.
(2) Provision may be made for the return of a seaman or
apprentice, if he is fit to work, by providing him with suitable
employment on board a ship, proceeding to a proper return port,
which is in want of men to make up its complement, or, if that is
not practicable, by providing him with a passage in any ship or
aircraft, or with the money for his passage, and, as to any part of
the route which is by land, by paying the expenses of his journey
and of his maintenance during the journey, or providing him with
the means to pay those expenses.
(3) Where the master of a ship is required by this Act to
provide for the return of a discharged seaman or apprentice to a
proper return port, the master may, instead of providing the passage
or the expenses of his journey, or of providing him with the means
to pay his passage or those expenses, deposit with the officer whose
sanction or certificate is required under this Act such sum as that
officer considers sufficient to defray the expenses of the return of
the seaman or apprentice to a proper return port.
(4) Where a seaman or apprentice is repatriated as a member of
a crew, he shall be entitled to the appropriate remuneration for
work done during the voyage.
(5) If any question arises as to what return port a seaman or
apprentice is to be sent in any case, or as to the route by which he
should be sent, that question shall be decided by the officer
aforesaid, and in deciding any question under this provision, that
officer shall have regard both to the convenience of the seaman or
apprentice and to the expenses involved and also, where that is the
case, to the fact that a ship which is in want of men to make up its
complement is about to proceed to a proper return port or to a port
in the vicinity thereof; but nothing in this article shall relive the
owner from the obligation and expense of returning the seaman or
apprentice to his proper return port.
Provisions as to 
taking distressed 
seamen on ships. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
168. (1) Where a distressed seaman or apprentice is, for the
purposes of his return to a proper return port, placed on board a
Maltese ship, the officer by whom he is so placed shall endorse on
the agreement with the crew of the ship the name of the seaman or
apprentice so placed on board, together with any particulars
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         85
directed to be endorsed by the distressed seamen regulations.
(2) The master of every Maltese ship shall receive on board his
ship, and afford a passage and maintenance to, all distressed
seamen or apprentices whom he is required under this Act to take
on board his ship, not exceeding one for every fifty nett tons, and
shall during the passage provide every such distressed seaman or
apprentice with a proper berth or sleeping place, effectually
protected against sea and weather.
(3) On the production of a certificate, signed by the officer by
whose direction any such distressed seaman or apprentice was
received on board, specifying the number and names thereof and
the time when each of them was received on board, and on a
declaration made by the master before any officer authorised to
administer oaths, stating a number of days during which each
distressed seaman or apprentice has received maintenance, and
stating the full complement of his crew and the actual number of
seamen employed on board his ship, and any variation in that
number, whilst the distressed seamen or apprentices received
maintenance, the master shall be entitled to be paid, in respect of
the maintenance and passage of every seaman or apprentice so
conveyed, maintained and provided for by him, exceeding the
number (if any) wanted to make up the complement of his crew,
such sum  per diem  as the Minister allows.
(4) If any master of a Maltese ship fails without reasonable
cause to comply with this article in the case of any distressed
seaman or apprentice, he shall for each offence be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
Provision of 
insurance policy.
Added by:
XXII. 2000. 77.
Cap. 318.
168A. (1) Subject to the provisions of this article and to other
provisions of this Act, the provisions of the Social Security Act or
any enactment replacing that Act, shall not apply in respect of
foreign seamen employed on Maltese ships.
(2) The owner shall maintain an insurance policy issued by
such insurer or class of insurers approved by the Registrar-General
in respect of every member of the crew of his ship to cover:
( a ) liability to pay hospital, medical, maintenance, funeral
and other expenses incurred in relation to the injury to,
or illness or death of, a member of the crew;
( b ) liability to repatriate and to compensate a member of
the crew for the loss of his employment caused in
consequence of the actual or constructive total loss of
the ship or of a major casualty rendering the ship
unseaworthy and necessitating the signing off of the
crew;
( c ) liability to pay compensation or damages in
accordance with Maltese Law and practice in relation
to the injury to, or illness or death of, a member of the
crew;
( d ) liability for wages payable to an injured or sick
member of the crew or on death to his estate;
  86        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
( e ) liability in respect of loss of or damage to the personal
effects of a crew member.
(3) The Minister may make regulations as appear to him to be
necessary regulating the maintenance of an insurance policy as
required by subarticle (2) and the compensation to be paid in case
of injuries or death sustained by members of the crew.
(4) In the case of a Maltese member of the crew, no benefits
under the Social Security Act or any enactment replacing that Act,
shall be forfeited because any compensation as is mentioned under
subarticles (2) and (3) is granted to the crew member or his
survivors.
(5) Regulations made under this article may provide that a
person who contravenes the provisions thereof shall be liable to
such penalty as may be provided for in the regulations, being a
penalty of not more than one thousand units.
Provisions as to discipline
Powers of the 
master to enforce 
discipline.
169. (1) The master has authority over his crew, his
passengers and persons on board, to enforce obedience to his lawful
commands for the navigation and management of his ship and the
preservation of good order on board.
(2) The master may, where he has reasonable cause to believe
and in fact believes that it is necessary for the preservation of order
and discipline, or for the safety of the vessel or the persons or
property on board, arrest and confine, or cause the arrest and
confinement of, any person on board his ship in a reasonable
manner and for such time as may be reasonable in the
circumstances.
Misconduct 
endangering life on 
ship. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
170.   If a master, seaman or apprentice belonging to a Maltese
ship, by wilful breach of duty or by neglect of duty or by reason of
drunkenness -
( a ) does any act tending to the immediate loss, destruction
or serious damage of the ship, or tending immediately
to endanger the life or limb of a person belonging to or
on board the ship; or
( b ) refuses or omits to do any lawful act proper and
requisite to be done by him for preserving the ship
from immediate loss, destruction or serious damage, or
for preserving any person belonging to or on board the
ship from immediate danger to life or limb,
he shall for each offence be liable to imprisonment for a period not
exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred
units or to both such imprisonment and fine.
Desertion and 
absence without 
leave. 
Amended by: 
XXIV. 1986.17.
171.   If a seaman lawfully engaged, or an apprentice to the sea
service, belonging to a Maltese ship commits any of the following
offences he shall be liable to be punished as follows:
( a ) if he deserts from his ship he shall be guilty of the
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         87
offence of desertion and shall be liable to forfeit all or
any part of the effects he leaves on board and of the
wages which he has then earned and also of the wages
he may earn in any other ship in which he may be
employed until his next return to Malta or to the port at
which he was engaged, and to satisfy any excess of
wages paid by the master or owner of the ship to any
substitute engaged in his place at a higher rate of
wages than the rate stipulated to be paid to him;
( b ) if he neglects, or refuses without reasonable cause, to
join his ship, or to proceed to sea in his ship, or is
absent without leave at any time within twenty-four
hours of the ship’s sailing from a port, either at the
commencement or during the progress of a voyage, or
is absent at any time without leave and without
sufficient reason from his ship or from his duty, he
shall, if the offence does not amount to desertion, or is
not treated as such by the master, be guilty of the
offence of absence without leave, and be liable to
forfeit out of his wages a sum not exceeding two days’
pay, and in addition for every twenty-four hours of
absence, either a sum not exceeding six days’ pay, or
any expenses properly incurred in hiring a substitute.
Power of court to 
order offender to 
be taken on board 
ship.
172.   Repealed by article 18 of Act XXIV of 1986.
General offences 
against discipline. 
Amended by: 
XXIV.1986.19.
173. (1) If a seaman lawfully engaged, or an apprentice to the
sea service, belonging to a Maltese ship commits any of the
following offences, in this Act referred to as "offences against
discipline", he shall be liable to be punished as follows:
( a ) if he quits the ship without leave after her arrival at her
port of delivery and before she is placed in security, he
shall be liable to forfeit out of his wages a sum not
exceeding one month’s pay;
( b ) if he is guilty of wilful disobedience to any lawful
command, he shall be liable to forfeit out of his wages
a sum not exceeding two days’ pay;
( c ) if he is guilty of continued wilful disobedience to
lawful commands or continued wilful neglect of duty,
he shall be liable to forfeit for every twenty-four
hours’ continuance of disobedience or neglect either a
sum not exceeding six days’ pay or any expenses
properly incurred in hiring a substitute;
( d ) if he assaults the master or any mate or certificated
engineer of the ship, he shall be liable to imprisonment
for a period not exceeding twelve weeks;
( e ) if he combines with any of the crew to disobey lawful
commands, or to neglect duty, or to impede the
navigation of the ship or the progress of the voyage, he
shall be liable to forfeit a sum not exceeding twelve
  88        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
weeks’ pay;
( f ) if he wilfully damages his ship or wilfully damages
any of her stores or cargo, he shall be liable to forfeit
out of his wages a sum equal to the loss thereby
sustained and also, at the discretion of the court, to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve
weeks.
(2) If a seaman or an apprentice as aforesaid is convicted of
any act of smuggling whereby loss or damage is occasioned to the
master or owner of the ship, he shall be liable to pay to that master
or owner a sum sufficient to reimburse the loss or damage; and the
whole or a proportionate part of his wages may be retained in
satisfaction or on account of that liability, without prejudice to any
further remedy.
(3) Nothing in this article or in article 171 shall take away or
limit any remedy which an owner or master would but for those
provisions have for any breach of contract or otherwise in respect
of the matters constituting an offence under those articles, but an
owner or master shall not be compensated more than once in
respect of the same damage.
Penalty for false 
statement as to last 
ship or name. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
174.   If a seaman on or before being engaged wilfully and
fraudulently makes a false statement of the name of his last ship or
alleged last ship, or of his own name, he shall for each offence be
liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
Entry of offences 
in official log.
175.   If any offence, within the meaning of this Act, of desertion
or absence without leave or against discipline is committed, or if
any act of misconduct is committed for which the offender’s
agreement imposes a fine and it is intended to enforce the fine - 
( a ) an entry of the offence or act shall be made in the
official log book and signed by the master and also by
the mate or one of the crew;
( b ) the offender, if still on the ship, shall before the next
subsequent arrival of the ship at any port, or, if she is
at the time in port, before her departure therefrom,
either be furnished with a copy of the entry or have the
same read over distinctly and audibly to him, and may
thereupon make such reply as he thinks fit;
( c ) a statement of a copy of the entry having been so
furnished or of the entry having been so read over and,
in either case, of the reply (if any) made by the
offender shall likewise be entered and signed in
manner aforesaid; and
( d ) in any subsequent legal proceedings the entries by this
article required shall, if practicable, be produced or
proved, and in default of that production or proof the
court hearing the case may, at its discretion, refuse to
receive evidence of the offence or act of misconduct.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         89
Entries and 
certificates of 
desertion abroad.
176. (1) In every case of desertion from a ship in any port
abroad the master shall produce the entry of the desertion in the
official log book to the person by this Act authorised to grant
certificates for leaving seamen behind abroad; and that person shall
thereupon make and certify a copy of the entry.
(2) The copy shall be forthwith transmitted to the Registrar-
General by the person by whom the copy is made and certified; and
such copy shall, until the contrary is proved, be evidence of its
contents, provided its authenticity is proved.
Register of 
deserters.
177.   The shipping master shall keep at his office a list of the
seamen who, to the best of his knowledge and belief, have deserted
or failed to join their ships after signing an agreement to proceed to
sea in them, and shall on request show the list to a master of a ship,
and shall not be liable in respect of any entry made in good faith in
the list.
Facilities for 
proving desertion 
in proceedings for 
forfeiture of 
wages.
178. (1) Whenever a question arises whether the wages or
effects of any seaman or apprentice are forfeited for desertion from
a ship, it shall be sufficient for the person insisting on the forfeiture
to show that the seaman or apprentice was duly engaged in or
belonged to the ship, and either that he left the ship before the
completion of the voyage or engagement, or, if the voyage was to
terminate in Malta and the ship has not returned, that he is absent
from her, and that an entry of his desertion has been duly made in
the official log book.
(2) The desertion shall thereupon, so far as relates to any
forfeiture of wages or effects under this Part of this Act, be deemed
to be proved unless the seaman or apprentice can produce a proper
certificate of discharge or can otherwise show to the satisfaction of
the court that he had sufficient reasons for leaving his ship.
Nature and 
application of 
forfeitures.
179. (1) Save as hereinafter provided, any punishment not
restrictive of personal liberty provided for by article 171 and by
subarticle (1) of article 173, shall be treated as a fine ( multa ).
(2) Where any wages or effects are forfeited for desertion from
a ship, those effects may be converted into money, and those wages
and effects, or the money arising from the conversion of those
effects, shall, subject to the reimbursement of the expenses caused
by the desertion of the offender to the master or owner of the ship,
be paid to the registrar of the court ordering that forfeiture.
(3) For the purposes of the reimbursement of the expenses
aforesaid, the master or owner, or his agent, may, if the wages are
earned subsequently to the desertion, recover them in the same
manner as the deserter could have recovered them if not forfeited;
and the court in any legal proceeding relating to such wages may
order them to be paid accordingly.
(4) Where any wages are forfeited for damage caused to the
ship, or to her stores or cargo, the forfeiture shall be for the benefit
of the master or owner by whom the wages are payable.
  90        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Forfeitures and 
deductions may be 
determined in suits 
for wages.
180.   Any question concerning the forfeiture of or deductions
from the wages of a seaman or apprentice may be determined in
any proceeding lawfully instituted with respect to those wages,
notwithstanding that the offence in respect of which the question
arises, though by this Act made punishable by imprisonment as
well as forfeiture, has not been made the subject of criminal
proceedings.
Ascertainment of 
amount of 
forfeiture out of 
wages.
181 .  If a seaman contracts for wages by the voyage or by the
run or by the share, and not by the month or other stated period of
time, the amount of forfeiture to be incurred under this Act shall be
an amount bearing the same proportion to the whole wages or share
as a month or any other period hereinbefore mentioned in fixing the
amount of such forfeiture (as the case may be) bears to the whole
time spent in the voyage or run; and if the whole time spent in the
voyage or run does not exceed the period for which the pay is to be
forfeited, the forfeiture shall extend to the whole wages or share.
Penalty for 
enticing to desert 
and harbouring 
deserters. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
182. (1) If any person by any means whatever persuades or
attempts to persuade a seaman or apprentice belonging to a Maltese
ship to neglect or refuse to join or proceed to sea in or to desert
from his ship, or otherwise to absent himself from his duty, he shall
for each offence in respect of each seaman or apprentice be liable
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 neglected
or refused to join or has deserted from, his ship, knowing or having
reason to believe the seaman or apprentice to have so done, he shall
for every seaman or apprentice so harboured or secreted be liable to
a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
Deserters from 
foreign ships. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
183.   Repealed by article 20 of Act XXIV of 1986.
 Stowaways and Seamen carried under compulsion
Stowaways. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
184.   If a person secretes himself and goes to sea in a ship, or
attempts to secrete himself in a ship to go to sea, without the
consent of either the owner or master of the ship, or of a mate or
other person in charge of the ship, or of any other person entitled to
give that consent, such person (in this Act referred to as a
"stowaway") shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding twenty
units or, in the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a period
not exceeding four weeks, and in the case of a second or subsequent
conviction to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three
months.
Discipline of 
stowaways and 
persons carried 
under compulsion.
185.   Every seafaring person whom the master of a ship is,
under the authority of this Act or of any other law, compelled to
take on board and convey, and every stowaway, shall, so long as he
remains in the ship, be deemed to belong to the ship and be subject
to the same laws and regulations for preserving discipline, and to
the same fines and punishments for offences constituting or tending
to constitute a breach of discipline as if he were a member of, and
had signed the agreement with, the crew.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         91
Duties of master as 
to stowaways.  
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
186. (1) The master of any ship arriving at any port in Malta
with any stowaway on board shall, without delay, report the matter
to the Minister and shall take all reasonable measures to prevent
such person from landing without the written authority of the
Minister; and may for that purpose keep the stowaway in custody
while the ship is in port.
(2) Where any such stowaway leaves the ship without being
authorised as aforesaid, the master of the ship shall be deemed to
have suffered him to land.
(3) If the master contravenes any of the provisions of this
article he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding fifty units.
Stowaway may be 
taken back on 
board. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
187.   Where a stowaway lands without such authority as
aforesaid, the Minister may cause the stowaway to be taken back on
board the ship and the master shall receive him back on board; and
if the master fails or refuses to do so he shall be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
Liability of ship’s 
agent.
188.   Where for any reason, except with the permission of the
Minister, a person arriving in Malta in a ship as a stowaway is left
behind in Malta, the cost of his maintenance, if any, incurred by the
Government of Malta and the expense necessary for the removal of
such person from Malta, shall be a liability of the agent of the ship
from which the stowaway has landed, and any such cost or expense
shall, unless met by the said agent, be recoverable from him.
Master to notify 
discovery of 
stowaway. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
189. (1) The master of any ship shall without delay give notice
to the Minister, or to any customs or police officer, of the presence
on board of any person found attempting to secrete himself in such
ship for the purpose of going to sea as a stowaway, and shall assist
in causing such person to be landed.
(2) If a master contravenes any of the provisions of this article
he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
fifty units.
Official logs
Official logs to be 
kept and to be 
evidence.
190. (1) An official log shall be kept in every Maltese ship,
other than a ship employed solely in navigation on the coasts of
Malta, in the appropriate form for that ship approved by the
Minister.
(2) The Minister shall approve forms of official log books,
which may be different for different classes of ships, so that each
such form shall contain proper spaces for the entries required by
this Act.
(3) The official log may, at the discretion of the master or
owner, be kept distinct from, or united with, the ordinary ship’s
log, so that in all cases the spaces in the official log book shall be
duly filled up.
(4) An entry required by this Act in an official log book shall
  92        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
be made as soon as possible after the occurrence to which it relates,
and if not made on the same day as that occurrence shall be made
and dated so as to show the date of the occurrence and of the entry
respecting it; and if made in respect of an occurrence happening
before the arrival of the ship at her final port of discharge shall not
be made more than twenty-four hours after that arrival.
(5) Every entry in the official log book shall be signed by the
master and by the mate or some other member of the crew, and
also- 
( a ) if it is an entry of illness, injury or death, shall be
signed by the surgeon or medical practitioner on
board, if any; and
( b ) if it is an entry of wages due to, or of the effects of, a
seaman or apprentice who dies, shall be signed by the
mate and by some member of the crew besides the
master.
(6) All entries made in an official log book in manner provided
by this Act shall, until the contrary is proved, be evidence of their
contents, provided the authenticity of the log book is proved.
Entries required in 
official log book.
191.   The master of a ship for which an official log book is
required shall enter or cause to be entered in the official log book
the following matters:
( a ) every conviction by a legal tribunal of a member of his
crew, and the punishment inflicted;
( b ) every offence committed by a member of his crew for
which it is intended to prosecute or to enforce a
forfeiture, or to exact a fine, together with such
statement concerning the copy or reading over of that
entry, and concerning the reply (if any) made to the
charge, as is by this Act required;
( c ) every offence for which punishment is inflicted on
board, and the punishment inflicted;
( d ) every arrest and confinement made in pursuance of
article 169, and the circumstances leading thereto;
( e ) a statement of the conduct, character and
qualifications of each of his crew, or a statement that
he declines to give an opinion on those particulars;
( f ) every case of illness or injury happening to a member
of the crew, with the nature thereof, and the medical
treatment adopted (if any);
( g ) every marriage taking place on board with the names
and ages of the parties;
Cap. 16.
( h ) the birth of a child, or the death of a person, happening
on board, in manner provided by articles 285 and 304
of the Civil Code;
Cap. 16.
( i ) every will made at sea, in manner provided by article
678 of the Civil Code;
( j ) the name of every seaman or apprentice who ceases to
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         93
be a member of the crew, otherwise than by death,
with the place, time and manner, and cause thereof;
( k ) the wages due to, and the effects left on board by, any
seaman or apprentice who dies during the voyage, and
the gross amount of any deductions to be made
therefrom;
( l ) every collision with any other ship, and the
circumstances under which the same occurred; and
( m ) any other matter directed by or under this Act or by or
under any other law to be entered.
Offences in respect 
of official logs. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
192. (1) If an official log book is not kept in the manner
required by this Act, or if any entry directed by this Act to be made
therein is not made at the time and in the manner directed by this
Act, the master shall for each offence be liable to the specific fine
in this Act or in any other law mentioned in respect thereof or,
where there is no such specific fine, to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
ten units.
(2) If any person makes, or procures to be made, or assists in
making, an entry in an official log book in respect of any
occurrence happening previously to the arrival of the ship at a final
port of discharge more than twenty-four hours after that arrival, he
shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding thirty
units.
(3) If any person wilfully destroys or mutilates or renders
illegible any entry in an official log book, or wilfully makes or
procures to be made or assists in making a false or fraudulent entry
in or omission from an official log book, he shall for each offence
be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to
a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred units, or to both such
imprisonment and fine.
Delivery of official 
logs to shipping 
master. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
193. (1) The master or owner of every ship required by this
Act to discharge the crew in the presence of the shipping master
shall, within forty-eight hours after the ship’s arrival at her final
port of destination in Malta or upon the discharge of her crew,
whichever first happens, deliver the official log book of the voyage
to the shipping master.
(2) If the master or owner of a ship fails without reasonable
cause to comply with this article, he shall for each offence be liable
to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
Official logs to be 
sent home in case 
of transfer or loss 
of ship. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
194. (1) Where by reason of transfer of ownership or change
of employment of a ship, the official log ceases to be required in
respect of the ship or to be required at the same date, the master or
owner of the ship shall, if the ship is then in Malta, within fifteen
days, and, if the ship is elsewhere, within three months, after the
cessation, deliver or transmit to the shipping master the official log
book duly made out to the time of cessation.
(2) If a ship is lost or abandoned, the master or owner thereof
shall, if practicable, and as soon as possible, deliver or transmit to
  94        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
the shipping master the official log book (if any) duly made out to
the time of the loss or abandonment.
(3) If the master or owner of a ship fails without reasonable
cause to comply with this article, he shall for each offence be liable
to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
Identity cards
Issue of Maltese 
seaman’s card.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000. 78.
195. (1) There shall be issued to every Maltese seaman, on
application by him in accordance with this Act, an identity
document to be known, and in this Act referred to, as a Maltese
seaman’s card, in the form and containing the particulars specified
in the Fourth Schedule to this Act:
Provided that the Minister may, by regulations amend, add
to, vary, revoke or substitute the Fourth Schedule.
(2) An application for a Maltese seaman’s card shall be made
in person at the office of the Registrar-General and the applicant
shall produce such documents and furnish such information as the
Registrar-General may require.
(3) The Registrar-General, if satisfied that the applicant is a
person entitled to an identity document under this Act, shall issue
to him a Maltese seaman’s card.
(4) For the purposes of this article and of articles 200 and 201,
"Maltese seaman" means a person who, being a citizen of Malta, is
employed or engaged, or ordinarily employed or engaged, in sea-
going ships (whether Maltese or foreign), other than fishing boats
or ships forming part of the navy of any country, as a master or a
member of the crew thereof.
Safe custody of 
card.
196.   Every person to whom a Maltese seaman’s card has been
issued shall keep it in his safe custody and shall produce it on
demand to the shipping master.
Loss, destruction 
or defacement of a 
Maltese seaman’s 
card.
197. (1) If a Maltese seaman’s card is lost, destroyed or
defaced, the person to whom the card was issued shall, as soon as
practicable, report the fact to the Registrar-General and, in the case
of a defaced card, shall surrender the defaced card at the office of
the Registrar-General.
(2) Upon an application for the issue of a card in substitution of
a card lost, destroyed or defaced, and upon payment of the fee if
any, the Registrar-General, if satisfied that the card has been lost,
destroyed or defaced and, in the case of a defaced card, that it has
been surrendered as required by this Act, shall issue a fresh card.
(3) A fee of seventy-five cents (or such other fee as the
Minister may from time to time prescribe) shall be paid for each
Maltese seaman’s card issued in substitution for a card which has
been lost, destroyed or defaced:
Provided that no fee shall be charged if the Registrar-
General is satisfied that such loss, destruction or defacement could
not reasonably be avoided by the seaman or is due to fair wear and
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         95
tear.
Incorrect 
particulars entered 
on card.
198.   If any of the particulars entered upon a Maltese seaman’s
card shall become or be found to be incorrect, the person to whom
the card was issued shall, as soon as practicable, report the fact to
the Registrar-General and shall surrender the incorrect card at his
office; and the Registrar-General may thereupon either cause the
card to be amended or order the issue of a card in substitution
therefor.
Entries upon, and 
assignment or 
charge of, card.
199. (1) No person (other than the Registrar-General or a
person authorised in that behalf by the Minister or by the Registrar-
General, acting in accordance with the provisions of this Act or
instructions given by the Minister or by the Registrar-General)
shall make any mark or entry upon, or erase, cancel or alter any
mark or entry made upon, or otherwise deface or destroy, a Maltese
seaman’s card.
(2) No person shall assign or charge, or agree to assign or
charge, any Maltese seaman’s card, and the assignment of, or any
charge on, a Maltese seaman’s card shall be void and of no effect.
Possession of more 
than one identity 
document.
200.   A Maltese seaman who has in his possession more than
one Maltese seaman’s card or holds, in addition to a Maltese
seaman’s card, a distinctive seaman’s document of identity issued
under the authority of the Government of any foreign country, shall
without delay and in person produce such cards and documents of
identity to the Registrar-General and shall surrender to him such
one or more of the cards being Maltese seaman’s cards as the
Registrar-General shall require.
Surrender of card 
on ceasing to be a 
Maltese seaman.
201.   A person to whom a Maltese seaman’s card has been
issued shall surrender it to the Registrar-General forthwith upon
ceasing to be a Maltese seaman and the Registrar-General may
require any person to whom such a card has been issued to
surrender the same to him.
Delivery of card 
issued to other 
persons.
202.   Any person who comes into possession of a Maltese
seaman’s card issued to some other person shall forthwith deliver
or forward it to the Registrar-General.
Penalties. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
203. (1) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with
any of the provisions of article 196, of article 197(1), or of articles
198, 199, 200, 201 and 202, or fails to comply with any
requirement of the Registrar-General under article 201, shall for
each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
(2) Article 98 shall have effect as if references therein to a
certificate of competency included references to a Maltese
seaman’s card.
Application of Part IV
Application of this 
Part to ships 
registered in Malta.
204.   This Part of this Act shall, unless the context or subject
matter requires a different application, apply to all sea-going ships
registered under this Act, and to the owners, masters and crews of
  96        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
such ship, subject as hereinafter provided with respect to - 
( a ) pleasure yachts, and 
( b ) fishing boats.
Partial application 
to pleasure yachts.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 79.
205.   The provisions of articles 113 to 120 (both inclusive), of
articles 121 to 122C (both inclusive), of articles 125, 133, 137 and
148, and of articles 190 to 194 (both inclusive) and to the extent as
may be prescribed, any other provision of this Part of this Act, as
the Minister may by regulations prescribe, shall not apply to
pleasure yachts.
Partial application 
to fishing boats. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2, 80.
206. (1) The provisions of this Part of this Act shall apply to
fishing boats subject as in this article provided.
(2) The provisions relating to compulsory agreements with the
crew shall apply only to fishing boats of twenty-five tons and
upwards, and -
( a ) in the application of article 114 to such fishing boats,
the following provisions shall have effect:
(i) the agreement with the crew (hereinafter
referred to as "fishing boat’s agreement") shall
be made in such form as the Minister may
approve with respect to fishing boats; and
(ii) a fishing boat’s agreement shall, in lieu of the
amount of wages, specify, where the
circumstances so require, the remuneration
which each seaman is to receive, whether in
wages or by share in the catch, or in both ways;
and
( b ) in the application of article 115 to such fishing boats
as aforesaid, a fishing boat’s agreement may be made
by the owner instead of by the master and the
provisions of this Act with respect to the making of the
agreement shall apply accordingly.
(3) Article 126 shall apply only to fishing boats of twenty-five
tons or upwards.
(4) Articles 133 and 135 shall not apply to fishing boats, but
the following provisions shall have effect with respect to fishing
boats, that is to say:
( a ) the owner of a fishing boat, being a boat of twenty-five
tons or upwards, shall deliver to the master, and the
owner or master of such a boat shall deliver to every
seaman of that boat, a full and true account in a form
approved by the Minister, of the wages or other
remuneration of the master or seaman, as the case may
be, and of all deductions to be made therefrom on any
account whatever; and a deduction from the
remuneration of a master or seaman shall not be
allowed unless it is included in the account so
delivered, or is in regard to a matter happening after
such delivery;
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         97
( b ) the master may by notice to the owner, and a seaman
may by notice to the owner or the master, dispense
with the delivery of such account;
( c ) except where the account is so dispensed with and
except in so far as it relates to remuneration consisting
in a share of the catch, the account shall be delivered
not less than four hours before the paying off or
discharge of the master or seaman;
( d ) if the owner or master of a boat fails without
reasonable cause to comply with this subarticle, he
shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding ten units.
(5) The tonnage of a fishing boat for the purposes of this article
shall be taken to be, in the case of a steam trawler her gross tonnage
and in any other case her registered tonnage as ascertained for the
purpose of that registry.
(6) For the purposes of this article "fishing boat" means a
vessel which is for the time being employed in sea fishing or in the
sea-fishing service, including vessels employed as tenders or
carriers to fishing boats or for the purpose of collecting and
conveying to land the catch of fishing boats, but shall not include a
vessel used for catching fish otherwise than for profit.
PART V 
SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA
1. CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF SHIPS 
Rules as to construction, equipment and safety
Application of the 
Safety Convention.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.81.
206A. (1) The Safety Convention shall, unless otherwise
provided in any rules made under articles 207 to 212 (both
inclusive), apply to all Maltese ships and to all other ships while
they are in Maltese waters as if the requirements thereof were
imposed on such ships by rules made under those articles.
(2) For the purposes of subarticle (1), the term “the Safety
Convention” shall have the same meaning as is assigned to it in
article 213.
Construction and 
survey rules.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.82.
207. (1) The Minister may make rules (in this Act referred as
"construction and survey rules") prescribing requirements for the
hull, equipment and machinery of ships to which this article applies
and requiring any such ships to be surveyed to such extent, in such
manner and at such intervals as may be prescribed by the rules. 
(2) This article applies to:
  98        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
( a ) Maltese passenger ships, and any foreign passenger
ship which carries passengers to or from any place, or
between places, in Malta;
( b ) sea-going ships of not less than five hundred tons
gross tonnage, or of not less than such lower tonnage
and of such description as the Minister may by order in
the Gazette specify, except that it applies to such sea-
going ships not registered under this Act only while
they are in Maltese waters;
( c ) such other ships as the Minister may prescribe.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
provisions of this article, rules under this article may require the
provision in Maltese passenger ships - 
( a ) of plant exhibited as provided by or under the rules,
and of other information, relating to the boundaries of
water-tight compartments, the openings therein, the
means of closing such openings and the arrangements
for correcting any list due to flooding;
( b ) of information necessary for the guidance of the
master in maintaining sufficient stability to enable the
ship to withstand damage.
Rules for life-
saving appliances.
Amended by:
XXII.2000.83.
208. (1) The Minister may, in relation to any ships to which
this article applies, make rules (in this Act referred to as "rules for
life-saving appliances") with respect to all or any of the following
matters, namely:
( a ) the arrangement of ships into classes, having regard to
the services in which they are employed, to the nature
and duration of the voyage, and to the number of
passengers carried;
( b ) the number, description and mode of construction of
the boats, life-rafts, line-throwing appliances, life-
jackets, and lifebuoys to be carried by ships, according
to the classes in which the ships are arranged;
( c ) the equipment to be carried by any such boats and
rafts, and the methods to be provided to get the boats
and other life-saving appliances into the water,
including oil for use in stormy weather;
( d ) the provision in ships of a proper supply of lights
inextinguishable in water, and fitted for attachment to
lifebuoys;
( e ) the quantity, quality and description of buoyant
apparatus to be carried on board ships, either in
addition to or in substitution for boats, life-rafts, life-
jackets and lifebuoys;
( f ) the position and means of securing the boats, life-rafts,
life-jackets, lifebuoys and buoyant apparatus;
( g ) the marking of the boats, life-rafts and buoyant
apparatus as to show their dimensions and the number
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         99
of persons authorised to be carried on them;
( h ) the manning of the lifeboats and the qualifications and
certificates of lifeboat men;
( i ) the provision to be made for mustering the persons on
board and for embarking them in the boats (including
provision for the lighting of, and the means of ingress
to and egress from, different parts of the ship);
( j ) the provision of suitable means situated outside the
engine room whereby any discharge of water into the
boats can be prevented;
( k ) the assignment of specific duties to each member of
the crew in the event of emergency;
( l ) the methods to be adopted and the appliances to be
carried in ships for the prevention, detection and
extinction of fire;
( m ) the provision in ships of plans or other information
relating to the means of preventing, detecting,
controlling and extinguishing outbreaks of fire;
( n ) the practice in ships of boat-drills and fire-drills;
( o ) the provision in ships of means of making effective
distress signals by day and night;
( p ) the provision, in ships engaged on voyages in which
pilots are likely to be embarked, of suitable pilot-
ladders, and of ropes, lights and appliances designed to
make the use of such ladders safe;
( q ) the examination and maintenance at intervals to be
prescribed by the rules of any appliances or equipment
required by the rules to be carried.
(2) This article applies to: 
( a ) Maltese ships;
( b ) all other ships while they are in Maltese waters.
Radio rules.
Amended by:
XXII.2000.83.
 209. (1) The Minister may make rules (in this Act referred to
as "radio rules") requiring ships to which this article applies to be
provided with a radio installation other than a radio navigational
aid of such a nature as may be prescribed by the rules and to
maintain such a radio service and to carry such number of radio
officers or operators, of such grades and possessing such
qualifications, as may be so prescribed; and the rules may contain
provisions for preventing, so far as practicable, electrical
interference with the radio installation by other apparatus on board.
(2) This article applies to:
( a ) Maltese ships; 
( b ) all other ships while they are in Maltese waters.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
provisions of this article, rules under this article may - 
( a ) prescribe the duties of radio officers and operators,
  100        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
including the duty of keeping a radio log book;
( b ) apply to any radio log book required to be kept under
the rules any of the provisions of articles 193 and 194;
( c ) require the master of the ship to cause to be entered in
the official log book such particulars relating to the
operation of the radio installation, and the
maintenance of the radio service, as may be specified
in the rules;
( d ) prescribe requirements for such portable radio
apparatus as boats or life-rafts may be required to
carry by the rules for life-saving appliances.
Rules for direction-
finders.
Amended by:
XXII.2000.85.
210. (1) The Minister may make rules (in this Act referred to
as "rules for direction-finders") requiring ships to which this article
applies to be provided with a direction-finder of such a nature as
may be prescribed by the rules.
(2) This article applies to:
( a ) Maltese ships; 
( b ) all other ships while they are in Maltese waters.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
provisions of this article, rules under this article may provide for
the position of the direction-finder in the ship, for the
communication between the direction-finder and the bridge, for
testing the direction-finder at intervals and as occasion may require
and for recording the result of the tests.
Further provisions 
as to radio 
navigational aids.
211.   The Minister may make rules prescribing:
( a ) the requirements that radio navigational aids, other
than direction-finders, shall comply with if they are
carried on board Maltese ships, including requirements
relating to their position and method of fitting;
( b ) the requirements that apparatus designed for the
purpose of transmitting or reflecting signals shall
comply with, being apparatus in Malta, or off the
shores of Malta and maintained from Malta.
Openings in 
passenger ship’s 
hulls and water 
tight bulk heads.
212.   The Minister may in relation to any Maltese passenger
ship make rules for any of the following matters:
( a ) for closing and keeping closed the openings in ships’
hulls and in water tight bulk heads;
( b ) for securing, keeping in place and inspecting
contrivances for closing any such openings as
aforesaid; 
( c ) for operating the mechanisms of contrivances for
closing any such openings as aforesaid and for drills in
connection with the operation thereof;
( d ) for requiring entry to be made in the official log book
or other record to be kept of any of the matters
aforesaid.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         101
Rules to implement 
international 
conventions. 
Amended by: 
XXIV.1988.21;
XXII.2000.85.
213.   (1) Any rules made under articles 207, 208, 209 and 210
shall include such requirements, in regard to the matters in respect
of which the rules are made, as appear to the Minister to implement
the provisions in regard to those matters of the international
convention entitled "The International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea" signed in London on 1st November, 1974 and the
Protocol thereto signed in London on 17th February, 1978 or any
other international convention or protocol relating to safety of life
at sea ratified or acceded to by the Government of Malta (in this
Act referred to as "the Safety Convention").
(2) Any reference in subarticle (1) to an international
convention or protocol shall include reference to any amendment to
such convention or protocol ratified, acceded to or accepted by the
Government of Malta.
Declarations of survey
Declarations of 
survey.
214.   Where for the purpose of the issue of a certificate in
respect of a ship under this Part of this Act a ship has been
surveyed in accordance with the construction and survey rules by
the appropriate surveyors, the surveyors, if satisfied on the survey
that they can with propriety do so, shall deliver to the owners
declarations of survey in a form approved by the Minister.
Transmission of 
declarations of 
survey. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
215. (1) The owner of a ship which has been surveyed shall,
within fourteen days after the receipt by him of a declaration of
survey, transmit it to the Minister.
(2) If the owner fails without reasonable cause so to transmit a
declaration of survey, he shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding two units for every day during which the transmission is
delayed.
Appeal to court of 
survey.
216. (1) If the owner of a ship feels aggrieved by the
declaration of survey of a ship surveyor, or an engineer surveyor,
or a radio surveyor, or by the refusal of such a surveyor to give a
declaration he may appeal to the court of survey in manner directed
by the rules of that court.
(2) On any such appeal the chairman of the court of survey
shall report to the Minister on the question raised by the appeal,
and the Minister may act on receipt of such a report as he may act
on receipt of a declaration of survey.
(3) Subject to any order made by the chairman of the court of
survey, the costs of and incidental to the appeal shall follow the
event.
Certificates in respect of ships
Passenger ships 
safety certificates 
and exemption 
certificates.
217. (1) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in
respect of a Maltese passenger ship, is satisfied that the ship
complies with the construction and survey rules, the rules for life-
  102        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
saving appliances, the radio rules, and the rules for direction-
finders, applicable to the ship and to such international voyages as
she is to be engaged on, and that she is properly provided with the
lights, shapes and means of making fog-signals required by the
collision regulations, he shall, on the application of the owner,
issue in respect of the ship a certificate showing that the ship
complies with the requirements of the Safety Convention
applicable as aforesaid; and any certificate issued under this
subarticle is in this Act referred to as a "general safety certificate":
Provided that, if the voyages on which the ship is to be
engaged are short international voyages and she complies only with
such of those rules as are applicable to those voyages, the
certificate shall show that the ship complies with the requirements
of the Safety Convention applicable to her as a ship plying on short
international voyages; and any such certificate is in this Act
referred to as a "short-voyage safety certificate".
(2) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in
respect of any such passenger ship as aforesaid is satisfied that the
ship is exempt, by virtue of any exercise by him of a power in that
behalf conferred on him by his Act or by the rules in question, from
any of the requirements of the construction and survey rules, rules
for life-saving appliances, radio rules, or rules for direction-
finders, applicable to the ship and to such international voyages as
she is to be engaged on, whether short voyages or otherwise, and
that she complies with the rest of those requirements and that she is
properly provided with the lights, shapes and means of making fog-
signals required by the collision regulations, he shall, on the
application of the owner, issue in respect of the ship -
( a ) an exemption certificate stating which of the
requirements of the Safety Convention applicable as
aforesaid the ship is exempt from and that the
exemption is conditional on the ship’s plying only on
the voyages, and being engaged only in the trades, and
complying with the other conditions (if any), specified
in the certificate; and
( b ) a certificate showing that the ship complies with the
rest of those requirements;
and any certificate issued under paragraph ( b ) is in this Act referred
to as a "qualified safety certificate" or a "qualified short-voyage
safety certificate", as the case may be.
Passenger ship 
certificate.
218. (1) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in
respect of a passenger ship to which article 207 applies, is satisfied
that the requirements of this Part of this Act in respect of
construction and equipment applicable to such ship have been
complied with, he shall, on the application of the owner, issue a
certificate stating such compliance and stating, according to the
declarations - 
( a ) the limits (if any) beyond which the ship is not fit to
ply; and
( b ) the number of passengers which the ship is fit to carry,
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         103
distinguishing, if necessary, the number to be carried
in each part of the ship, and any conditions or
variations to which the number is subject;
and any certificate issued under this subarticle is in this Act
referred to as a "passenger ship certificate".
(2) Any general safety certificate or short-voyage safety
certificate, whether qualified or not, may be combined in one
document with a passenger ship certificate.
Cargo ship safety 
construction 
certificates and 
exemption 
certificates.
219. (1) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in
respect of a Maltese ship, not being a passenger ship, is satisfied
that the ship complies with the construction and survey rules
applicable to the ship and to such voyages as she is to be engaged
on, he shall, on the application of the owner, issue in respect of the
ship a certificate showing that the ship complies with such of the
requirements of the Safety Convention relating to those matters as
are applicable as aforesaid, and any such certificate is in this Act
referred to as a "cargo ship safety construction certificate".
(2) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in
respect of any such ship as aforesaid, is satisfied that the ship is
exempt, by virtue of any exercise by him of a power in that behalf
conferred on him by this Act or by the construction and survey
rules, from any of the requirements of those rules applicable to the
ship and to such voyages as she is to be engaged on, and that she
complies with the rest of those requirements, he shall, on the
application of the owner, issue in respect of the ship - 
( a ) an exemption certificate stating which of the
requirements of the Safety Convention applicable as
aforesaid the ship is exempt from and that the
exemption is conditional on the ship’s plying only on
the voyages, and complying with the other conditions
(if any) specified in the certificate; and
( b ) a certificate showing that the ship complies with the
rest of those requirements;
and any certificate issued under paragraph ( b ) is in this Act referred
to as a "qualified cargo ship safety construction certificate".
Cargo ships safety 
equipment 
certificates and 
exemption 
certificates.
220. (1) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in
respect of a Maltese ship, not being a passenger ship, is satisfied
that the ship complies with the rules for life-saving appliances
applicable to the ship and to such international voyages as she is to
be engaged on, and that she is properly provided with the lights,
shapes and means of making fog-signals required by the collision
regulations, he shall, on the application of the owner, issue in
respect of the ship a certificate showing that the ship complies with
such of the requirements of the Safety Convention relating to those
matters as are applicable as aforesaid; and any certificate issued
under this subarticle is in this Act referred to as a "safety
equipment certificate".
(2) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in
respect of any such ship as aforesaid, is satisfied that the ship is
  104        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
exempt, by virtue of any exercise by him of a power in that behalf
conferred on him by this Act or by the rules for life-saving
appliances, from any of the requirements of those rules applicable
to the ship and to such international voyages as she is to be engaged
on, and that she complies with the rest of those requirements and is
properly provided with the lights, shapes and means of making fog-
signals required by the collision regulations, he shall, on the
application of the owner, issue in respect of the ship -
( a ) an exemption certificate stating which of the
requirements of the Safety Convention applicable as
aforesaid the ship is exempt from and that the
exemption is conditional on the ship’s plying only on
the voyages, and complying with the other conditions
(if any), specified in the certificate; and
( b ) a certificate showing that the ship complies with the
rest of those requirements;
and any certificate issued under paragraph ( b ) is in this Act referred
to as a "qualified safety equipment certificate". 
Radio certificates 
and exemption 
certificates.
221. (1) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in
respect of a Maltese ship, not being a passenger ship, is satisfied
that the ship complies with the radio rules and rules for direction-
finders applicable to the ship and to such international voyages as
she is to be engaged on, he shall, on the application of the owner,
issue in respect of the ship a certificate showing that the ship
complies with such of the requirements of the Safety Convention
relating to radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony and direction-finders as
are applicable as aforesaid; and any certificate issued under this
subarticle is in this Act referred to as a "radio certificate".
(2) If the Minister, on receipt of declarations of survey in
respect of any such ship as aforesaid, is satisfied that the ship is
exempt, by virtue of any exercise by him of a power in that behalf
conferred on him by this Act or by the rules in question, from any
of the requirements of the radio rules or rules for direction-finders
applicable to the ship and to such international voyages as she is to
be engaged on, and that she complies with the rest of those
requirements, he shall, on the application of the owner, issue in
respect of the ship -
( a ) an exemption certificate stating which of the
requirements of the Safety Convention relating to
radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony and direction-finders,
being requirements applicable as aforesaid, the ship is
exempt from and that the exemption is conditional on
the ship’s plying only on the voyages, and complying
with the other conditions (if any), specified in the
certificate; and
( b ) a certificate showing that the ship complies with the
rest of those requirements;
and any certificate issued under paragraph   ( b ) is in this Act referred
to as a "qualified radio certificate".
(3) Where any Maltese ship is wholly exempt from the
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         105
requirements of the radio rules and the rules for direction-finders,
the Minister shall, on the application of the owner, issue an
exemption certificate stating that the ship is wholly exempt from
the requirements of the Safety Convention relating to
radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony and direction-finders and
specifying the voyages on which, and the conditions (if any) on
which, the ship is so exempt.
Cargo ship safety 
certificate.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.87.
221A. Where the Minister is satisfied that a cargo ship satisfies
the requirements of the foregoing provisions of this article for the
issue of a cargo ship safety construction certificate, a safety
equipment certificate, and a radio certificate, he may issue in
respect of such ship in lieu of such certificates a cargo ship safety
certificate and such certificate shall for the purposes of this Act be
deemed to be a cargo ship safety construction certificate, a safety
equipment certificate and a radio certificate in respect of such
cargo ship, and any reference in this Act to such certificates shall
be deemed to include a reference to a cargo ship safety certificate.
Issue of certificates 
on partial 
compliance with 
rules.
222.   Where a ship complies with all the requirements of the
construction and survey rules, rules for life-saving appliances,
radio rules, and rules for direction-finders, applicable to the ship
and to the voyages on which she is to be engaged so far as those
requirements are requirements of the Safety Convention applicable
as aforesaid, the Minister may issue in respect of the ship a general
safety certificate, short-voyage safety certificate, cargo ship safety
construction certificate, safety equipment certificate, a radio
certificate, as the case may be, notwithstanding that she is exempt
from, or for some other reason does not comply with, any
requirement of those rules that are not applicable requirements of
the Safety Convention.
Issue of certificates 
by foreign 
governments on 
request by 
Minister.
223. (1) The Minister may request the government of a
country to which the Safety Convention applies to issue in respect
of a Maltese ship any certificate, other than a passenger ship
certificate, the issue of which is authorised under the foregoing
provisions of this Part of this Act; and a certificate issued in
pursuance of such a request and containing a statement that it has
been so issued shall have effect for the purposes of this Act as if it
had been issued by the Minister and not by the government of that
country.
(2) Where in pursuance of a request made under this article the
government of the country requested to issue a certificate is willing
to issue a qualified certificate but is not willing to issue the
corresponding exemption certificate, the Minister may issue the
exemption certificate in respect of the ship.
Certificates in 
duplicate and fees 
for certificates.
224.   The issue of any certificate under the foregoing provisions
of this Part of this Act shall be made in duplicate and against the
payment of such fees as may be prescribed.
Notice of 
alterations and 
additional surveys. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
225. (1) The owner or master of a ship in respect of which any
certificate issued under the foregoing provisions of this Part of this
Act is in force shall, as soon as possible after any alteration is made
in the ship’s hull, equipment, appliances or machinery affecting the
  106        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
efficiency thereof or the seaworthiness of the ship, give written
notice to the Minister containing full particulars of the alteration.
(2) If notice of any alteration is not given as required by this
article, the owner or master of the ship shall be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
(3) If the Minister has reason to believe that since the making
of the last declaration of survey in respect of any ship as aforesaid-
( a ) any such alteration has been made as is mentioned in
subarticle (1); or
( b ) the hull, equipment, appliances or machinery of the
ship have sustained an injury or are otherwise
insufficient, the Minister may, without prejudice to his
powers under article 228, require the ship to be again
surveyed to such extent as he thinks fit, and, if such
requirement is not complied with, may cancel any
certificate issued in respect of the ship under the
foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act.
(4) For the purpose of this article the expression "alteration" in
relation to anything includes the renewal of any part of it.
Duration of 
certificates.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.88.
226. (1) A passenger ship certificate shall remain in force for a
period not exceeding one year from its date of issue, and all other
certificates referred to in the foregoing provisions of this article
shall remain in force for a period which shall not exceed five years.
(2) An exemption certificate, other than a certificate stating
that a ship is wholly exempt from the requirements relating to
radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony and direction-finders, shall remain
in force for the same period as the corresponding qualified
certificate.
(3) The Minister may grant an extension of any certificate
granted under the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act in
respect of any Maltese ship for a period not exceeding three months
from the date when a certificate would, but for the extension, have
expired.
(4) Without prejudice to the powers conferred by subarticle (5),
where a certificate under article 219 is in force in respect of a ship
and the certificate was issued for a shorter period than is allowed
under this article, the Minister may if satisfied on receipt of
declarations of survey in respect of the ship that it is proper to do
so, grant an extension of the certificate for a period not exceeding
one year and not exceeding, together with the period for which it
was issued and any period by which it has previously been
extended under this subarticle, the period for which it could have
been issued under this article.
(5) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this article no
certificate therein referred to shall remain in force after notice is
given by the Minister to the owner or master of the ship in respect
of which it has been issued that the Minister has cancelled the
certificate.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         107
Certificates 
admissible in 
evidence.
227.   Any certificate issued by the Minister under the foregoing
provisions of this Part of this Act shall be admissible in evidence
without the necessity of any proof of its authenticity other than that
which appears on the face of it, and shall, until the contrary is
proved, be evidence of its contents.
Cancellation of 
certificates.
228. (1) The Minister may cancel any certificate issued in
pursuance of the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act where
he has reason to believe -
( a ) that a declaration of survey on which the certificate
was founded has been in any particular made
fraudulently or erroneously; or
( b ) that the certificate has been issued upon false or
erroneous information; or
( c ) that since the making of the declaration the hull,
equipment or machinery of the ship have sustained an
injury or are otherwise insufficient.
(2) In every such case the Minister may require the owner to
have the hull, equipment or machinery of the ship again surveyed,
and to transmit further declarations of survey, before he re-issues
the certificate or grants a fresh one in lieu thereof.
Delivery up of 
certificates.  
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
229. (1) The Minister may require any certificate which has
expired or been cancelled under the foregoing provisions of this
Part of this Act to be delivered up as he directs.
(2) If the owner or master fails without reasonable cause to
comply with such requirement, he shall for each offence be liable
to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
Posting up of 
certificates. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
230. (1) The owner or master of every ship required to have a
certificate or certificates under this Part of this Act shall forthwith
on the receipt of the certificates by him or his agent cause one of
the duplicates thereof to be framed and posted up in some
conspicuous place on board the ship, and to be kept so framed and
posted up and legible while the certificate remains in force and the
ship is in use.
(2) If the owner or master fails without reasonable cause to
comply with this article, he shall for each offence be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
(3) If a ship plies or goes to sea and this article is not complied
with, then for each offence the owner thereof shall be liable to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding two hundred units, and the master shall
also be liable to a further fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
Penalty for forgery 
of certificate or 
declaration. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
231.   If any person -
( a ) knowingly and wilfully makes, or assists in making, a
false or fraudulent declaration of survey or certificate
issued or issuable under the foregoing provisions of
this Part of this Act; or
( b ) forges or assists in forging, or procures to be forged,
fraudulently alters, assists in fraudulently altering, or
  108        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
procures to be fraudulently altered, any such
declaration or certificate, or anything contained in, or
any signature to, any such declaration or certificate,
that person shall for each offence be liable to imprisonment for a
period not exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
five hundred units, or to both such imprisonment and fine.
Enforcement of rules
Prohibition of 
proceeding to sea 
without 
appropriate 
certificates. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
232. (1) No Maltese passenger ship shall proceed to sea on an
international voyage unless there is in force in respect of the ship a
general safety certificate, a short-voyage safety certificate, a
qualified safety certificate, or a qualified short-voyage safety
certificate which is applicable to the voyage on which the ship is
about to proceed and to the trade she is for the time being engaged
in.
(2) No passenger ship to which article 207 applies shall
proceed to sea, or on any voyage or excursion, from any port in
Malta unless there is in force in respect of the ship a passenger ship
certificate applicable to the voyage or excursion on which the ship
is about to proceed or that voyage or excursion is one in respect of
which the Minister has exempted the ship from the requirements of
this subarticle.
(3) No Maltese ship, not being a passenger ship, shall proceed
to sea unless there is in force in respect of the ship -
( a ) if the ship is one to which article 207 applies, either -
(i) a cargo ship safety construction certificate, or 
(ii) a qualified cargo ship safety construction
certificate; and
( b ) if the ship is about to proceed on an international
voyage, both - 
(i) a safety equipment certificate or a qualified
safety equipment certificate, and
(ii) a radio certificate or a qualified radio certificate
or an exemption certificate stating that the ship
is wholly exempt from the requirements relating
to radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony and
direction-finders, such certificate or certificates
being applicable to the ship and to the voyage on
which she is about to proceed:
Provided that this subarticle shall not prohibit a ship from
proceeding to sea as aforesaid if there is in force in respect of the
ship such certificate or certificates as would be required if she were
a passenger ship.
(4) For the purposes of this article a qualified certificate shall
not be deemed to be in force in respect of a ship about to proceed
on an international voyage unless there is also in force in respect of
the ship the corresponding exemption certificate; and an exemption
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         109
certificate shall be of no effect unless it is by its terms applicable to
the voyage on which the ship is about to proceed.
(5) If a ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea, or on any
voyage or excursion, in contravention of this article:
( a ) in the case of a passenger ship, the owner or master of
the ship shall, without prejudice to any other remedy
or penalty under this Act, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding four hundred units; and
( b ) in the case of a ship not being a passenger ship, the
owner or master of the ship shall be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
(6) The master of every passenger ship to which article 207
applies, and of any other Maltese ship, shall produce to the officer
from whom a clearance for the ship is demanded the certificate or
certificates required by the foregoing provisions of this article to be
in force when the ship proceeds to sea, or on a voyage or excursion;
and a clearance shall not be granted, and the ship may be detained,
until the said certificate or certificates are so produced; and a
passenger ship may be so detained whether or not a clearance for
the ship is demanded.
(7) Where an exemption certificate issued in respect of a ship
specifies any conditions on which the certificate is issued and any
of those conditions is not complied with, the owner or master of the
ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred
units.
Penalty for 
carrying 
passengers in 
excess or on more 
than one deck 
below water line. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
233. (1) The owner or master of any ship to which article 207
applies shall not receive or have on board thereof, or in any part
thereof, any number of passengers which, having regard to the
time, occasion and circumstances of the case, is greater than the
number allowed by the passenger ship certificate in respect of that
ship; and if he does so he shall for each offence be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding four hundred units.
(2) The owner or master of any passenger ship to which article
207 applies shall not carry passengers on more than one deck below
the water line; and if he does so he shall for each offence be liable
to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred units.
Removing of 
persons in case of 
danger.
234.   Where the Minister, for the purpose of enabling persons to
be moved from any place in consequence to a threat to their lives
has permitted more persons to be carried on board a ship than are
permitted under this Act, the carriage of that excess shall not be an
offence under this Act.
Modification of 
safety certificates 
as respects life-
saving appliances. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
235. (1) If a Maltese passenger ship in respect of which a
safety certificate is in force has on board a total number of persons
less than the number of persons stated in that certificate to be the
number for which the life-saving appliances on the ship provide,
the Minister may, at the request of the master or owner, issue a
memorandum stating the total number of persons carried on the
ship on that voyage and the consequent modifications which may
be made for the purpose of that voyage in the particulars with
  110        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
respect to life-saving appliances stated in the certificate, and that
memorandum shall be annexed to the certificate; and the certificate
shall have effect for the purpose of that voyage as modified by the
memorandum.
(2) Every such memorandum shall be returned to the Minister
at the end of the voyage to which it relates; and if it is not so
returned, the master or owner of the ship shall be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
Provisions as to 
life-saving 
appliances. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
236. (1) It shall be the duty of the owner and master of every
Maltese ship to see that his ship is provided, in accordance with the
rules for life-saving appliances, with such of those appliances as,
having regard to the nature of the service on which the ship is
employed and the avoidance of undue encumbrance of the ship’s
deck, are best adapted for securing the safety of her crew and
passengers.
(2) In the case of any ship -
( a ) if the ship is required by the rules for life-saving
appliances to be provided with such appliances and
proceeds on any voyage or excursion without being so
provided in accordance with the rules applicable to the
ship; or
( b ) if any of the appliances with which the ship is so
provided are lost or rendered unfit for service in the
course of the voyage or excursion through the wilful
fault of negligence of the owner or master; or
( c ) if the master wilfully neglects to replace or repair on
the first opportunity any such appliances lost or
injured in the course of the voyage or excursion; or
( d ) if such appliances are not kept so as to be at all times
fit and ready for use; or
( e ) if any provision of the rules for life-saving appliances
applicable to the ship is contravened or not complied
with,
then, the owner of the ship (if in fault) shall for each offence be
liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units, and the
master of the ship (if in fault) shall for each offence be liable to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
(3) Nothing in the foregoing provisions with respect to life-
saving appliances shall prevent any person from being liable under
any other provision of law, whether of this Act or otherwise, to any
other or higher fine or punishment than is provided by this article,
but a person shall not be punished twice for the same facts.
Entry in log book 
of boat-drill, etc. 
Amended by:
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
237. (1) The master of every Maltese ship shall cause to be
entered in the official log book a statement of every occasion on
which boat-drill or fire-drill is practised on board the ship or on
which the appliances and equipment required by the rules for life-
saving appliances to be carried are examined to see whether they
are fit and ready for use, and of the result of any such examination;
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         111
and if the boat-drill or fire-drill are not practised on board the ship
or the said appliances and equipment are not examined in any such
period as is prescribed by the said rules in respect of the ship, the
master shall cause a statement to be entered as aforesaid of the
reasons why the drill was not practised, or the appliances and
equipment were not examined, in that period.
(2) If the master of a ship fails to comply with any requirement
of this article he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding twenty units.
Enforcement of 
radio rules,
rules for 
direction-finders 
and radio 
navigational aids. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
238. (1) If the master of a Maltese ship fails to cause an entry
to be made in the official log book in contravention of rules made
in pursuance of article 209(3)( c ), or if a radio officer or operator
contravenes any rules made in pursuance of paragraph ( a ) of the
said subarticle, he shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
twenty units, and if the rules made under the article aforesaid are
contravened in any other respect in relation to any Maltese ship, the
owner or master of the ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding one hundred units.
(2) If any of the rules made in pursuance of article 210 is not
complied with in relation to any Maltese ship, the owner or master
of the ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one
hundred units.
(3) If any Maltese ship proceeds, or attempts to proceed, to sea
carrying radio navigational aid not complying with rules made
under article 211, the owner or master of the ship shall be liable to
a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units; and if any person
establishes or operates any such apparatus as is mentioned in
paragraph ( b ) of the article aforesaid being apparatus that does not
comply with the said rules, he shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding one hundred units.
Enforcement of 
rules made under 
article 212. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
239.   If any of the rules made in pursuance of article 212 is not
complied with in relation to any Maltese passenger ship, the master
of the ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one
hundred units.
Return to be 
furnished by 
master as to 
passengers. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
240. (1) The master of every ship, whether a Maltese or a
foreign ship, which carries any passenger to a place in Malta from a
place out of Malta, or from a place in Malta to any place out of
Malta, shall furnish to such person and in such manner as the
Minister may direct, a return giving the total number of any
passengers so carried, distinguishing, if so directed by the Minister,
the total number of any class of passengers so carried, and giving,
if the Minister so directs, such particulars with respect to
passengers as may be for the time being required by the Minister.
(2) Any passenger shall furnish the master of the ship with any
information required by him for the purpose of the return.
(3) If the master of a ship fails to make a return as required by
this article, or makes a false return, and if any passenger refuses to
give any information required by the master of the ship for the
purpose of the return required by this article, or give any false
  112        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
information for the purpose, the master or passenger shall be liable
for each offence to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
Inspection to 
ensure compliance 
with rules.
241. (1) A surveyor of ships may inspect any ship for the
purpose of seeing that any rules made under the foregoing
provisions of this Part of this Act have been complied with.
(2) If the surveyor finds that any of the said rules have not been
complied with, he shall give written notice to the owner or master
stating in what respect the said rules have not been complied with
and what, in his opinion, is required to rectify the matter.
(3) Every notice so given shall be communicated in manner
directed by the Minister to the officer from whom the ship may
seek to obtain a clearance, and a clearance shall not be granted to
the ship, and the ship may be detained, until a certificate under the
hand of a surveyor of ship is produced to the effect that the matter
has been rectified.
Foreign Safety Convention ships
Countries to which 
Safety Convention 
applies and Safety         
Convention ships.
 242. (1) The Minister, if satisfied - 
( a ) that the government of any country has accepted, or
denounced, the Safety Convention; or
( b ) that the Safety Convention extends, or has ceased to
extend, to any territory,
may by order in the Gazette make a declaration to that effect.
 (2) A country which has been so declared to have accepted, and
which has not been so declared to have denounced, the Safety
Convention, and a territory to which the Safety Convention is so
declared to extend, not being a territory to which it has been so
declared that the Safety Convention has ceased to extend, are in
this Act referred to as a "country to which the Safety Convention
applies".
(3) A ship registered in a country to which the Safety
Convention applies is in this Act referred to as a "Safety
Convention ship" or a "Safety Convention passenger ship", as the
case may require.
Certificates of 
foreign convention 
ships.
243. (1) The Minister may, at the request of the government of
a country to which the Safety Convention applies, issue in respect
of a ship registered in that country any certificate the issue of
which in respect of a Maltese ship is authorised under the foregoing
provisions of this Part of this Act if he is satisfied that it is proper
for him to do so; and a certificate issued in pursuance of such a
request and containing a statement that it has been so issued shall
have effect for the purposes of this Act as if it had been issued by
the said government and not by the Minister.
(2) The Minister may make such regulations as appear to him
to be necessary for the purpose of securing that certificates issued
in accordance with the Safety Convention by the government of
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         113
any country other than Malta in respect of Safety Convention ships
not registered under this Act, or having effect under the preceding
subarticle as if so issued, shall be accepted as having the same
force as corresponding certificates issued by the Minister under this
Act; and any certificate required by those regulations to be so
treated is in this Act referred to as an "accepted Safety Convention
certificate".
(3) A surveyor of ships may verify:
( a ) that there is in force in respect of a Safety Convention
ship not registered under this Act an accepted Safety
Convention certificate;
( b ) that the condition of the hull, equipment and
machinery of any such Safety Convention ship
corresponds substantially with the particulars shown in
such certificate;
( c ) except where such certificate states that the ship is
wholly exempt from the provisions of the Safety
Convention relating to radiotelegraphy and
radiotelephony, that the number, grades and
qualifications of radio officers or operators on board
correspond with those shown in the certificate;
( d ) that any conditions on which such a certificate, being
an equivalent of an exemption certificate, is issued are
complied with.
(4) Where there is attached to an accepted Safety Convention
certificate in respect of a Safety Convention passenger ship not
registered under this Act a memorandum which -
( a ) has been issued by or under the authority of the
government of the country in which the ship is
registered; and
( b ) modifies, for the purpose of any particular voyage, in
view of the number of persons carried on that voyage,
the particulars stated in the certificate with respect to
life-saving appliances,
the certificate shall have effect, for the purpose of that voyage, as if
it were modified in accordance with the memorandum.
Passenger ship 
holding 
Convention 
certificates.
244. (1) Where an accepted Safety Convention certificate is
produced in respect of a Safety Convention passenger ship not
registered under this Act - 
( a ) the ship shall not be required to be surveyed except for
the purpose of determining the number of passengers
she is fit to carry;
( b ) on receipt of any declaration of survey for the purpose
aforesaid, the Minister may issue a certificate under
article 218 containing only a statement of the
particulars set out in subarticle (1)( b ) of that article,
and a certificate so issued shall have effect as a
passenger ship certificate.
  114        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
(2) Where there is produced in respect of any such passenger
ship as aforesaid an accepted Safety Convention certificate and also
a certificate issued by or under the authority of the government of
the country in which the ship is registered showing the number of
passengers that the ship is fit to carry, and the Minister is satisfied
that that number has been determined substantially in the same
manner as it would have been determined for the issue of a
passenger ship certificate under this Act, he may, if he thinks fit,
dispense with any survey of the ship for the purpose of determining
the number of passengers that she is fit to carry and direct that the
certificate issued as aforesaid shall have effect as a passenger ship
certificate, and thereupon that certificate shall have effect
accordingly.
Miscellaneous 
privileges of ships 
holding 
Convention 
certificates.
245. (1) Where an accepted Safety Convention certificate is
produced in respect of a foreign Safety Convention passenger ship,
the ship shall be exempt from the rules for life-saving appliances,
from article 294 and from article 310( d )   and   ( f ).
(2) Where there is produced in respect of a foreign ship not
being a passenger ship - 
( a ) an accepted Safety Convention certificate equivalent
to a cargo ship safety construction certificate; or
( b ) accepted Safety Convention certificates equivalent
respectively to a qualified cargo ship safety
construction certificate and to a corresponding
exemption certificate,
the ship shall be exempt from the construction and survey rules.
 (3) Where an accepted Safety Convention certificate, being the
equivalent of a safety-equipment certificate, is produced in respect
of a foreign Safety Convention ship, not being a passenger ship, the
ship shall be exempt from the rules for life-saving appliances and
from article 294.
(4) Where an accepted Safety Convention certificate is
produced in respect of a foreign Safety Convention ship and the
certificate shows that the ship complies with the requirements of
the Safety Convention relating to radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony
and direction-finders, or that she is exempt from some of those
requirements and complies with the rest, or that she is wholly
exempt from those requirements, the ship shall be exempt from the
radio rules and rules for direction-finders.
Further provisions 
as to production of 
Convention 
certificate.
246. (1) The master of every foreign Safety Convention ship
shall produce to the officer from whom a clearance for the ship is
demanded in respect of an international voyage from a port in
Malta accepted Safety Convention certificates that are the
equivalent of certificates issued by the Minister under the
foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act that would be required
to be in force in respect of the ship if she were a Maltese ship, and
a clearance shall not be granted, and the ship may be detained, until
such certificates are so produced.
(2) The production of an accepted Safety Convention
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         115
certificate being the equivalent of -
( a ) a qualified certificate; or
( b ) an exemption certificate, other than a certificate
stating that a ship is wholly exempt from the
provisions of the Safety Convention relating to
radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony and direction-finders,
shall not avail for the purposes of either of the last two preceding
articles unless there is also produced the corresponding exemption
certificate or qualified certificate as the case may be.
Exemption from safety requirements and Interpretation
Power of Minister 
to exempt from 
safety 
requirements.
247. (1) The Minister may exempt any ships or classes of
ships from any rules or regulations made under the foregoing
provisions of this Part of this Act, either absolutely or subject to
such conditions as he thinks fit.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subarticle (1), where
a ship not normally engaged on international voyages is required to
undertake a single international voyage, the Minister may, if he is
of opinion that the ship complies with the safety requirements that
are adequate for that voyage, exempt the ship from any of the
safety requirements imposed by or under this Act.
Exemption of 
certain ships from 
certain provisions 
of this Act.
248. (1) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Part of
this Act -
( a ) prohibiting or preventing a ship from proceeding to
sea unless there is in force in relation to the ship, or
are produced, the appropriate certificates issued by the
Minister under the aforesaid provisions or the
appropriate accepted Safety Convention certificates;
( b ) conferring powers on a surveyor of ships for the
purpose of verifying the existence, validity or
correctness of a Safety Convention certificate or that
the conditions on which such certificate was issued are
complied with;
( c ) imposing a penalty for the contravention of any rules
relating to openings in ships’ hulls and watertight bulk
heads,
shall apply to any ship of war, troopship, pleasure yacht or fishing
vessel, or to any ship of less than five hundred tons gross tonnage
other than a passenger ship, or to any ship not propelled by
mechanical means:
Provided that this subarticle shall not prevent the
application -
(i) to any ship of three hundred tons gross tonnage
or upwards of so much of the provisions
mentioned in paragraphs   ( a )   and   ( b ) as relates to
certificates issued under article 221 or
  116        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
equivalent accepted Safety Convention
certificate;
(ii) to any ship to which article 207, by virtue of
paragraph ( b ) of subarticle (2) thereof, applies
and which is registered under this Act, of so
much of the provisions mentioned in paragraph
( a ) as relates to certificates issued under article
219,
by reason only that she is less than five hundred tons gross tonnage. 
(2) Notwithstanding that any of the foregoing provisions of this
Part of this Act is expressed to apply to foreign ships while they are
within any port in Malta, that provision shall not apply to a ship
that would not be within any such port but for stress of weather or
any other circumstance that neither the master nor the owner nor
the charterer (if any) of the ship could have prevented or
forestalled.
Definition of 
international 
voyage for 
purposes of 
foregoing 
provisions.
249.   For the purposes of the foregoing provisions of this Part of
this Act -
"international voyage" means a voyage from a port in one
country to a port in another country, either of those countries being
a country to which the Safety Convention applies; and
"short international voyage" means an international voyage - 
( a ) in the course of which a ship is not more than two
hundred nautical miles from a port or place in which
the passengers and crew could be placed in safety, and
( b ) which does not exceed six hundred nautical miles in
length between the last port of call in one country in
which the voyage begins and the final port of
destination;
so however that for the purpose of the definitions contained in this
article - 
(i) no account shall be taken of any deviation by a
ship from her intended voyage due solely to
stress of weather or any other circumstance that
neither the master nor the owner nor the
charterer (if any) of the ship could have
prevented or forestalled; and
(ii) every colony, overseas territory, protectorate or
other territory for whose international relations a
government that has accepted the Safety
Convention is responsible, or for which the
United Nations are the administering authority,
shall be deemed to be a separate country.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         117
2. LOAD LINE AND LOADING 
General Provisions
Application of 
following 
provisions of this 
Part of Act.
250.   The following provisions of this Part of this Act, that is to
say articles 251 to 276 (both inclusive), in this Act referred to as
"the load line provisions of this Act", apply to all ships except: 
( a ) ships of war;
( b ) ships solely engaged in fishing; and 
( c ) pleasure yachts.
Load line rules.
Amended by:
XXII. 2000.89.
251. (1) The Minister may make rules in accordance with the
load line provisions of this Act, and in making those rules the
Minister shall have regard in particular to the international
convention entitled the International Convention on Load Lines
signed in London on 5th April, 1966 or any other international
convention or protocol relating to load lines ratified or acceded to
by the Government of Malta (in this Act referred to as “the Load
Line Convention”).
(2) The said rules (in this Act referred to as "the load line
rules") may make provision:
( a ) for the surveying and periodical inspection of ships to
which the load line provisions of this Act apply;
( b ) for determining freeboards to be assigned from time to
time to such ships;
( c ) for determining, in relation to any such ship, the deck
which is to be taken to be the freeboard deck of the
ship, and for requiring the position of that deck to be
indicated on each side of the ship by a mark of a
description prescribed by the rules; and
( d ) for determining, by reference to that mark and the
freeboards for the time being assigned to any such
ship, the position in which each side of the ship is to
be marked with lines of a description prescribed by the
rules, indicating the various maximum depths to which
the ships may be loaded in circumstances prescribed
by the rules.
(3) The load line rules may include the following provisions,
that is to say -
( a ) provisions specifying such requirements in respect of
the hulls, superstructures, fittings and appliances of
ships to which the load line provisions of this Act
apply as appear to the Minister to be relevant to the
assignment of freeboards to such ships;
( b ) provisions whereby, at the time when freeboards are
assigned to a ship in accordance with the load line
rules, such particulars relating to those requirements as
may be determined in accordance with the rules are to
  118        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
be recorded in such manner as may be so determined;
and
( c ) provisions for determining, by reference to those
requirements and that record, whether, at any time
after freeboards have been so assigned to a ship and
while they continue to be so assigned, the ship is for
the purposes of the load line provisions of this Act to
be taken to comply, or not to comply, with the
conditions of assignment,
and those provisions shall be set out separately in the load line
rules under the title of "rules as to conditions of assignment".
(4) The load line rules may also include provisions requiring
such information relating to the stability of any ship to which
freeboards are assigned thereunder, and such information relating
to the loading and ballasting of such ship, as may be determined in
accordance with the rules to be provided for the guidance of the
master of the ship in such manner as may be so determined.
(5) In relation to any matter authorised or required by this Act
to be prescribed by the load line rules, those rules may make
different provision by reference to, or to any combination of, any of
the following, that is to say different descriptions of ships, different
areas, different seasons of the year and any other different
circumstances.
(6) Except in so far as the context otherwise requires, in the
load line provisions of this Act, "deck-line" means such a mark as
is referred to in subarticle (2)( c ), and "load lines" means such lines
as are referred to in paragraph ( d ) of that subarticle.
(7) Any reference in subarticle (1) to an international
convention or protocol shall include reference to any amendment to
such convention or protocol ratified, acceded to or accepted by the
Government of Malta.
Maltese ships
Compliance with 
load line rules. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
252. (1) Subject to any exemption conferred by or under the
load line provisions of this Act, no ship to which those provisions
apply, being a ship registered under this Act, shall proceed to sea or
attempt to proceed to sea unless -
( a ) the ship has been surveyed in accordance with the load
line rules;
( b ) the ship is marked with a deck-line and with load lines
in accordance with those rules;
( c ) the ship complies with the conditions of assignment; 
( d ) the information required by those rules to be provided
as mentioned in article 251(4) is provided for the
guidance of the master of the ship in the manner
determined in accordance with the rules.
(2) If any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea in
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         119
contravention of the preceding subarticle, the owner or master of
the ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding two hundred
units.
(3) Any ship which, in contravention of subarticle (1), attempts
to proceed to sea without being surveyed and marked as mentioned
in paragraphs ( a )   and   ( b ) of that subarticle may be detained until
she has been so surveyed and marked.
(4) Any ship as is mentioned in subarticle (1) which does not
comply with the conditions of assignment shall be deemed to be
unsafe for the purposes of article 280.
Submersion of load 
lines. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
253. (1) Where a ship to which the load line provisions of this
Act apply, being a ship registered under this Act, is marked with
load lines, the ship shall not be so loaded that -
( a ) if the ship is in salt water and has no list, the
appropriate load line on each side of the ship is
submerged, or
( b ) in any other case, the appropriate load line on each
side of the ship would be submerged if the ship were in
salt water and had no list.
(2) If any ship is loaded in contravention of the preceding
subarticle, the owner or master of the ship shall, subject to
subarticle (5), be liable to -
( a ) a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four hundred units; and 
( b ) such additional fine ( multa ) not exceeding an amount
calculated in accordance with the next following
subarticle as the court thinks fit to impose having
regard to the extent to which the earning capacity of
the ship was increased by reason of the contravention.
(3) An additional fine imposed under subarticle (2)( b ) shall not
exceed one hundred and sixty units for every complete centimetre,
and for any fraction of a centimetre over and above one or more
complete centimetres, by which -
( a ) in a case falling within subarticle (1)( a ) the
appropriate load line on each side of the ship was
submerged, or
( b ) in a case falling within paragraph ( b ) of that subarticle
the appropriate load line on each side of the ship
would have been submerged as therein mentioned;
and, if the amount by which that load line was or would have been
submerged was less than a complete centimetre, such additional
fine shall not exceed one hundred and sixty units.
(4) If the master of a ship takes a ship to sea when she is loaded
in contravention of subarticle (1), or if any other person, having
reason to believe that the ship is so loaded, sends or is party to
sending her to sea when she is loaded, in contravention of that
subarticle, then (without prejudice to any other fine to which he
may be liable under subarticle (2)) he shall be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding four hundred units.
  120        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
(5) Where a person is charged with an offence under subarticle
(2), it shall be a defence to prove that the contravention was due
solely to deviation or delay and that the deviation or delay was
caused solely by stress of weather or other circumstances which
neither the master nor the owner nor the charterer (if any) could
have prevented or forestalled.
(6) Without prejudice to any proceedings under the preceding
provisions of this article, any ship which is loaded in contravention
of subarticle (1) may be detained until she is so loaded.
(7) For the purpose of the application of this article to a ship in
any circumstances prescribed by the load line rules in accordance
with article 251(2)( d ), "the appropriate load line" means the load
line which, in accordance with those rules, indicates the maximum
depth to which the ship may be loaded in salt water in those
circumstances.
Miscellaneous 
offences in relation 
to marks. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
254.   Where a ship to which the load line provisions of this Act
apply, being a ship registered under this Act, is marked in
accordance with any requirements as to marking imposed by or
under the load line provisions of this Act, then if -
( a ) the owner or master fails without reasonable cause to
keep the ship so marked; or
( b ) any person conceals, removes, alters, defaces or
obliterates, or causes or permits any person under his
control to conceal, remove, alter, deface or obliterate,
any mark with which the ship is so marked, except
where he does so under the authority of a person
empowered under the load line rules to authorise him
in that behalf,
he shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding two hundred units.
Issue of load line 
certificate.
 255. (1) Where a ship to which the load line provisions of this
Act apply, being a ship registered under this Act, has been surveyed
and marked in accordance with the load line rules, the appropriate
certificate shall be issued to the owner of the ship on his
application.
(2) For the purposes of this article, the appropriate certificate -
( a ) in the case of an existing ship of not less than one
hundred and fifty tons gross tonnage, and in the case
of a new ship of not less than twenty-four metres in
length, is a certificate to be called an "International
Load Line Certificate (1966)"; and
( b ) in the case of any other ship, is a certificate to be
called a "Malta load line certificate".
(3) Subject to the next following subarticle, any certificate
required by subarticle (1) to be issued shall be issued by the
Minister and shall be in such form, and shall be issued in such
manner, as may be prescribed by the load line rules.
(4) The Minister may request a contracting government to issue
an International Load Line Certificate (1966) in respect of any ship
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         121
to which the load line provisions of this Act apply which is a ship
registered under this Act and falling within subarticle (2)( a ); and
the following of the load line provisions of this Act shall have
effect in relation to such a certificate so issued, which contains a
statement that it has been issued at the request of the Government
of Malta, as they have effect in relation to an International Load
Line Certificate (1966) issued by the Minister.
Effect of load line 
certificate.
256.   Where a certificate, issued in pursuance of the last
preceding article and for the time being in force, is produced in
respect of the ship to which the certificate relates -
( a ) the ship shall be deemed to have been surveyed in
accordance with the load line rules; and
( b ) if lines are marked on the ship corresponding in
number and description to the deck-line and load lines
as required by the load line rules, and the position of
those lines so marked correspond to the position of the
deck-line and load lines as specified in the certificate,
the ship shall be deemed to be marked as required by
those rules.
Duration, 
endorsement and 
cancellation of 
load line 
certificates.
257. (1) The load line rules may make provision for
determining the period during which any certificate issued under
article 255 is to remain in force, including:
( a ) provision enabling the period for which any such
certificate is originally issued to be extended within
such limits and in such circumstances as may be
prescribed by the rules; and
( b ) provision for cancelling any such certificate in such
circumstances as may be so prescribed.
(2) While any such certificate is in force in respect of a ship,
there shall be endorsed on the certificate such information relating
to -
( a ) periodical inspections of the ship in accordance with
the load line rules, and
( b ) any extension of the period for which the certificate
was issued,
as may be prescribed by the rules.
Ship not to proceed 
to sea without load 
line certificate. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
258. (1) Subject to any exemption conferred by or under the
load line provisions of this Act, no ship to which the said
provisions apply, being a ship registered under this Act, shall
proceed or attempt to proceed to sea unless the appropriate
certificate is in force in respect of the ship.
(2) Before any such ship proceeds to sea, the master of the ship
shall produce the appropriate certificate to the officer from whom a
clearance of the ship is demanded; and a clearance shall not be
granted, and the ship may be detained, until the appropriate
certificate is so produced.
(3) If any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea in
  122        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
contravention of this article, the master of the ship shall be liable to
a fine ( multa ) not exceeding two hundred units.
(4) In this article "the appropriate certificate" means the
certificate which is the appropriate certificate for the purposes of
article 255.
Publication of load 
line certificate and 
entry of particulars 
in official log 
book. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
259. (1) Where a certificate is issued under article 255 -
( a ) the owner of the ship shall forthwith on receipt of the
certificate cause it to be framed and posted up in some
conspicuous place on board the ship, and shall cause it
to be kept so framed and posted up and legible as long
as the certificate remains in force and the ship is in
use; and
( b ) the master of the ship, before making any other entry
in the official log book relating to the ship, shall enter
in it the particulars as to the positions of the deck-line
and the load lines which are specified in the
certificate.
(2) Before a ship to which the load line provisions of this Act
apply, being a ship registered under this Act, leaves any dock,
wharf, harbour or other place for the purpose of proceeding to sea,
the master of the ship -
( a ) shall enter in the official log book such particulars
relating to the depth to which the ship is for the time
being loaded as may be prescribed by regulations
made by the Minister under this article; and
( b ) subject to the next following subarticle, shall cause a
notice, in such form and containing such of those
particulars as may be specified in the said regulations
for the purposes of this paragraph, to be posted up in
some conspicuous place on board the ship;
and, where such a notice has been posted up, the master of the ship
shall cause it to be kept as posted up and legible until the ship
arrives at some other dock, wharf, harbour or place.
(3) If the owner or master of a ship fails to comply with any
requirement imposed on him by the preceding provisions of this
article, he shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
Inspection of ships. 260.   A ship surveyor or engineer surveyor may inspect any ship
to which the load line provisions of this Act apply, being a ship
registered under this Act, for the purpose of seeing that the said
provisions have been complied with in respect of the ship.
Foreign ships
Convention 
certificates.
261. (1) This article applies to any foreign ship which, being a
ship to which the load line provisions of this Act apply -
( a ) is registered in a Convention country or, not being
registered in any such country or elsewhere, flies the
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         123
flag of a Convention country; and
( b ) is either an existing ship of not less than one hundred
and fifty tons gross tonnage or a new ship of not less
than twenty-four metres in length.
(2) The Minister may, at the request of the government of a
parent country of a ship to which this article applies, issue in
respect of the ship a certificate in such form as may be prescribed
by the load line rules if the Minister is satisfied that he could
properly issue a certificate in respect of the ship under subarticle
(1) of article 255 if the ship were registered under this Act.
(3) The load line rules may make such provision as appear to
the Minister to be appropriate for securing that certificates which
are issued as International Load Line Certificate (1966) in respect
of ships to which this article applies, and are so issued by
governments other than the Government of Malta, shall be
recognised for the purposes of the load line provisions of this Act
in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the rules.
(4) Certificates issued as mentioned in subarticle (2) or
subarticle (3) shall be included among the certificates to be called
"International Load Line Certificates (1966)"; and for the purposes
of the load line provisions of this Act "valid Convention
certificate" means a certificate which either-
( a ) has been issued under subarticle (2) and is for the time
being in force, or
( b ) having been issued as mentioned in subarticle (3), is
produced in circumstances in which it is required by
the load line rules to be recognised for the purposes of
the load line provisions in this Act.
Compliance with 
load line rules. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
262. (1) Subject to the next following subarticle and to any
exemption conferred by or under the load line provisions of this
Act, no foreign ship to which those provisions apply shall proceed
or attempt to proceed to sea from any port in Malta unless:
( a ) the ship has been surveyed in accordance with the load
line rules;
( b ) the ship is marked with a deck-line and with load lines
in accordance with those rules;
( c ) the ship complies with the conditions of assignment;
and
( d ) the information required by those rules to be provided
as mentioned in article 251(2) is provided for the
guidance of the master of the ship in the manner
determined in accordance with those rules.
(2) Subarticle (1) shall not apply to a ship in respect of which a
valid Convention certificate is produced.
(3) If any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea in
contravention of the preceding provisions of this article, the owner
or master of the ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
two hundred units.
  124        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
(4) Any ship which in contravention of this article attempts to
proceed to sea without being surveyed and marked as mentioned in
subarticle (1)( a )   and   ( b ) may be detained until she has been so
surveyed and marked.
(5) If any ship as is mentioned in subarticle (1), not being a
ship in respect of which a valid Convention certificate is produced,
does not comply with the conditions of assignment, article 283
shall have effect in relation to the ship as if she were unsafe by
reason of one of the matters specified in that article.
Submersion of load 
lines.
263. (1) Where a foreign ship to which the load line provisions
of this Act apply is within any port in Malta and is marked with
load lines, the ship shall not be so loaded that -
( a ) if the ship has no list, the appropriate load line on each
side of the ship is submerged, or
( b ) if the ship has a list, the appropriate load line on each
side of the ship would be submerged if the ship had no
list.
(2) Articles 253(2), (3), (5) and (6) shall have effect for the
purposes of this article as if any reference to subarticle (1) of that
article, or to paragraph ( a )   or paragraph ( b )   of the said subarticle
(1), were a reference to subarticle (1), or as the case may be, to the
corresponding paragraph of subarticle (1):
Provided that, in the case of a ship to which article 261
applies, the ship shall not be detained, and no proceedings shall be
brought by virtue of this subarticle, unless the ship has been
inspected by a ship surveyor or engineer surveyor in pursuance of
article 266.
(3) In relation to a ship in respect of which a valid Convention
certificate is produced, "load line" in subarticle (1) means a line
marked on the ship in the position of a load line specified in that
certificate; and for the purposes of the application of the relevant
provisions to such a ship in any circumstances for which a
particular load line is specified in the certificate, the "appropriate
load line" means the load line which, in accordance with the
certificate, indicates the maximum depth to which the ship may be
loaded in salt water in those circumstances.
(4) Where a valid Convention certificate is not produced in
respect of a ship, then, for the purposes of the application of the
relevant provisions to that ship in any circumstances prescribed by
the load line rules in accordance with paragraph  of article
251(2)( d ), "the appropriate load line" means the load line which, in
accordance with those rules, indicates the maximum depth to which
the ship may be loaded in salt water in those circumstances.
(5) In subarticles (3) and (4) "the relevant provisions" means
the provisions of article 253(1) as applied by subarticle (2).
Malta load line 
certificates.
264. (1) Where a ship to which the load line provisions of this
Act apply, not being a ship registered under this Act, has been
surveyed and marked in accordance with the load line rules, then,
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         125
on the application of the owner of the ship, a Malta load line
certificate shall be issued to him by the Minister.
(2) Subject to the next following subarticle, the provisions of
articles 256 and 257 shall have effect in relation to a certificate
issued under subarticle (1) as they have effect in relation to a
certificate issued under article 255.
(3) Any certificate issued under subarticle (1) in respect of a
ship to which article 261 applies shall be valid only so long as the
ship is not plying on international voyages and shall be cancelled
by the Minister if he has reason to believe that the ship is plying on
international voyages.
Production of 
certificate for 
clearance.
265. (1) Subject to any exemption conferred by or under the
load line provisions of this Act, before a foreign ship to which
those provisions apply proceeds to sea from any port in Malta, the
master of the ship shall produce the appropriate certificate to the
officer from whom a clearance for the ship is demanded; and a
clearance shall not be granted, and the ship may be detained, until
the appropriate certificate is produced.
(2) For the purposes of this article, the appropriate certificate- 
( a ) in the case of a ship to which article 261 applies,
where a clearance for the ship is demanded in respect
of an international voyage, is a valid Convention
certificate;
( b ) in any other case is either a valid Convention
certificate or a Malta load line certificate for the time
being in force in respect of the ship.
Provisions as to 
inspection.
266. (1) Subject to the following provisions of this article, a
ship surveyor or engineer surveyor may inspect any foreign ship to
which the load line provisions of this Act apply while the ship is
within any port in Malta.
(2) Without prejudice to the powers conferred by article 368,
any such surveyor may go on board any ship to which article 261
applies, while the ship is within any port in Malta, for the purpose
of demanding production of any International Load Line Certificate
(1966) or Malta load line certificate for the time being in force in
respect of the ship.
(3) If on any such demand a valid Convention certificate is
produced to the surveyor in respect of the ship, the powers of the
surveyor under article 368(1) shall be limited to seeing - 
( a ) that the ship is not loaded beyond the limits allowed by
the certificate;
( b ) that lines are marked on the ship in the positions of the
load lines specified in the certificate;
( c ) that no material alterations have taken place in the hull
or superstructures of the ship which affect the position
in which any of those lines ought to be marked; and
( d ) that the fittings and appliances for the protection of
  126        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
openings, the guard rails, the freeing ports and the
means of access to the crew’s quarters have been
maintained on the ship in as effective a condition as
they were in when the certificate was issued.
(4) If on an inspection of a ship under this article the ship is
found to have been so materially altered in respect of the matters
referred to in paragraph ( c ) or paragraph ( d ) of subarticle (3) that
the ship is manifestly unfit to proceed to sea without danger to
human life, then article 283 shall have effect in relation to the ship
as if she were unsafe by reason of one of the matters specified in
that article.
(5) When a ship is detained under article 283 as applied by this
article, the Minister shall order the ship to be released as soon as he
is satisfied that the ship is fit to proceed to sea without danger to
human life.
Exemptions
Power to make 
exemption orders.
 267. (1) If in the opinion of the Minister the sheltered nature
and conditions of international voyages - 
( a ) between near neighbouring ports in Malta and in
another Convention country, or
( b ) between near neighbouring ports in any two or more
countries or territories outside Malta,
make it unreasonable or impracticable to apply the load line
provisions of this Act to ships plying on such voyages, and the
Minister is satisfied that the government of the other country or
territory (or, as the case may be, of each of the other countries or
territories) concurs in that opinion, the Minister may, by order in
the Gazette specifying the ports, direct that ships plying on
international voyages between those ports, or any class of such
ships specified in the order, shall be exempt from the load line
provisions of this Act.
(2) The Minister may by order in the Gazette direct that ships
under eighty net tons engaged solely in the coasting trade, or any
class of such ships specified in the order, shall be exempt from the
load line provisions of this Act while not carrying cargo, or, if the
order so provides shall be exempt from those provisions whether
carrying cargo or not.
(3) Any order under this article may be made subject to such
conditions as the Minister thinks fit; and where any such order is
made subject to conditions, the exemption conferred by the order
shall not have effect in relation to a ship unless the ship complies
with those conditions.
Further powers to 
exempt ships.
268. (1) In this article any reference to exempting a ship is a
reference to exempting a ship either - 
( a ) from all the load line provisions of this Act and of the
load line rules, or
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         127
( b ) from such of those provisions as are specified in the
instrument conferring the exemption.
(2) On the application of the owner of a Maltese ship to which
the load line provisions of this Act apply and which is either an
existing ship of not less than one hundred and fifty tons gross
tonnage or a new ship of not less than twenty-four metres in length,
the Minister may exempt the ship if in his opinion the ship
embodies features of a novel kind such that, if the ship had to
comply with all the requirements of the load line provisions of this
Act and of the load line rules, the development of those features
and their incorporation in ships on international voyages might be
seriously impeded.
(3) On the application of the owner of a Maltese ship to which
the load line provisions of this Act apply and which is either -
( a ) an existing ship of less than one hundred and fifty tons
gross tonnage or a new ship of less than twenty-four
metres in length, or
( b ) a ship (not falling within the preceding paragraph)
which does not ply on international voyages, 
the Minister may exempt the ship.
(4) Without prejudice to the last preceding subarticle, where a
Maltese ship to which the load line provisions of this Act apply and
which is either an existing ship of not less than one hundred and
fifty tons gross tonnage or a new ship of not less than twenty-four
metres in length, does not ply on international voyages but is, in
exceptional circumstances, required to undertake a single
international voyage, the Minister, on the application of the owner
of the ship, specifying the international voyage in question, may
exempt the ship while engaged on that voyage.
(5) Any exemption conferred under this article may be
conferred subject to such conditions as the Minister thinks fit; and,
where any such exemption is conferred subject to conditions, the
exemption shall not have effect unless those conditions are
complied with.
Issue of exemption 
certificates.
269. (1) Where the Minister exempts a ship under the last
preceding article, he shall issue the appropriate certificate to the
owner of the ship.
(2) For the purposes of this article, the appropriate certificate-
( a ) where the exemption is conferred under subarticle (2)
or subarticle (4) of the last preceding article, is a
certificate to be called an "International Load Line
Exemption Certificate"; and
( b ) where the exemption is conferred under subarticle (3)
of that article, is a certificate to be called a "Malta load
line exemption certificate".
(3) Any certificate issued under this article shall be in such
form and shall be issued in such manner as may be prescribed by
the load line rules.
  128        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Duration and 
termination of 
exemptions, and 
endorsement and 
cancellation of 
exemption 
certificate.
270. (1) The load line rules may make provision for
determining the period during which any exemption conferred
under article 268, or any certificate issued under article 269, is to
remain in force, including provision - 
( a ) enabling the period for which any such exemption or
certificate is originally conferred or issued to be
extended within such limits and in such circumstances
as may be prescribed by the rules; and
( b ) for terminating any such exemption, or for cancelling
any such certificate, in such circumstances as may be
so prescribed.
(2) While any such certificate is in force in respect of a ship
there shall be endorsed on the certificate such information relating
to - 
( a ) periodical inspections of the ship in accordance with
the load line rules, and
( b ) any extension of the period for which the certificate
was issued,
as may be prescribed by the rules.
International Load 
Line Exemption 
Certificates.
271. (1) The load line rules may make such provision as
appears to the Minister to be appropriate for securing that
exemption certificates which, in accordance with the Load Line
Convention, are issued in respect of ships to which article 261
applies, and are so issued by governments other than the
Government of Malta, shall have, in such circumstances as may be
prescribed by the rules, the like effect for the purposes of the load
line provisions of this Act as if they were valid Convention
certificates.
(2) Certificates issued as mentioned in subarticle (1) shall be
included among the certificates to be called "International Load
Line Exemption Certificates".
Subdivision load lines and deck cargo
Subdivision load 
lines.
272.   Where in pursuance of the law of any country made for the
purpose of giving effect to the international convention entitled the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea signed in
London on 10th June, 1948, a passenger ship to which the load line
provisions of this Act apply is marked with subdivision load lines,
and the lowest of those lines is lower than the line which, apart
from this article, would be the appropriate load line for the
purposes of article 253 in the case of a Maltese ship, or for the
purposes of article 263 in the case of a foreign ship, those articles
shall have effect as if that subdivision load line were the
appropriate load line for the purposes of those articles.
Deck cargo.  
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
273. (1) The Minister may make regulations (in this Act
referred to as the "deck cargo regulations") prescribing
requirements to be complied with where cargo is carried in any
uncovered space on the deck of a ship to which the load line
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         129
provisions of this Act apply; and different requirements may be so
prescribed in relation to different descriptions of ships, different
descriptions of cargo, different voyages or classes of voyages,
different seasons of the year and any other different circumstances.
(2) If the load line rules provide (either generally or in
particular cases or classes of cases) for assigning special freeboards
to ships which are to have effect only where a cargo of timber is so
carried, then, without prejudice to the generality of the preceding
subarticle, the deck cargo regulations may prescribe special
requirements to be complied with in circumstances where any such
special freeboard has effect.
(3) In prescribing any such special requirements as are
mentioned in subarticle (2), the Minister shall have regard in
particular to the relevant provisions of the Load Line Convention.
(4) If any provisions of the deck cargo regulations are
contravened -
( a ) in the case of a Maltese ship, or
( b ) in the case of any other ship while the ship is in any
port in Malta,
the master of the ship shall, subject to the next following subarticle,
be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand units.
(5) Where a person is charged with an offence under subarticle
(4), it shall be a defence to prove that the contravention was due
solely to deviation or delay and that the deviation or delay was
caused solely by stress of weather or other circumstances which
neither the master nor the owner nor the charterer (if any) could
have prevented or forestalled.
(6) For the purpose of securing compliance with the deck cargo
regulations, any person authorised in that behalf by the Minister
may inspect any ship to which the load line provisions of this Act
apply which is carrying cargo in any uncovered space on her deck;
and for the purposes of any such inspection any such person shall
have all the powers of a surveyor of ships.
Miscellaneous and supplementary provisions
Application of 
articles 224, 227, 
229 and 231 to 
load line 
certificates.
274.   Articles 224, 227, 229 and 231 shall have effect in relation
to any certificate issued under the load line provisions of this Act
as they have effect in relation to a certificate to which those
provisions relate.
Convention 
countries.
275. (1) The Minister, if satisfied - 
( a ) that the government of a country has accepted, or has
denounced the Load Line Convention, or
( b ) that the Load Line Convention extends, or has ceased
to extend, to a particular territory,
may by order in the Gazette make a declaration to that effect. 
(2) A country the government of which has been so declared to
  130        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
have accepted, and which has not been so declared to have
denounced, the Load Line Convention, and a territory to which the
Load Line Convention has been so declared to extend, not being a
country to which it has been so declared that that Convention has
ceased to extend, are in this Act referred to as a "Convention
country".
(3) Any such government as is referred to in subarticle (2) is in
this Act referred to as a "contracting Government".
Interpretation for 
purposes of load 
line provisions.
 276. (1) For the purposes of the load line provisions of this
Act, except in so far as the context otherwise requires -
"alteration" includes deterioration;
"existing ship" means a ship which is not a new ship;
"international voyage" means a voyage between -
( a ) a port in Malta and a port outside Malta, or
( b ) a port in a Convention country (other than Malta) and
a port in any other country, whether a Convention
country or not, which is outside Malta,
and for the purposes of this definition -
(i) in determining what are the ports between which
a voyage is made, no account shall be taken of
any deviation by a ship from her intended
voyage which is due solely to stress of weather
or any other circumstances which neither the
master nor the owner nor the charterer (if any)
could have prevented or forestalled, and
(ii) any colony, protectorate or other dependency,
any territory for whose international relations a
government is separately responsible, and any
territory for which the United Nations are the
administering authority, shall be taken to be a
separate territory;
"new ship" means a ship whose keel is laid, or which is at a
similar stage of construction on or after the material date; and for
the purposes of this definition the material date - 
( a ) in relation to a new ship whose parent country is a
Convention country other than Malta, is the date as
from which it is declared under article 275 either that
the government of that country has accepted the Load
Line Convention or that it is a territory to which that
convention extends, and
( b ) in relation to any other ship, is the date on which the
load line provisions of this Act come into force; 
"parent country", in relation to a ship, means the country or
territory in which the ship is registered, or, if the ship is not
registered anywhere, the country or territory whose flag the ship
flies.
(2) Where in accordance with the tonnage regulations of this
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         131
Act alternative tonnages are assigned to a ship, the gross tonnage of
the ship shall, for the purposes of the load line provisions of this
Act, be taken to be the larger of those tonnages.
(3) For the purpose of the load line provisions of this Act, the
length of a ship shall be ascertained in accordance with regulations
made by the Minister under this subarticle or with such provisions
as may be contained in the load line rules.
Ships not subject to the load line provisions
Ship’s draught of 
water to be 
recorded. 
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
277. (1) This article applies to Maltese ships being either -
( a ) ships to which the load line provisions of this Act do
not apply; or
( b ) ships to which those provisions apply but which, by
virtue of an order made or exemption conferred under
those provisions, are exempt from all the said
provisions.
(2) The Minister may, in any case or class of cases in which he
thinks it expedient so to do, direct any person appointed by him for
the purpose, to record, in such manner and with such particulars as
he directs, the draught of water of any sea-going ship, as shown on
the scale of feet or decimetres on her stem or stern post, and the
extent of her freeboard, upon her leaving any dock, wharf, port or
harbour for the purpose of proceeding to sea; and the person so
appointed shall thereupon keep that record and shall forward a copy
thereof to the Minister.
(3) The master of every sea-going ship shall, upon her leaving
any dock, wharf, port or harbour for the purpose of proceeding to
sea, record her draught of water and the extent of her freeboard in
the official log book and shall produce the record to any officer
authorised in that behalf by the Minister whenever required by such
officer, and if he fails without reasonable cause to produce the
record he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding twenty units.
(4) The master of a sea-going ship shall, upon the request of
any person appointed to record the ship’s draught of water permit
that person to enter the ship and to make such inspections and take
such measurements as may be requisite for the purpose of that
record; and if any master fails to do so, or impedes, or suffers
anyone under his control to impede, any person so appointed in the
execution of his duty he shall for each offence be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
(5) In this article "freeboard", means, in the case of any ship
which is marked with a deck-line, the height from the water to the
upper edge of the deck-line, and, in the case of any other ship, the
height amidships from the water to the upper edge of the deck from
which the depth of hold as stated in the register is measured.
  132        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
3. UNSEAWORTHY SHIPS
Unseaworthy ship. 
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000. 90.
278. (1) For the purposes of articles 278 to 283C of this Act a
ship is an “unseaworthy ship” or “unsafe ship” or is in an
“unseaworthy state” if, having regard to the nature of the service
for which it is intended, the ship is, by reason of the matters
mentioned in subarticle (2), unfit to proceed to sea without danger
to human life, property or the marine environment.
(2) The matters referred to in subarticle (1) are -
( a ) the condition, or the unsuitability for its purpose, of -
(i) the ship or its hull or equipment or machinery, or
(ii) any part of the ship or its hull or equipment or
machinery;
( b ) undermanning;
( c ) overloading or unsafe or improper loading;
( d ) unfamiliarity by the master or the crew with essential
shipboard procedures relating to the safety of ships; 
( e ) any other matter relevant to the safety of the ship
including without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing the fact that the ship is in contravention of
any regulation made under Part VA of this Act;
and are referred to in articles 278 to 283C of this Act, in relation to
any ship, as “the matters relevant to its safety”.
(3) In articles 278 to 283C of this Act, “proceed to sea” shall,
in a case where the service for which the ship is intended consists
of going on voyages or excursions that do not involve proceeding
to sea, be construed as “going on such voyage or excursion
Offence to send 
unseaworthy ships 
to sea.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.90.
279. (1) If any person sends or attempts to send, or is a party
to sending or attempting to send, a ship to sea in such an
unseaworthy state that the life of any person is likely to be thereby
endangered, he shall, unless he proves that he used all reasonable
means to ensure her being sent to sea in a seaworthy state or that
her going to sea in such an unseaworthy state was, under the
circumstances, reasonable and justifiable, be liable in respect of
each offence to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years
or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand units or to both
such imprisonment and fine ( multa ).
(2) If the master of a ship knowingly takes the same to sea in
such an unseaworthy state that the life of any person is likely to be
thereby endangered, he shall, unless he proves that her going to sea
in such an unseaworthy state was, under the circumstances,
reasonable and justifiable, be liable in respect of each offence to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding one thousand units or to both such
imprisonment and fine ( multa ).
(3) The provisions of subarticle (1) shall apply  mutatis
mutandis  to any person who sends or attempts to send, or is a party
to sending or attempting to send, a foreign ship to sea from any port
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         133
in Malta.
Obligations as to 
seaworthiness in 
relation to the 
crew.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.90.
280. (1) In every contract of service, express or implied,
between the owner of a ship and the master or any seaman thereof,
and in every instrument of apprenticeship whereby any person is to
serve as an apprentice on board any ship, there shall be implied,
notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, an obligation on the
owner of the ship that the owner of the ship and the master and
every person charged with the loading of the ship, or the preparing
of the ship for sea, or of the sending of the ship to sea, shall use all
reasonable means to ensure the seaworthiness of the ship for the
voyage at the time when the voyage commences and to keep her in
a seaworthy condition for the voyage during the voyage.
(2) Nothing in this article shall subject the owner of a ship to
any liability by reason of the ship being sent to sea in an
unseaworthy state where, owing to special circumstances, the
sending of the ship to sea in such a state was reasonable and
justifiable.
Power to detain 
unsafe ships.
Amended by:
XXIV.1995.362.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.90.
281. (1) Where it appears to the Registrar-General that a
Maltese ship, being in any port in or outside Malta, or a foreign
ship, being at a port in Malta, is an unsafe ship, the Registrar-
General may -
( a ) in the case of a Maltese ship wherever she may be,
suspend her certificate of registry and prohibit her
from proceeding to sea; or
( b ) in the case of a Maltese ship at a port in Malta, or a
foreign ship, cause her to be detained, until he is
satisfied that she is fit to proceed to sea.
(2) Where the ship is detained pursuant to subarticle (1), the
Registrar-General may adopt any measures or means he thinks
suitable or necessary to prevent the ship from sailing while it is
unseaworthy.
(3) Where a ship has been detained under subarticle (1) -
( a ) a detention notice specifying the grounds of the
detention of such ship and prohibiting the ship from
proceeding to sea until it is released shall forthwith be
served on the master of the ship;
( b ) in the case of a foreign ship, a copy of such detention
notice shall forthwith be sent to the nearest consular
officer of the country to which the ship belongs;
( c ) the Registrar-General may at any time, if he thinks it
expedient, refer the matter to the court of survey; and 
( d ) the Registrar-General may at any time, if he is
satisfied that such ship is no longer unsafe, order her
to be released either upon or without any conditions.
(4) A ship detained under this article shall not be released by
reason of her Maltese register being subsequently closed.
  134        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
References of 
detention notices to 
court of survey.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.90.
282. (1) Any question as to whether any of the matters
specified in relation to a ship in a detention notice in pursuance of
article 281 of this Act in connection with any opinion formed by
the Registrar-General constituted a valid basis for that opinion
shall, if the master or owner of the ship so requires by a notice
given to the Registrar-General within ten days from the service of
the detention notice, be referred to the court of survey.
(2) Where a notice is given by the master or owner of the ship
in accordance with subarticle (1), the giving of the notice shall not
suspend the operation of the detention notice unless, on the
application of the person requiring the reference, the court of
survey so directs.
(3) The court of survey shall have regard, in coming to its
decision, to any other matter not specified in the detention notice
which appear to it to be relevant to whether the ship was or was not
an unsafe ship.
(4) Where on a reference under this article the court of survey
decides as respects any matter to which the reference relates, that in
all the circumstances the matter did not constitute a valid basis for
the Registrar-General’s opinion, it shall either cancel the detention
notice or affirm it with such modifications as it may in the
circumstances think fit; and in any other case the court of survey
shall affirm the notice in its original form.
(5) The court of survey shall include in its decision a finding
whether there was or was not a valid basis for the detention of the
ship as an unsafe ship.
(6) Where the owner or master of a foreign ship, being at a port
in Malta, appeals to the court of survey, the consular officer
referred to in article 281, on his request, may appoint a competent
person to be assessor in lieu of the assessor who, if the ship were a
Maltese ship, would be appointed otherwise than by the Minister.
Compensation in 
connection with 
invalid detention of 
ship.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.90.
283.   (1) If on a reference under article 282 of this Act relating
to a detention notice in relation to a ship -
( a ) the court of survey decides that any matter did not
constitute a valid basis for the Registrar-General’s
opinion, and
( b ) it appears to the court of survey that there were no
reasonable grounds for the Registrar-General to form
that opinion, 
the court of survey may award the owner of the ship such
compensation in respect of any loss suffered by him in consequence
of the detention of the ship as the court of survey thinks fit.
(2) Any compensation awarded under this article shall be
payable by the Authority.
Liability for costs.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.90.
283A. (1) If a ship is detained or has her certificate of registry
suspended in accordance with article 281, the owner of the ship
shall be liable to pay to the Registrar-General his costs of and
incidental to the detention of the ship.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         135
(2) For the purposes of this article the costs of and incidental
to any measures or means adopted in terms of article 281(2) and to
any proceedings before a court of survey, shall be part of the costs
of the detention of the ship, and any dispute as to the amount of
these costs shall be referred to the Registrar of Courts who shall, on
request by the Registrar-General, ascertain and certify the proper
amount of those costs.
Owner and master 
liable in respect of 
unsafe ship.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.90.
283B. (1) If a Maltese ship, being in any port in or outside
Malta, or a foreign ship, being at a port in Malta, is unsafe, then,
subject to subarticles (4) and (5), the master and the owner of the
ship shall each be guilty of an offence.
(2) Where, at the time when a ship is unsafe, any responsibility
of the owner with respect to the matters relevant to its safety have
been assumed (whether wholly or in part) by any person or persons
other than the owner, and have been so assumed by that person or
(as the case may be) by each of those persons either -
( a ) directly, under the terms of a charter-party or
management agreement made with the owner, or
( b ) indirectly, under the terms of a series of charter-parties
or management agreements,
the reference to the owner in subarticle (1) shall be construed as a
reference to that other person or (as the case may be) to each of
those other persons.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this article shall be
liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand units or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such
fine ( multa ) and imprisonment.
(4) It shall be a defence in proceedings for an offence under
this article to prove that at the time of the alleged offence -
( a ) arrangements had been made which were appropriate
to ensure that before the ship went to sea it was made
fit to do so without serious danger to human life by
reason of the matters relevant to its safety which are
specified in the charge; or
( b ) it was reasonable for such arrangements not to have
been made.
(5) It shall also be a defence in proceedings for an offence
under this article to prove -
( a ) that, under the terms of one or more charter-parties or
management agreements entered into by the accused,
the relevant responsibilities, namely -
(i) where the accused is the owner, his
responsibilities with respect to the matters
relevant to the ship’s safety, or
(ii) where the accused is liable to proceedings under
this article by virtue of subarticle (2), so much of
those responsibilities as had been assumed by
him as mentioned in that subarticle, 
  136        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
had at the time of the alleged offence been wholly
assumed by some other person or persons party
thereto; and
( b ) that in all the circumstances of the case the accused
had taken such steps as it was reasonable for him to
take, and exercised such diligence as it was reasonable
for him to exercise, to secure the proper discharge of
the relevant responsibilities during the period during
which they had been assumed by some other person or
persons as mentioned in paragraph ( a );
and, in determining whether the accused had done so, regard shall
be had in particular to the matters mentioned in subarticle (6).
(6) Those matters are -
( a ) whether prior to the time of the alleged offence the
accused was, or in all the circumstances ought
reasonably to have been, aware of any deficiency in
the discharge of the relevant responsibilities; and
( b ) the extent to which the accused was or was not able,
under the terms of any such charter-party or
management agreement as is mentioned in subarticle
(5)( a ) -
(i) to terminate it, or
(ii) to intervene in the management of the ship, in
the event of any such deficiency, and whether it
was reasonable for the accused to place himself
in that position.
(7) In this article -
“management agreement”, in relation to a ship, means any
agreement (other than a charter-party or a contract of employment)
under which the ship is managed, either wholly or in part, by a
person other than the owner (whether on behalf of the owner or on
behalf of some other person); and
“relevant responsibilities” shall be construed in accordance with
subarticle (5).
(8) References in this article to responsibilities being assumed
by a person under the terms of a charter-party or management
agreement are references to their being so assumed by him whether
or not he has entered into a further charter-party or management
agreement providing for them to be assumed by some other person.
Owner liable for 
unsafe operation of 
ship.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.90.
283C. (1) It shall be the duty of the owner of a ship to which
this article applies to take all reasonable steps to secure that the
ship is operated in a safe manner.
(2) This article applies to a Maltese ship, being in any port in
or outside Malta, and to a foreign ship, which is within the
territorial waters of Malta while proceeding to or from a port in
Malta, unless such ship would not be so proceeding but for weather
conditions or any other unavoidable circumstances.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         137
(3) If the owner of a ship to which this article applies fails to
discharge the duty imposed on him by subarticle (1), he shall be
liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand units or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such
fine ( multa ) and imprisonment.
(4) Where any such ship -
( a ) is chartered by demise, or
( b ) is managed, either wholly or in part, by a person other
than the owner under the terms of a management
agreement within the meaning of article 283B, 
any reference to the owner of the ship in subarticle (1) or (3) shall
be construed as including a reference - 
(i) to the charterer under the charter by demise, or
(ii) to any such manager as is referred to in
paragraph ( b ) above, or
(iii) (if the ship is both chartered and managed as
mentioned above) to both the charterer and any
such manager,
and accordingly the reference in subarticle (1) to the taking of all
reasonable steps shall, in relation to the owner, the charterer or any
such manager, be construed as a reference to the taking of all such
steps as it is reasonable for him to take in the circumstances of the
case.
4. CARRIAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS
Dangerous goods.
goods" includes aquafortis, vitriol, naphta, benzine, gun-powder,
lucifer matches, nitro-glycerine, petroleum, explosives, and any
goods declared to be dangerous by the rules made under the next
following article.
Rules as to the 
carriage of 
dangerous goods. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
285. (1) The Minister may make rules for regulating in the
interests of safety the carriage of dangerous goods in ships to which
this article applies.
(2) This article applies to -
( a ) Maltese ships;
( b ) other ships while they are within any port in Malta. 
(3) If any of the rules made in pursuance of this article is not
complied with in relation to any ship to which this article applies,
the owner or master of the ship shall be liable for each offence to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding three hundred units, and the ship shall be
deemed, for the purposes of this Part of this Act, to be unsafe by
reason of improper loading.
(4) The Minister may exempt any ships or classes of ships from
any rules made under this article, either absolutely or subject to
  138        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
such conditions as he thinks fit.
Restrictions on 
carriage of 
dangerous goods. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
286. (1) A person shall not send or attempt to send by any
vessel, whether Maltese or foreign, and any person not being the
master or owner of the vessel shall not carry or attempt to carry in
any such vessel, any dangerous goods without distinctly marking
their nature on the outside of the package containing the same and
giving written notice of the nature of those goods and of the name
and address of the sender or carrier thereof to the master or owner
of the vessel at or before the time of sending the same to be shipped
or taking the same on board the vessel.
(2) If any person fails without reasonable cause to comply with
this article, he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding one hundred units:
Provided that if he shows that he was merely an agent in the
shipment of any such goods as aforesaid and was not aware and did
not suspect and had no reason to suspect that the goods shipped by
him were of a dangerous nature, he shall be liable to a fine ( multa )
not exceeding ten units.
Misdescription of 
dangerous goods . 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
287.   A person shall not knowingly send or attempt to send by,
or carry or attempt to carry in, any vessel, whether Maltese or
foreign, any dangerous goods under a false description and shall
not falsely describe the sender or carrier thereof; and if he acts in
contravention of this article he shall for each offence be liable to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding five hundred units.
Power to deal with 
goods suspected of 
being dangerous.
288. (1) The master or owner of any vessel, whether Maltese
or foreign, may refuse to take on board any package or parcel
which he suspects to contain any dangerous goods, and may require
it to be opened to ascertain the fact.
(2) Where any dangerous goods, or any goods which in the
judgement of the master or owner of the vessel are dangerous
goods, have been sent or brought aboard any vessel as aforesaid
without being marked, or without such notice having been given, as
provided in article 286, the master or owner of the vessel may
cause those goods to be thrown overboard, together with any
package or receptacle in which they are contained, and neither the
master nor the owner of the vessel shall be subject to any liability,
civil or criminal, in any court for so throwing the goods overboard.
Forfeiture of 
dangerous goods 
improperly sent or 
carried.
Amended by:
XXIV.1995.362.
289. (1) Where any dangerous goods have been sent or
carried, or attempted to be sent or carried, on board any vessel
whether Maltese or foreign, without being marked, or without such
notice being given, as provided in article 286, or under a false
description, or with a false description of the sender or carrier
thereof, any court taking cognizance of any offence in relation to
those goods, or the Civil Court, First Hall, at the instance of the
Minister by way of application, may declare those goods, and any
package or receptacle in which they are contained, to be, and they
shall thereupon be, forfeited, and when forfeited shall be disposed
of as the court directs.
(2) The court shall have, and may exercise, the aforesaid
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         139
powers of forfeiture and disposal notwithstanding that the owner of
the goods has not committed any offence relating to dangerous
goods, and is not before that court, and has no notice of the
proceedings and notwithstanding that there is no evidence to show
to whom the goods belong; but the court may, in its discretion,
require such notice as it may direct to be given to the owner or
shipper of the goods before they are forfeited.
Carriage of grain. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
290. (1) Where grain is loaded on board any Maltese ship, or
is loaded within any port in Malta on board any ship, all necessary
and reasonable precautions shall be taken to prevent the grain from
shifting; and if such precautions as aforesaid are not taken, the
owner or the master of the ship, or any agent of the owner who was
charged with the loading or with sending the ship to sea laden with
the grain, shall be guilty of an offence under this subarticle and the
ship shall be deemed, for the purposes of this Part of this Act, to be
unsafe by reason of improper loading.
(2) Where any ship, having been loaded with grain outside
Malta without taking all necessary and reasonable precautions to
prevent the grain from shifting, enters any port in Malta so laden,
the owner or master of the ship shall be guilty of an offence under
this subarticle and the ship shall be deemed for the purposes of this
Part of this Act to be unsafe by reason of improper loading:
Provided that this subarticle shall not have effect if the ship
would not have entered any such port but for stress of weather or
any other circumstances which neither the master nor the owner nor
the charterer (if any) could have prevented or forestalled.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the two preceding
subarticles, any particular precaution prescribed by rules made by
the Minister under this subarticle, in relation to the loading of ships
generally or of ships of any class, as being a precaution to be
treated for the purposes of those subarticles as a necessary or
reasonable precaution to prevent grain from shifting, shall be so
treated in the case of ships generally or of ships of that class, as the
case may be:
Provided that this subarticle shall not apply when a ship is
loaded in accordance in all respects with any provisions approved
by the Minister as respects the loading in question other than rules
made under this subarticle.
(4) If any person commits an offence under subarticle (1) or
subarticle (2), he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa )
not exceeding three hundred units.
(5) On the arrival at any port in Malta from a port outside
Malta of any ship carrying a cargo of grain, the master shall cause
to be delivered to the Minister a notice stating - 
( a ) the draught of water and freeboard, as defined by this
Part of this Act, of the said ship after the loading of her
cargo was completed at the final port of loading; and
( b ) the following particulars of the grain carried, namely -
(i) the kind of grain and the quantity thereof, stated
  140        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
in metric units of volume or weight;
(ii) the mode in which the grain is stowed; and
(iii) the precautions taken to prevent the grain from
shifting;
and if the master fails to deliver any notice required by this
subarticle, or if in any such notice he makes any statement that he
knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly makes any
statement that is false in any material particular, he shall for each
offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
(6) Any person having a general or special authority in that
behalf from the Minister may, for securing the observance of the
provisions of this article, inspect any grain and the mode in which
it is stowed, and for those purposes he shall have all the powers of a
surveyor of ships.
(7) In this article, the expression "grain" includes wheat,
maize, oats, rye, barley, rice, pulses and seeds; and the expression
"ship carrying a cargo of grain" means a ship carrying a quantity of
grain exceeding one-third of the ship’s registered tonnage,
reckoning one hundred cubic feet or two tons weight of grain as
equivalent to one ton of registered tonnage.
Saving for other 
enactments relating 
to dangerous 
goods.
291 .  The provisions of this Part of this Act relating to the
carriage of dangerous goods shall be deemed to be in addition to
and not in substitution for, or in restraint of, any other enactment
for the like object, so nevertheless that nothing in the said
provisions shall be deemed to authorise any person to be sued or
prosecuted twice in the same matter.
5. PREVENTION OF COLLISIONS
Collision 
regulations.
292. (1) The Minister may make regulations for the prevention
of collisions at sea and in navigable waters (in this Act referred to
as the "collision regulations"), and may thereby regulate the lights
to be carried and exhibited, the fog signals to be carried and used,
and the steering and sailing rules to be observed, by ships.
(2) The collision regulations, together with the provisions of
this Part of this Act relating thereto or otherwise relating to
collisions, shall apply to all Maltese vessels and shall also be
observed by all foreign ships within Maltese territorial and inland
waters, and in any case arising in a Maltese court concerning
matters arising within the said waters foreign ships shall, so far as
respects the collision regulations and the aforesaid provisions of
this Act, be treated as if they were Maltese ships.
Observance of 
collision 
regulations.  
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
293. (1) All owners and masters of ships shall observe the
collision regulations, and shall not carry or exhibit any other lights,
or use any other fog signals, than such as are required by those
regulations.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         141
(2) If an infringement of the collision regulations is caused by
the wilful default of the master or owner of the ship, that master or
owner shall for each offence be liable to imprisonment for a period
not exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five
hundred units or to both such imprisonment and fine.
(3) If any damage to person or property arises from the non-
observance by any ship of any of the collision regulations, the
damage shall be deemed to have been occasioned by the wilful
default of the person in charge of the deck of the ship at the time,
unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that the
circumstances of the case made a departure from the regulations
necessary.
(4) Nothing in subarticle (3) shall affect any liability of the
owner of the ship for damage.
Inspections as to 
lights and signals.
294. (1) A surveyor of ships may inspect any ship, whether
Maltese or foreign, for the purpose of seeing that the ship is
properly provided with lights and the means of making fog signals,
in conformity with the collision regulations, and if the surveyor
finds that the ship is not so provided, he shall give to the master or
owner notice in writing pointing out the deficiency and also what,
in his opinion, is requisite in order to remedy the same.
(2) Every notice so given shall be communicated to the officer
from whom the ship may seek to obtain clearance; and the ship
shall be detained until a certificate under the hand of a surveyor of
ships is produced to the effect that the ship is properly provided
with lights and with the means of making fog signals in conformity
with the collision regulations.
(3) Where the certificate as to lights and fog signals is refused,
the owner or master may appeal to the court of survey in manner
directed by the rules of that court.
(4) On any such appeal the chairman of the court of survey
shall report to the Minister on the question raised by the appeal,
and the Minister, when satisfied that the requirements of the report
and of this Act as to lights and fog signals have been complied
with, may grant, or direct a surveyor of ships or other person
appointed by him to grant, the certificate.
(5) Subject to any order made by the chairman of the court of
survey, the costs of and incidental to the appeal shall follow the
event.
(6) A surveyor, in making an inspection under this article,
shall, if the owner or master of the ship so requires, be
accompanied on the inspection by some person appointed by the
owner or master, and, if in that case the surveyor and the person so
appointed agree, there shall be no appeal under this article to the
court of survey.
(7) Such fees as the Minister may prescribe shall be paid in
respect of an inspection of lights and fog signals under this article. 
  142        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Duty of vessel to 
assist the other in 
case of collision. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
295. (1) In every case of collision between two vessels, it shall
be the duty of the master or person in charge of each vessel, if and
so far as he can do so without danger to his own vessel, crew and
passengers (if any) -
( a ) to render to the other vessel, her master, crew and
passengers (if any) such assistance as may be
practicable and may be necessary to save them from
any danger caused by the collision, and to stay by the
other vessel until he has ascertained that she has no
need of further assistance; and
( b ) to give to the master or person in charge of the other
vessel the name of his own vessel and of her port of
registry, and also the names of the ports from which
she comes and to which she is bound.
(2) If the master or person in charge fails without reasonable
cause to comply with this article, he shall be liable to imprisonment
for a period not exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding one thousand units or to both such imprisonment and
fine; and if he is a certified officer an inquiry into his conduct may
be held and his certificate cancelled or suspended.
Collision to be 
entered in official 
log book. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
296. (1) In every case of collision in which it is practicable so
to do, the master or every ship shall, immediately after the
occurrence, cause a statement thereof and of the circumstances
under which the same occurred, to be entered in the official log
book, and the entry shall be signed by the master and also by the
mate or one of the crew.
(2) If the master fails to comply with this article he shall for
each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units. 
Application of 
collision 
regulations beyond 
Maltese 
jurisdiction.
297.   Whenever it is made to appear to the Minister that the
government of any foreign country is willing that the collision
regulations, or the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act
relating thereto or otherwise relating to collisions, or any of those
regulations or provisions, should apply to the ships of that country
when beyond the limits of Maltese territorial waters, the Minister
may by order in the Gazette direct that those regulations and
provisions shall, subject to any limitations of time, conditions and
qualifications contained in the order, apply to the ships of the
country aforesaid, whether within Maltese territorial or inland
waters or not, and that such ships shall, for the purposes of such
regulations and provisions, be treated as if they were Maltese ships.
6. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
General equipment 
of passenger ships. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
298. (1) A sea-going passenger ship shall have her compasses
properly adjusted from time to time to the satisfaction of a surveyor
of ships.
(2) A passenger ship shall be provided with a safety valve on
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         143
each boiler, so constructed as to be out of the control of the
engineer when the steam is up, and, if the safety valve is in addition
to the ordinary valve, so constructed as to have an area not less, and
a pressure not greater, than the area of, and the pressure on, the
ordinary valve.
(3) If a ship plies or goes to sea, or attempts to ply or go to sea,
from any port in Malta without being equipped as required by this
article, then for each matter in which default is made, the owner or
master of the ship shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one
hundred units.
Placing of undue 
weight on safety 
valve. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
299.   A person shall not unduly increase the weight on the
safety valve of any ship and, if he does so, he shall, in addition to
any other liability he may incur by so doing, be liable for each
offence to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
Report of dangers 
to navigation.  
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
300. (1) The master of any Maltese ship, on meeting with
dangerous ice, a dangerous derelict, a tropical storm, or any other
direct danger to navigation, shall send information accordingly, by
all means of communication at his disposal, and in accordance with
such rules as may be made by the Minister for the purposes of this
article, to ships in the vicinity and to such authorities on shore as
may be prescribed by those rules.
(2) If the master of a ship fails to comply with this article he
shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty
units.
(3) Every person in charge of a wireless telegraph station in
Malta shall, on receiving the signal prescribed by the said rules for
indicating that a message is about to be sent under this article,
refrain from sending messages for a time sufficient to allow other
stations to receive the message, and, if so required by the Minister,
shall transmit the message in such manner as may be required by
the Minister, and compliance with this subarticle shall be deemed
to be a condition of every licence authorising the establishment or
operation of the station.
(4) For the purposes of this article, the expression "tropical
storm" means a hurricane, typhoon, cyclone or other storm of a
similar nature, and the master of a ship shall be deemed to have met
with a tropical storm if he has reason to believe that there is such a
storm in his vicinity.
Signals of distress. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
301. (1) The Minister may make rules prescribing what signals
shall be used by Maltese ships as signals of distress and the
circumstances in which, and the purposes for which, any signal so
prescribed is to be used and the circumstances in which it is to be
revoked.
(2) If the master of a ship uses or displays or permits any
person under his authority to use or display -
(a) any signal prescribed under this article except in the
circumstances and for the purposes prescribed by the
rules made under this article; or
  144        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
( b ) any signal that is liable to be mistaken for any signal
so prescribed,
he shall be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units and
shall further be liable for any compensation for any labour
undertaken, risk incurred, or loss sustained, in consequence of the
signal having been supposed a signal of distress.
(3) Nothing in article 300(3) shall interfere with the
transmission of signals prescribed under this article.
Signalling lamps. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
302.   No Maltese ship, being a ship of over one hundred and
fifty tons gross tonnage, shall proceed to sea unless the ship is
provided with a signalling lamp of a type approved by the Minister;
and if any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea in
contravention of this article, the owner or master thereof shall for
each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding twenty units.
Method of giving 
helm orders. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
303. (1) No person on any Maltese ship shall, when the ship is
going ahead, give a helm or steering order containing the word
"starboard" or "right", or any equivalent of "starboard" or "right",
unless he intends that the head of the ship shall move to the right,
or give a helm or steering order containing the word "port" or
"left", or any equivalent of "port" or "left", unless he intends that
the head of the ship shall move to the left.
(2) Any person who contravenes this article shall for each
offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
Careful navigation 
near ice.
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
304. (1) The master of a Maltese ship, when ice is reported on
or near his course, shall at night either proceed at moderate speed
or change his course so as to keep amply clear of the ice reported
and of the area of danger.
(2) If the master of any ship fails to comply with this article, he
shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one
hundred units.
Obligation to assist 
vessels in distress. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
305. (1) The master of a Maltese ship, on receiving at sea a
signal of distress or information from any source that a vessel or
aircraft is in distress, shall proceed with all speed to the assistance
of the persons in distress (informing them if possible that he is
doing so), unless he is unable, or in the special circumstances of the
case considers it unreasonable or unnecessary, to do so, or unless
he is released under the provisions of subarticle (3) or (4).
(2) Where the master of any ship in distress has requisitioned
any Maltese ship that has answered his call, it shall be the duty of
the master of the requisitioned ship to comply with the requisition
by continuing to proceed with all speed to the assistance of the
persons in distress.
(3) A master shall be released from the obligation imposed by
subarticle (1) as soon as he is informed of the requisition of one or
more ships other than his own and that the requisition is being
complied with by the ship or ships requisitioned.
(4) A master shall be released from the obligation imposed by
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         145
subarticle (1) and, if his ship has been requisitioned, from the
obligation imposed by subarticle (2), if he is informed by the
persons in distress, or by the master of any ship that has reached the
persons in distress, that assistance is no longer required.
(5) If a master fails to comply with the preceding provisions of
this article, he shall for each offence be liable to imprisonment for a
period not exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding
one thousand units or to both such imprisonment and fine.
(6) If the master of a Maltese ship, on receiving at sea a signal
of distress or information from any source that a vessel or aircraft
is in distress, is unable, or in the special circumstances of the case
considers it unreasonable or unnecessary, to go to the assistance of
the persons in distress, he shall forthwith cause a statement to be
entered in the official log book of his reasons for not going to the
assistance of those persons, and if fails to do so, he shall be liable
to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
(7) The master of every Maltese ship shall enter or cause to be
entered in the official log book every signal of distress or message
that a vessel, aircraft or person is in distress at sea.
(8) Compliance by the master of a ship with the provisions of
this article shall not affect his right, or the right of any other
person, to salvage.
Duty to render 
assistance to 
persons in danger 
at sea. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
306. (1) The master or person in charge of a Maltese vessel
shall, so far as he can do so without serious danger to his own
vessel, her crew and passengers (if any), render assistance to every
person who is found at sea in danger of being lost, even if such
person be a citizen of a State at war with Malta; and if he fails to do
so he shall for each offence be liable to imprisonment not
exceeding two years or to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand
units or to both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) Compliance by the master or person in charge of a vessel
with the provisions of this article shall not affect his right, or the
right of any other person, to salvage.
Report of accidents 
to ships. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
307. (1) When a Maltese ship has sustained or caused any
accident occasioning loss of life or any serious injury to any
person, or has received any material damage affecting her
seaworthiness or her efficiency either in her hull or in any part of
her machinery, the owner or master shall, within twenty-four hours
after the happening of the accident or damage, or as soon thereafter
as possible, transmit to the Minister, by letter signed by the owner
or master, a report of the accident or damage and of the probable
occasion thereof, stating the name of the ship and the place where
she is.
(2) If the owner or master of a ship fails without reasonable
cause to comply with this article, he shall for each offence be liable
to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
  146        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Notice of loss of 
Maltese ship. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
308. (1) If the owner, or the person to whom is entrusted the
management, of a Maltese ship has reason, owing to the non-
appearance of the ship or to any other circumstance, to apprehend
that the ship has been wholly lost, he shall, as soon as conveniently
may be, send to the Minister notice in writing of the loss and of the
probable occasion thereof, stating the name of the ship.
(2) If any such person as aforesaid fails without reasonable
cause to comply with this article within a reasonable time, he shall
for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.91.
PART VA
PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM SHIPS
Prevention of 
pollution from 
ships.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.91.
308A. (1) The Minister may make regulations as appear
necessary to give effect to any provision of any of the following
which have been ratified or acceded to or accepted by the
Government of Malta -
( a ) the International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution from Ships signed in London on the 2nd
November, 1973 and the Protocol thereto signed in
London on the 17th February, 1978 (including
protocols, annexes and appendices thereto);
( b ) the Protocol relating to Intervention on the High Seas
in Cases of Marine Pollution by Substances other than
Oil signed in London on the 2nd November, 1973;
( c ) the International Convention on Oil Pollution
Preparedness, Response and Cooperation signed in
London on the 30th November, 1990;
( d ) any international agreement not mentioned in
paragraphs ( a ) to ( c ) above which relates to the
prevention, reduction or control of pollution of the sea
or other waters by matter from ships or which
regulates the liability of any person arising from
pollution of the sea or other waters;
and in paragraph ( d ) above the reference to an agreement includes
an agreement which provides for the modification of another
agreement, including the modification of an agreement mentioned
in paragraphs ( a ) to ( c ) above.
(2) Any reference in subarticle (1) to an international
agreement or convention or protocol shall include reference to any
amendment to such agreement or convention or protocol ratified,
acceded to or accepted by the Government of Malta.
(3) The powers conferred by subarticle (1) to make provision
for the purpose of giving effect to an agreement include power to
provide for the provision to come into force notwithstanding that
the agreement may not be in force.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         147
PART VI 
EMIGRANT SHIPS
Definitions for 
purposes of this 
Part.
309.   For the purposes of this Part of this Act, unless the context
otherwise requires - 
"emigrant ship" means a sea-going ship, whether Maltese or
foreign, carrying, upon any voyage from Malta to any port out of
Europe and not within the Mediterranean Sea, more than fifty
steerage passengers or a greater number of steerage passengers than
in proportion of one statute adult to every twenty tons of the ship’s
registered tonnage, and includes a ship which, having proceeded
from a port outside Malta, takes on board any port in Malta such
number of steerage passengers as would, either with or without the
steerage passengers she already has on board, constitute her an
emigrant ship;
"statute adult" means a person of the age of twelve years and
upwards, and two persons between the ages of one and twelve years
shall be treated as one statute adult;
"steerage passenger" means all passengers except cabin
passengers, and persons shall not be deemed cabin passengers
unless -
( a ) the space allotted to their exclusive use is in
proportion of ten clear superficial metres to each
statute adult; and 
( b ) the fare paid by them is not less than such sum as may
be prescribed by the Minister either for the entire
voyage or in proportion to the length of the voyage;
and
( c ) they have been furnished with a duly signed contract
ticket in the form prescribed by the Minister for cabin
passengers.
Additional 
equipment for 
emigrant ships. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
310. (1) Every emigrant ship shall, in addition to any other
requirement under this Act, be provided with the following articles,
namely:
( a ) with at least three steering compasses and one azimuth
compass;
( b ) if proceeding to any place north of the Equator, with at
least one chronometer;
( c ) if proceeding to any place south of the Equator, with at
least two chronometers;
( d ) with a fire engine in proper working order and of such
description and power, and either with or without such
other apparatus for extinguishing fire, as the Minister
may approve;
( e ) with three bower anchors of such weight, and with
cables of such length, size and material, as in the
judgement of the Minister are sufficient for the size of
  148        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
the ship;
( f ) if a foreign ship, with an adequate number, not being
less than four, of properly fitted lifebuoys kept ready
at all times for immediate use; and
( g ) adequate means, to be approved by the Minister, of
making signals by night.
(2) If any requirement of this article is not complied with in the
case of an emigrant ship, the master of that ship shall be liable for
each offence to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
Regulations with 
respect to emigrant 
ships.
311. (1) The Minister may make regulations with respect to all
or any of the following matters, namely:
( a ) the number of persons that may be carried in an
emigrant ship, distinguishing, if he so deems fit,
between steerage passengers and other persons;
( b ) the accommodation for steerage passengers in an
emigrant ship, including regulations as to passenger
decks, berths, hospitals, privies, and the supply of light
and ventilation;
( c ) the stowage of cargo, luggage, provisions, water and
stores in an emigrant ship;
( d ) the scales of water and provisions to be issued to
steerage passengers, including the supply,
reprovisioning, carriage and inspection of the water
and provisions to be carried in an emigrant ship for
that purpose;
( e ) the provision for the use of steerage passengers on
emigrant ships of medical stores, including medicines,
medical comforts, instruments, disinfectants, and other
things proper and necessary for the treatment of
diseases and accidents incident to sea voyages;
( f ) the carrying as part of an emigrant ship’s complement
of duly qualified medical practitioners;
( g ) the manning of an emigrant ship with an efficient
crew, stewards, cooks and interpreters;
( h ) the medical inspection of steerage passengers before
the clearance outwards of an emigrant ship, including
regulations with respect to persons found unfit to
proceed on the voyage;
( i ) the preservation of order, the maintenance of
discipline, the promotion of health and the securing of
cleanliness and ventilation on board emigrant ships;
( j ) the issue, form, stipulations and production of contract
tickets in respect of a passage on an emigrant ship,
distinguishing between steerage and cabin passengers;
( k ) the minimum fare payable in order that a person may
be deemed to be a cabin passenger;
( l ) the survey and inspection of emigrant ships to ensure
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         149
compliance with the regulations and the provisions of
this Act applicable to such ships.
(2) Regulations made under this article may, besides any
punishment provided in respect of any contravention of the
regulations, make provision subjecting the clearance outwards of
an emigrant ship to compliance with the regulations and the
provisions of this Act applicable to such ships, and to such
procedures, surveys, inspections and certificates as may be
prescribed by the regulations.
PART VII
SPECIAL SHIPPING INQUIRIES AND COURTS
Inquiries and investigations as to shipping casualties
Shipping 
casualties.
Substituted by:
XXII. 2000.92.
312. A shipping casualty shall be deemed to occur where -
( a ) any ship is or is supposed to have been lost,
abandoned, stranded or materially damaged;
( b ) any ship or any ship’s boat or any cargo from that ship
has caused or is supposed to have caused, any loss,
abandonment, stranding or material damage, including
loss of life of any person or injury sustained by any
person;
( c ) loss of life of any person has occurred on board any
ship or any ship’s boat;
( d ) any person has sustained injury on board any ship or
any ship’s boat;
( e ) the Minister by regulations has so prescribed.
Preliminary 
inquiry into 
shipping casualty. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2, 93.
313. (1) A preliminary inquiry respecting a shipping casualty
may be held by such person as is appointed by the Minister where -
( a ) a shipping casualty involves or is supposed to involve
a Maltese ship; or
( b ) a shipping casualty involves or is supposed to involve
any ship and such casualty has occurred on the coasts
of Malta, including any port installation or ship repair
facility, or at sea within the territorial jurisdiction of
Malta, or where any witness is found in Malta; or
( c ) the Minister by regulations has so prescribed.
(2) For the purpose of any such inquiry, the person holding the
same may - 
( a ) go on board any ship and inspect the same and every
part thereof, and the machinery, equipment and cargo
and may require the unloading or removal of any
  150        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
cargo, ballast or tackle;
( b ) by summons under his hand, require the attendance of
any person he thinks fit to call before him and examine
such person on the subject of the inquiry and
administer oaths to the persons to be so examined by
him;
( c ) by summons under his hand or otherwise, require the
production of all books and other documents he
considers relevant for the purpose of such inquiry.
Cap. 9. (3) The provisions of articles 362, 363 and 364 of the Criminal
Code shall apply to summons issued under subarticle (2).
(4) If any person summoned in the manner aforesaid refuses or
fails without reasonable cause to attend or to reply to any questions
put to him at the inquiry, or if any person refuses or fails without
reasonable cause to produce any book or document which it may be
in his power to produce and which he has been required to produce
as aforesaid, or if any person wilfully impedes the person holding
the inquiry or fails to comply with any requisition made by him,
such person shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding twenty units.
(5) Upon the conclusion of the inquiry, the person holding the
same shall make a report to the Minister.
Formal 
investigation as to 
shipping 
casualties.
314. (1) A person authorised as aforesaid to make a
preliminary inquiry shall, in any case where it appears to him
requisite or expedient (whether upon a preliminary inquiry or
without holding such inquiry) that a formal investigation should be
held, and in any case where the Minister so directs, apply to the
Court of Magistrates to hold a formal investigation; and that court
shall thereupon hold the formal investigation.
(2) The person authorised as aforesaid to make a preliminary
inquiry shall also apply to the said court to hold a formal
investigation where the shipping casualty involves or is likely to
involve a question as to the cancelling or suspension of the
certificate of a master, mate or engineer.
(3) The said court shall have the same jurisdiction over the
matter referred to it as if the shipping casualty had occurred within
its jurisdiction and, without prejudice to the provisions of this Part
of this Act, shall have all the powers competent to it in the exercise
of its ordinary jurisdiction.
Cap. 9.
(4) Where a formal investigation is held under this Part of this
Act into any matter in respect of which an inquest is required to be
held under the Criminal Code, the provisions of that Code in
relation thereto shall be deemed to have been satisfied.
Procedure as to 
formal 
investigations.
315. (1) The court shall hold the formal investigation with the
assistance of one or more assessors of nautical, engineering or
other special skill or knowledge, to be appointed out of a list of
persons for the time being approved by the Minister, in such
manner and according to such regulations as may be prescribed by
rules by the Minister under this Part of this Act with respect
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         151
thereto:
Provided that where an investigation involves or appears
likely to involve any question as to the cancelling or suspension of
the certificate of a master, mate or engineer, the court shall hold the
investigation with the assistance of not less than two assessors
having experience in the merchant service.
(2) Every formal investigation into a shipping casualty shall be
conducted in such manner that if a charge is made against any
person, that person shall have an opportunity of making a defence.
(3) Formal investigations shall be held in some public building
or other suitable place not being a court ordinarily used as a police
court, unless no other suitable place is, in the opinion of the court,
available.
(4) Formal investigations may, whenever the court shall deem
it expedient, be conducted in the English language, and any  procès-
verbal  or evidence written in that language may be inserted in the
record of the investigation as if it were written in Maltese.
(5) It shall be the duty of the person who has applied to the
court to hold a formal investigation to superintend the management
of the case and to render such assistance to the court as is in his
power.
(6) The court, after hearing the case, shall make a report to the
Minister containing a full statement of the case and of the opinion
of the court thereon, accompanied by such report on, or extracts
from, the evidence, and such observations as the court thinks fit.
(7) Each assessor shall either sign the report or state in writing
to the Minister his dissent therefrom and the reasons for that
dissent.
(8) The court may make such order as it thinks fit respecting
the costs of the investigation, or any part thereof.
(9) The fees payable to the assessors shall be those prescribed
by the Minister in the rules made under this Part of this Act with
respect to formal investigations.
Other provisions as 
to reports.
316. (1) A duplicate of the report made following a formal
investigation, verified and certified by the registrar of the court to
be correct, shall be kept in the records of the court.
(2) Such report may be produced in evidence in any judicial
proceedings.
Where criminal 
proceedings are 
taken following a 
shipping casualty.
Amended by:
VIII.1990.2.
Cap. 9.
317. (1) Where in connection with any shipping casualty
criminal proceedings are taken against any person before the Court
of Magistrates as a court of criminal inquiry, the certificated
duplicate of the report on the formal investigation into the shipping
casualty, with the evidence taken at such investigation, shall be
filed in the record of the proceedings, and the report shall have the
same effect as the  procès-verbal  referred to in the Criminal Code.
(2) In any such case it shall not be necessary to re-examine any
of the witnesses heard at the investigation whose depositions are
  152        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
filed in the record of the criminal proceedings as aforesaid, unless
such re-examination is necessary to establish circumstances which
do not result from those depositions or is requested by the
defendant.
Provisions as to certificated officers
Power of Minister 
to cancel 
certificates.
318.   The Minister may suspend or cancel the certificate or the
recognition of a certificate of any master, mate or engineer if it is
shown that he has been convicted of any criminal offence.
Inquiry into 
conduct of 
certificated officer.
319. (1) If the Minister has reason to believe that any master,
mate or engineer is from any incompetency or misconduct unfit to
discharge his duties, or that in a case of collision or other accident
at sea he has failed to render such assistance or give such
information as is required under Part V of this Act, the Minister
may cause an inquiry to be held by the Court of Magistrates.
(2) Any such inquiry shall be conducted and the results
reported in the same manner, and the court shall have the like
powers, as in the case of a formal investigation into a shipping
casualty under this Part of this Act:
Provided that, if the Minister so directs, it shall be the duty
of the person who has brought the charge against the master, mate
or engineer, to the notice of the Minister, or of such other person as
is designated by the Minister, to conduct the case, and that person
shall, in that case, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be the
party having the conduct of the case.
Removal of master 
by  Civil Court, 
First Hall .
Amended by:
XXIV.1995.362.
320. (1) The Civil Court, First Hall, may remove the master of
any Maltese ship if that removal is shown to the satisfaction of the
court to be necessary.
(2) The removal may be made upon the request, by way of
application, of any owner of the ship or his agent, or of the
consignee of the ship, or of any certificated mate, or of one-third or
more of the crew of the ship.
(3) The court may appoint a new master instead of the one
removed; but where the owner, agent or consignee of the ship is in
Malta, such appointment shall not be made without the consent of
that owner, agent or consignee.
Power as to 
certificates of the 
court holding 
investigation or 
inquiry.
Amended by:
XXIV.1995.362.
321. (1) The certificate or the recognition of a certificate of a
master, mate or engineer may be cancelled or suspended -
( a ) by the court holding a formal investigation into a
shipping casualty under this Part of this Act, if the
court finds that the loss or abandonment of, or serious
damage to, any ship, or loss of life has been caused by
his wrongful act or default:
      Provided that the court shall not cancel or
suspend a certificate, or a recognition of a certificate,
unless one at least of the assessors concurs in the
finding of the court;
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         153
( b ) by the court holding an inquiry under this Part of this
Act into the conduct of a master, mate or engineer, if
the courts finds that he is incompetent or has been
guilty of any gross act of misconduct, drunkenness or
tyranny, or that in a case of collision at sea he has
failed to render such assistance or give such
information as is required under Part V of this Act;
( c ) by the Civil Court, First Hall, where under the powers
given by article 320 the master is removed by that
court.
(2) Where any case before any such court as aforesaid involves
a question as to the cancelling or suspending of a certificate or of a
recognition of a certificate, the court shall, at the conclusion of the
case or as soon afterwards as possible, state in open court the
decision to which it has come with respect to the cancelling or
suspending thereof.
(3) The court shall in all cases send a full report on the case,
with the evidence, to the Minister, and shall also, if it determines to
cancel or suspend any certificate or recognition of a certificate,
send the certificate or the recognition cancelled or suspended to the
Minister with the report.
(4) A certificate or a recognition of a certificate shall not be
cancelled or suspended by the court unless a copy of the report, or a
statement of the case, on which the investigation or inquiry has
been ordered, or of the application made to the Civil Court, First
Hall, has been furnished to or served on the holder of the certificate
before the commencement of the investigation, inquiry or hearing.
Delivery of 
certificate 
cancelled or 
suspended. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
322. (1) A master, mate or engineer whose certificate, or the
recognition of whose certificate, is cancelled or suspended under
this Part of this Act shall deliver his certificate or the recognition of
his certificate -
( a ) if cancelled or suspended by a court, to that court on
demand;
( b ) if not so demanded, or if it is cancelled or suspended
by the Minister, to the Minister or as the Minister
directs, on demand.
(2) If a master, mate or engineer fails to comply with this
article he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding fifty units.
Power of Minister 
to restore 
certificate.
323.   The Minister may, if he thinks that the justice of the case
requires, re-issue and return the certificate, or the recognition of a
certificate, of a master, mate or engineer which has been cancelled
or suspended or shorten the time for which it is suspended, or grant
in place thereof a certificate of the same or any lower grade.
  154        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Effects of 
cancellation or 
suspension of a 
certificate on 
recognition 
thereof. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
324. (1) Where a certificate recognised for the purposes of this
Act under Part IV thereof has been cancelled or suspended in
accordance with the law under which it was issued, the recognition
thereof for the purposes of this Act shall be deemed to have
likewise been cancelled or suspended, as the case may be, without
prejudice to the powers of the Minister under article 323; and the
holder of the certificate shall deliver the recognition thereof to the
Minister, or as the Minister directs, on demand.
(2) If a master, mate or engineer fails to comply with this
article he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding fifty units.
Rehearing of investigations and inquiries
Rehearing of 
investigations and 
inquiries.
325. (1) The Minister may, in any case where under this Part
of this Act a formal investigation into a shipping casualty, or an
inquiry into the conduct of a master, mate or engineer, has been
held, order the case to be reheard either generally or as to any part
thereof, and shall do so -
( a ) if new and important evidence which could not be
produced at the investigation or inquiry has been
discovered; or
( b ) if for any reason there has in his opinion been ground
for suspecting that a miscarriage of justice has
occurred.
(2) The Minister may order the case to be reheard either by the
court by which the case was heard in the first instance or by the
Court of Appeal.
(3) Where on any such investigation or inquiry, a decision has
been given with respect to the cancelling or suspension of the
certificate, or of the recognition of a certificate, of a master, mate
or engineer, and an application for a rehearing under this article has
not been made or has been refused, an appeal shall lie from the
decision to the Court of Appeal.
(4) Any rehearing or appeal under this article shall be subject
to and shall be conducted in accordance with such conditions and
regulations as may be prescribed by rules made in relation thereto
under the powers contained in this Part of this Act.
Court of survey
Constitution of 
court of survey.
326. (1) The court of survey shall consist of a chairman sitting
with two assessors.
(2) The chairman shall be a magistrate, or a retired magistrate,
or a person qualified to be appointed a magistrate, appointed by the
Minister either generally or in each case.
(3) The assessors shall be persons of nautical, engineering or
other special skill and experience and, subject to the provisions of
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         155
Part VI of this Act as regards foreign ships, one of them shall be
appointed by the Minister either generally or in each case, and the
other shall be summoned by the registrar of the court, in
accordance with the rules made under this Part of this Act with
respect to the court of survey, out of a list of assessors for the time
being approved by the Minister.
(4) Such fit person as the Minister may from time to time
appoint shall be the registrar of the court, and shall, on receiving
notice of an appeal or a reference from the Minister, immediately
summon the court to meet forthwith in manner directed by the rules
aforesaid.
(5) The name of the registrar and his office shall be published
in the Gazette.
Powers and 
procedure of the 
court of survey.
327. (1) The court of survey shall hear every case in open
court.
(2) The chairman of the court may appoint any competent
person or persons to survey the ship and report thereon to the court.
(3) The chairman of the court, and each assessor, and every
person appointed by the chairman to survey a ship shall have for
the purposes of this Act all the powers of a person appointed under
this Part of this Act to hold a preliminary inquiry into a shipping
casualty; and the provisions of article 313(3) and (4) shall, with the
requisite modifications, apply for the purposes of this article as
they apply for the purposes of that article.
(4) The chairman of the court shall have the same powers as the
Minister to order the ship to be released or finally detained but,
unless one of the assessors concurs in an order for the detention of
the ship, the ship shall be released.
(5) The owner or master of the ship, and any person appointed
by the owner or master, and also any person appointed by the
Minister, may attend at any inspection or survey made in pursuance
of this article.
Reference in 
difficult cases to 
scientific referees.
328. (1) If the Minister is of opinion that an appeal to the court
of survey involves a question of construction or design or of
scientific difficulty or important principle, or if the appellant so
requires and gives security to the satisfaction of the Minister to pay
the costs of and incidental to the reference, the matter may be
referred to such person or persons as appear to possess the special
qualifications necessary for the particular case; and where such
person or persons are selected by agreement between the Minister
and the appellant, the appeal shall be determined by the referee or
referees so selected, instead of by the court of survey.
(2) The referee or referees shall have the same powers as the
chairman of the court of survey.
  156        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Rules 
Power to make 
rules.
329.   The Minister may make general rules -
( a ) for carrying into effect the provisions of this Act
relating to formal investigations, and to the rehearing,
or an appeal from, any investigation or inquiry held
under this Part of this Act, and in particular with
respect to the procedure, the time, the parties, the
persons allowed to appear, the notice to those parties
or persons or to persons affected and the amount and
application of fees;
( b ) for carrying into effect the provisions of this Act
relating to the court of survey, and in particular with
respect to the summoning of, and procedure before, the
court, the requiring on an appeal of security for costs
and damages and the amount and application of fees.
PART VIII 
WRECK AND SALVAGE
Vessels in distress
Definition of 
"wreck" and 
"salvage".
330.   In this Part of this Act, unless the context otherwise
requires- 
"wreck" includes jetsam, flotsam, lagan and derelict found in or
on the shores of the sea;
"salvage" includes all expenses properly incurred by the salvor in
the performance of the salvage services.
Receiver of wreck. 331. (1) Where a vessel, whether Maltese or foreign, is
wrecked, stranded or in distress on the coasts of Malta or at sea
within the territorial jurisdiction of Malta, such person as the
Minister may designate or appoint for that purpose (in this Act
referred to as the "receiver of wreck") shall take such steps as he
thinks fit for the preservation of the vessel and of the lives of the
persons belonging to the vessel and of the cargo and apparel of the
vessel.
(2) The receiver of wreck shall have such powers as the
Minister may deem fit to assign to him according to circumstances,
and, in addition to the expenses properly incurred by him in the
performance of his duties, he may be paid such fees as the Minister
directs.
Wreck found in 
Malta.
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
332.   Where any person finds or takes possession of any wreck
within the limits of Malta, or finds or takes possession of any wreck
outside such limits and brings such wreck within the said limits, he
shall -
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         157
( a ) if he is the owner thereof, give notice to the receiver of
wreck that he has found or taken possession of the
same, and describing the marks by which the same
may be recognised;
( b ) if he is not the owner thereof, as soon as possible,
deliver the same to the receiver of wreck;
and if any person fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with
this article he shall for each offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding two hundred units and shall, in addition, forfeit any
claim to salvage.
Penalty for taking 
wreck at time of 
casualty. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
333. (1) Where a vessel is wrecked, stranded or in distress on
the coasts of Malta or at sea within the territorial jurisdiction of
Malta, any cargo or other articles belonging to or separated from
the vessel, which may be washed on shore or otherwise lost or
taken from the vessel shall be delivered to the receiver of wreck.
(2) If any person, whether the owner or not, secretes or keeps
possession of any such cargo or article, or refuses to deliver the
same to the receiver of wreck or any person authorised by him to
demand the same, that person shall for each offence be liable to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding two hundred units.
Taking wreck to 
foreign port.
334.   If any person takes into any foreign port any vessel
stranded, derelict, or otherwise in distress, found on the coasts of
Malta or at sea within the territorial jurisdiction of Malta, or any
part of the cargo or apparel thereof, or anything belonging thereto,
or any wreck found within those limits, and there sells the same,
that person shall be liable to imprisonment for a period of not less
than three years and not exceeding five years.
Dealing with wreck
Notice of wreck to 
be given by 
receiver.
335.   Where the receiver of wreck takes possession of any
wreck, he shall as soon as convenient cause to be published in the
Gazette a description of the wreck and of any marks by which it is
distinguished.
Claims of owners 
to wreck.
336. (1) The owner of any wreck in the possession of the
receiver of wreck, upon establishing his claim to the satisfaction of
the receiver or through a decision of the competent court, shall, if
the claim is made within one year from the date of the notice given
in accordance with article 335, and upon paying the salvage, fees
and other expenses due, be entitled to have the wreck or the
proceeds thereof delivered up to him.
(2) Upon delivery of a wreck or payment of the proceeds of
sale of a wreck by the receiver of wreck in pursuance of the
provisions of this Part of this Act, the receiver of wreck shall be
discharged from all liability in respect thereof, but the delivery or
payment as aforesaid shall not prejudice or affect any question
which may be raised by third parties concerning the right or title to
the wreck.
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Immediate sale of 
wreck in certain 
cases. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
337.   The receiver of wreck may at any time sell any wreck in
his custody, if in his opinion - 
( a ) it is under the value of twenty liri; or
( b ) it is so much damaged or of so perishable a nature that
it cannot with advantage be kept;
( c ) it is not of sufficient value to pay for warehousing; 
and the proceeds of the sale shall, after defraying the expenses
thereof, be held by the receiver for the same purposes and subject
to the same claims, rights and liabilities, as if the wreck had
remained unsold.
Unclaimed wreck. 338.   The Government of Malta shall be entitled to all wreck
found in Malta which remains unclaimed by the lawful owner for
more than one year from the date of the notice given in accordance
with article 335.
Removal of wrecks
Power to remove 
wrecks.
Amended by:
XXIV.1995.362.
339.   Where any vessel is sunk, stranded or abandoned on or
near the coasts within the territorial jurisdiction of Malta in such
manner as in the opinion of the Minister to be, or to be likely to
become, an obstruction or danger to navigation, the Minister may -
( a ) take possession of, and raise, remove or destroy the
whole or any part of the vessel;
( b ) light or buoy any such vessel or part until the raising,
removal or destruction thereof;
( c ) sell, in such manner as he thinks fit, any vessel or part
so raised or removed, and also any property recovered
in the exercise of the powers under this article, and out
of the proceeds of the sale reimburse himself for the
expenses incurred by him in relation thereto under this
article, and the Minister shall hold the surplus, if any,
of the proceeds for the benefit of the persons entitled
thereto:
Provided that a sale shall not (except in the case of property
which is of a perishable nature, or which would deteriorate in value
by delay) be made under this article unless at least seven clear
days’ notice of the intended sale has been given by advertisement
in at least two local newspapers:
Provided further that at any time before any property is sold
under this article, the owner thereof shall be entitled to have the
same delivered to him on payment to the Minister of the fair market
value thereof to be ascertained by agreement between the Minister
and the owner, or failing such agreement by some person to be
named for the purpose by agreement between the Minister and the
owner or by the Civil Court, First Hall, on an application by the
Minister or the owner, and the sum paid to the Minister as the value
of the property under this provision shall, for the purposes of this
article, be deemed to be the proceeds of sale of that property.
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Extent of power of 
removal.
340.   The provisions of this Part of this Act relating to removal
of wrecks shall apply to every article or thing or collection of
things being or forming part of the tackle, equipment, cargo, stores
or ballast of a vessel in the same manner as if it were included in
the term vessel; and for the purposes of the said provisions any
proceeds of sale arising from a vessel and from the cargo thereof,
or any other property recovered therefrom, shall be regarded as a
common fund.
Powers to be 
cumulative.
341.   The powers conferred by this Part of this Act for the
removal of wrecks shall be in addition to and not in derogation of
any other powers for the like object.
Salvage
Salvage for saving 
life.
 342. (1) Where services are rendered wholly or in part within
Maltese waters in saving life from any Maltese or foreign vessel, or
elsewhere in saving life from any Maltese vessel, there shall be
payable to the salvor by the owner of the vessel, cargo, or apparel
saved, a reasonable amount of salvage limited to the amount of the
property saved.
(2) Salvage in respect of the preservation of life when payable
by the owners of the vessel shall be payable in priority to all other
claims for salvage.
(3) Where the vessel, cargo and apparel are destroyed or the
value thereof is insufficient, after payment of the actual expenses
incurred, to pay the amount of salvage payable in respect of the
preservation of life, the Minister may, in his discretion, award to
the salvor, out of the Consolidated Fund, such sum as he thinks fit
in whole or part satisfaction of any amount of salvage so left
unpaid.
Salvage of cargo or 
wreck.
343. (1) Where any vessel, whether Maltese or foreign, is
wrecked, stranded or in distress at any place on or near the coasts
within the territorial jurisdiction of Malta and services are rendered
by any person in assisting that vessel or saving the cargo or apparel
of that vessel or any part thereof, or where any services are
rendered by any person other than a receiver of wreck in saving any
wreck, there shall be payable to the salvor by the owner of the
vessel, cargo, apparel, or wreck, a reasonable amount of salvage
limited to the amount of the property saved.
(2) This article shall extend to any services rendered as
aforesaid in respect of a vessel wrecked, stranded or in distress at
any place on the high seas if the property in respect of which
salvage may be claimed has been brought within Maltese
jurisdiction.
Further provisions 
as to salvage.
344.   For the purpose of the salvage provisions of this Act -
( a ) the liability of the owner to pay salvage shall extend to
persons having an interest which has been saved by the
property being brought into a position of security;
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( b ) no salvage shall be due - 
(i) to persons having such relation to the vessel
assisted or saved as it is their duty to render
assistance otherwise than under the provisions
of this Act, except where the services rendered
are of an exceptional nature; or
(ii) to persons rendering assistance notwithstanding
the express and reasonable prohibition of the
vessel to which the services are rendered.
Determination of 
salvage.
Amended by:
XXIV.1995.362.
345. (1) The amount and apportionment of salvage, whether of
life or property, and also any question whether the services were
rendered within or outside Maltese jurisdiction, shall, if not settled
by agreement, arbitration or otherwise, be determined by the Civil
Court, First Hall:
Provided that every agreement as to assistance or salvage
entered into at the time the services are rendered may be rescinded
or modified by the said court -
( a ) if it considers that the terms agreed upon under the
influence of danger are not equitable;
( b ) if the party making the request for a rescission or
modification of the agreement satisfies the court that
his consent to the agreement was vitiated by fraud or
concealment;
( c ) if the remuneration agreed is excessively
disproportionate to the services rendered.
(2) In determining the amount or the apportionment of salvage,
the court shall have regard to -
( a ) the measure of success obtained, and the efforts and
deserts of the salvor;
( b ) the danger run by the vessel saved, by her passengers,
crew and cargo;
( c ) the danger run by the salvor and the salving vessel; 
( d ) the time expended, the expenses incurred and the
losses suffered, and the risks of liability and other
risks run by the salvors, and also the value of the
property exposed to such risks, due regard being had to
the special appropriation (if any) of the salvor’s vessel
for salvage purposes;
( e ) the value of the property saved.
(3) Where any dispute arises as to apportionment of any
amount of salvage among the owners, master, pilot, crew and other
persons in the service of any foreign vessel, the amount shall be
apportioned in accordance with the law of the country to which the
vessel belongs.
(4) The court may deprive the salvor of all rights to salvage, or
may award a reduced salvage, if it appears that the salvor has by his
fault rendered the salvage or assistance necessary or has been
guilty of theft, fraudulent concealment or other acts of fraud.
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Detention of 
property liable for 
salvage. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXIV.1995.362.
346. (1) Where salvage is due to any person under this Act, the
receiver of wreck may -
( a ) if the salvage is due in respect of services rendered in
assisting any vessel, or in saving life therefrom, or in
saving the cargo or apparel thereof, detain the vessel
and cargo or apparel;
( b ) if the salvage is due in respect of the saving of any
wreck, and the wreck is not sold under this Act, detain
the wreck.
(2) Subject as hereinafter provided, the receiver may detain the
vessel and cargo and apparel, or the wreck, until payment is made
for salvage, or proceedings are taken for the arrest or detention
thereof by a competent court.
(3) The receiver of wreck may release any property detained as
aforesaid if security is given to his satisfaction or, if the claim for
salvage exceeds two hundred liri, and any question is raised as to
the sufficiency of the security, to the satisfaction of the Civil Court,
First Hall.
PART IX
LIABILITY OF SHIPOWNERS 
Liability and limitation thereof
Liability of 
shipowners.
347.   Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, and to
any other exclusion or limitation provided by law in relation to the
carriage of goods or otherwise, the owner of a ship shall be
responsible for all obligations contracted by the master in relation
to the ship, and shall be liable for any damages caused by acts or
omissions in the navigation or management of the ship.
Exclusion of 
liability in certain 
cases.
348.   The owners of a Maltese ship shall not be liable to make
good, to any extent whatever, any loss or damage happening
without their actual fault or privity in the following cases, namely:
( a ) where any goods, merchandise, or other things
whatsoever, taken in or put on board their ship are lost
or damaged by reason of fire on board the ship; or
( b ) where any gold, silver, diamonds, watches, jewels, or
precious stones, are taken in or put on board their ship,
the true nature and value of which have not at the time
of the shipment been declared by the owner or shipper
thereof to the owner or master of the ship in the bills of
lading or otherwise in writing, are lost or damaged by
reason of any theft, embezzlement, making away with
or secreting thereof.
  162        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Limitation of 
liability in certain 
cases.
349. (1) In any of the following occurrences, that is to say-
( a ) where any loss of life or personal injury is caused to
any person being carried in a ship;
( b ) where any damage or loss is caused to any goods,
merchandise, or other things whatsoever on board a
ship;
( c ) where any loss of life or personal injury is caused to
any person not carried in the ship, through the act or
omission of any person (whether on board the ship or
not) in the navigation or management of a ship, or in
the loading, carriage or discharge of her cargo, or in
the embarcation, carriage or disembarcation of her
passengers, or through any other act or omission of
any person on board the ship;
( d ) where any loss or damage is caused to any property
(other than property mentioned in paragraph ( b )) or
any rights are infringed through the act or omission of
any person (whether on board the ship or not) in the
navigation or management of a ship, or in the loading,
carriage or discharge of her cargo, or in the
embarcation, carriage or disembarcation of her
passengers, or through any other act or omission of
any person on board the ship,
the owners of the ship, whether the ship is Maltese or foreign, shall
not, where all or any of the said occurrences take place without
their actual fault or privity, be liable to damages beyond the
amounts specified in article 350.
(2) For the purposes of this article, where any obligation or
liability arises - 
( a ) in connection with the raising, removing or destruction
of any ship which is sunk, stranded or abandoned, or
of anything on board such ship; or
( b ) in respect of any damage (howsoever caused) to
harbour works, basins or navigable waterways,
the occurrence giving rise to the obligation or liability shall be
treated as one of the occurrences mentioned in subarticle (1)( b ) or
( d ), and the obligation or liability as a liability to damages.
Amount to which 
liability is limited.
350. (1) The amounts beyond which the owners of a ship shall
not be liable as provided in article 349 are:
( a ) in respect of loss of life or personal injury, either alone
or together with such loss, damage or infringement as
is mentioned in subarticle (1)( b ) or ( d ) of that article,
an aggregate amount not exceeding an amount
equivalent to three thousand one hundred gold francs
for each ton of the ship’s tonnage;
( b ) in respect of such loss, damage or infringement as is
mentioned in subarticle (1)( b ) or ( d ) of that article, an
aggregate amount not exceeding an amount equivalent
to one thousand gold francs for each ton of the ship’s
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         163
tonnage.
(2) Where the liability is in respect of loss of life or personal
injury and in respect of such loss, damage or infringement as is
mentioned in article 349(1)( b ) and ( d ), a first portion amounting to
two thousand one hundred francs for each ton of the ship’s tonnage
shall be due exclusively in respect of loss of life or personal injury
and the balance shall be due exclusively in respect of the other
claims:
Provided that where the claims for loss of life or personal
injury are not fully satisfied, the unpaid balance shall rank rateably
with the said other claims on the balance which would otherwise be
due in respect of such other claims.
(3) For the purposes of this article - 
( a ) a gold franc shall be taken to be a unit consisting of
sixty-five and a half milligrams of gold of millesimal
fineness nine hundred; and the Minister may from time
to time by order in the Gazette specify the amounts
which for the purposes of this article are to be taken as
equivalent to three thousand one hundred, two
thousand one hundred, and one thousand gold francs,
respectively;
( b ) the tonnage of a ship, other than a sailing ship, shall be
her registered tonnage with the addition of any engine
room space deducted for the purpose of ascertaining
that tonnage; and the tonnage of a sailing ship shall be
her registered tonnage;
( c ) where a foreign ship has been or can be measured
according to Maltese law, her tonnage, as ascertained
by that measurement, shall be deemed to be her
tonnage;
( d ) where a foreign ship has not been and cannot be
measured according to Maltese law, a surveyor of
ships, appointed by the court hearing the case in which
the tonnage of the ship is in question, shall, on
receiving such evidence concerning the dimensions of
the ship as it may be practicable to furnish, give a
certificate under his hand stating what would in his
opinion have been the tonnage of the ship if she had
been duly measured according to Maltese law, and the
tonnage so stated in that certificate shall be deemed to
be the tonnage of the ship.
Limitation to apply 
to each distinct 
occasion.
351.   The limits set by articles 349 and 350 to the liabilities
mentioned therein shall apply to the aggregate of such liabilities
which are incurred on any distinct occasion; and shall so apply in
respect of each distinct occasion without regard to any liability
incurred on another occasion.
Cases where 
articles 349 and 
350 do not apply.
352.   Nothing in articles 349 and 350 shall apply to any liability
in respect of loss of life or personal injury caused to, or loss of or
damage to any property or infringement of any right of, a person
  164        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
who is on board or employed in connection with the ship under a
contract of service with all or any of the persons whose liabilities
are limited by those articles, or by those articles as extended by
article 353, if that contract is governed by the law of any country
outside Malta and that law either does not set any limit to that
liability or sets a limit exceeding that set as aforesaid under this
Act.
Extension of 
exclusion or 
limitation of 
liability.
353. (1) The persons whose liability in connection with a ship
is excluded or limited by the foregoing provisions of this Part of
this Act shall include any charterer and any person interested in or
in the possession of the ship, and, in particular, any manager or
operator of the ship.
(2) In relation to a claim arising from the act or omission of
any person in his capacity as master or member of the crew or
(otherwise than in that capacity) in the course of his employment as
a servant of the owners or of any such person as is mentioned in
subarticle (1) -
( a ) the persons whose liability is excluded or limited as
aforesaid shall also include the master, member of the
crew or servant, and, in a case where the master or
member of the crew is the servant of a person whose
liability would not be excluded or limited apart from
this paragraph, the person whose servant he is; and
( b ) the liability of the master, member of the crew or
servant himself shall be excluded or limited as
aforesaid notwithstanding his actual fault or privity in
that capacity, except in the case mentioned in article
348( b ).
Unregistered ships 
and ships in the 
course of 
completion.
354. (1) The foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act
relating to the exclusion or limitation of liability in relation to ships
shall apply to any structure, whether completed or in course of
completion, launched or intended for use in navigation as a ship or
part of a ship, and shall apply to any barge or like vessel however
propelled, and the expression "ship" in this Part of this Act shall be
construed accordingly.
(2) The aforesaid provisions shall also apply to a ship which is
not registered anywhere and is owned exclusively by persons
habitually resident in Malta or by bodies corporate established
under and subject to the laws of Malta.
(3) The tonnage of a ship or structure to which the said
provisions apply by virtue of this article shall, for the purposes of
this Part of this Act, be ascertained as provided by article 350(3)
with regard to foreign ships.
Power of court to 
consolidate claims.
Amended by:
XXIV.1995.362.
355. (1) Where any liability is alleged to have been incurred
by any person in respect of an occurrence in respect of which his
liability is limited under this Part of this Act, and several claims are
made or apprehended in respect of that liability, such person may
apply to the Civil Court, First Hall, for the determination of the
amount of his liability and for the distribution of that amount
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         165
rateably among the claimants, and in any such case the Civil Court,
First Hall, may stay any proceedings pending in relation to the
same matter, and any other court may, upon an application in that
behalf and notwithstanding any other provision of law, transfer any
such proceedings for trial by the Civil Court, First Hall. The Civil
Court, First Hall, and on appeal the appellate court, may in any of
the circumstances aforesaid proceed in such manner and subject to
such procedure as to making persons interested parties to the
proceedings and as to the exclusion of any claimants who do not
come in within a certain time, and as to requiring security from the
applicant, and as to the payment of any costs, as the court thinks
just.
(2) In making any distribution in accordance with this article,
the court may, if it thinks fit, postpone the distribution of such part
of the amount to be distributed as it deems appropriate having
regard to any claim that may later be established before a court of
any country outside Malta.
(3) Any distribution under this article shall be made in
proportion to the amounts of the established claims, regard being
had to the provisions of article 350 and to any other relevant
provision, and no rights of preference or other rights in respect of
any ship or property shall affect the proportions in which under this
article any amount is distributed amongst several claimants.
Part owners to 
account in respect 
of damages.
356.   All sums paid for or on account of any loss or damage in
respect whereof the liability of persons in relation to a ship is
limited under the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act, and
all costs incurred in relation thereto, may be brought into account
among part owners of the same ship in the same manner as money
disbursed for the use thereof.
Release of ship.
obtained in connection with a claim which appears to the court to
be founded on a liability to which a limit is set by this Part of this
Act, or security is given to prevent or obtain release from such a
warrant, the court may, and in the circumstances mentioned in
subarticle (3) shall, order the release of the ship, property or
security, if the conditions specified in subarticle (2) are satisfied;
but where the release is ordered, the person upon whose application
it is ordered shall be deemed to have submitted to the jurisdiction
of the court to adjudicate on the claim and the court shall have
jurisdiction so to adjudicate.
(2) The said conditions are:
( a ) that security which in the opinion of the court is
satisfactory (in this article referred to as "guarantee")
has previously been given, whether in Malta or
elsewhere, in respect of the said liability or any other
liability incurred on the same occasion and the court is
satisfied that, if the claim is established the amount for
which the guarantee was given or such part thereof as
corresponds to the claim will be actually available to
the claimant; and
  166        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
( b ) that either the guarantee is for an amount not less than
the said limit or further security is given which,
together with the guarantee, is for an amount not less
than that limit.
(3) The circumstances mentioned in subarticle (1) are that the
guarantee was given in a port which, in relation to the claim, is the
relevant port or, as the case may be, a relevant port, and that port is
in a Convention country.
(4) For the purposes of this article -
( a ) a guarantee given by the giving of security in more
than one country shall be deemed to have been given
in the country in which the security was last given;
( b ) any question whether the amount of any security is
(either by itself or together with any other amount) not
less than any limit set by this Part of this Act shall be
decided as at the time at which the security is given;
( c ) where part only of the amount for which a guarantee is
given will be available to a claimant that part shall not
be taken to correspond to his claim if any other part
may be available to a claimant in respect of a liability
to which no limit is set as mentioned in subarticle (1).
(5) In this article -
"Convention country" means any country in respect of which the
Convention is in force (including any country to which the
Convention extends by virtue of Article 14 thereof);
"relevant port" -
( a ) in relation to any claim, means the port where the
event giving rise to the claim occurred or, if that event
did not occur in a port, the first port of call after the
event occurred; and
( b ) in relation to a claim for loss of life or personal injury
or for damage to cargo, includes the port of
disembarkation or discharge;
"the Convention" means the International Convention relating to
the Limitation of the Liability of Owners of Seagoing Ships signed
in Brussels on 10th October, 1957.
(6) If the Minister by order published in the Gazette declares
that any country specified in the order is a Convention country
within the meaning of this article, the order shall, while in force, be
conclusive evidence that the country is a Convention country; but
any order made under this article may be varied or revoked by a
subsequent order.
Restriction on 
enforcement after 
security is given.
358. (1) No claim founded on a liability to which a limit is set
by this Part of this Act, and no judgment or decree in relation
thereto, shall be enforced, except so far as it is for costs, against
any other assets, if security for an amount not less than the said
limit has been given, whether in Malta or elsewhere, in respect of
the liability or any other liability incurred on the same occasion and
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         167
the court is of opinion that the security is satisfactory and is
satisfied that the amount for which it was given or such part thereof
as corresponds to the claim will be actually available to the
claimant.
(2) For the purposes of this article -
( a ) any question whether the amount of any security is not
less than any limit set by this Part of this Act shall be
decided as at the time at which the security is given;
( b ) where part only of the amount for which security has
been given will be available to the claimant that part
shall not be taken to correspond to his claim if any
other part may be available to a claimant in respect of
a liability to which no limit is set as mentioned in
subarticle (1).
Apportionment of liability
Meanings for the 
purposes of the 
following 
provisions.
359.   For the purposes of the following provisions of this Part of
this Act, "freight" includes passage money and hire, and references
to damage or loss caused by the fault of a vessel shall be construed
as including references to any salvage or other expenses,
consequent upon that fault, recoverable at law by way of damages.
Rules as to division 
of loss.
360. (1) Where by the fault of two or more vessels damage or
loss is caused to one or more of those vessels, their cargoes or
freight, or to any property on board, the liability to make good the
damage or loss shall be in proportion to the degree in which each
vessel was in fault:
Provided that if, having regard to all the circumstances of
the case, it is not possible to establish different degrees of fault, the
liability shall be apportioned equally.
(2) Nothing in this article shall operate so as to render any
vessel liable for any loss or damage to which her fault has not
contributed, or shall affect the liability of any person under a
contract of carriage or any contract, or shall be construed as
imposing any liability upon any person from which he is exempted
by any contract or by any provision of law, or as affecting the right
of any person to limit his liability in the manner provided by law.
Damages for 
personal injuries.
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 vessels
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 action
brought against him by the person injured, or any person or persons
entitled to sue in respect of such loss of life, or shall affect the right
of any person to limit his liability in cases to which this article
relates in the manner provided by law.
  168        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Right of 
contribution.
362.   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, and a proportion of the damage is recovered
against the owners of one of the vessels which exceeds the
proportion in which she was in fault, they may recover by way of
contribution the amount of the excess from the owners of the other
vessel or vessels to the extent to which those vessels were
respectively in fault:
Provided that no amount shall be so recovered which could
not, by reason of any statutory or contractual limitation of, or
exemption from, liability, or which could not for any other reason,
have been recovered in the first instance as damages by the person
entitled to sue therefor.
PART X 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Registrar-General and Registrars
Registrar-General. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII.1988.42: 
XVII.1991.82.
363. (1) There shall be a Registrar-General of Shipping and
Seamen whose office shall be held by an Executive Director of the
Authority, and who shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and
the Malta Maritime Authority Act, 1991, undertake the general
superintendence of all matters relating to merchant shipping and
seamen and ensure the carrying into effect of the provisions of this
Act.
(2) The Registrar-General may carry out any of the duties, and
shall have all the powers which by this Act are to be carried out by,
or are conferred on, the registrars.
Registrars. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII.1988.43; 
XVII. 1991.82;
XXII.2000.94.
364. (1) The Authority may also appoint registrars for the
purposes of this Act in such number as the Authority may deem
necessary for the proper execution of this Act.
(2) Registrars shall carry out their duties under the direction of
the Registrar-General and in accordance with instructions given by
the Authority or by the Registrar-General, and may be removed
from office.
(3) The Registrar-General and a registrar shall not be liable to
damages or otherwise for any loss accruing to any person by reason
of any act done or default made by him in his character of
Registrar-General or registrar, unless the same has happened
through his neglect or wilful act.
Register. 
Substituted by: 
XXXVII. 1988.44.
365. (1) Every registrar shall keep a record to be called the
register and there shall be made therein all such entries as required
so to be made by this Act.
(2) Every registrar shall file and properly index all documents
that are required to be kept by him.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         169
Instructions as to 
registry. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1988.4.
366.   The Registrar-General with the consent of the Minister
may, for carrying into effect the provisions of this Act, give such
instructions to the registrars and their officers as to the manner of
making entries in the register, as to the execution and attestation of
powers of attorney, as to any evidence required for identifying any
person, as to referring to him any question involving doubt or
difficulty, and generally as to any act or thing to be done in
pursuance of this Act, as he thinks fit.
Surveyors of ships
Surveyors of ships. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2, 95.
367. (1) For the purposes of this Act, a surveyor of ships is a
person fit to be a surveyor of ships appointed, either generally or
for specific purposes or on special occasion, by the Minister or by
organizations or bodies authorised by the Minister in that behalf,
and such person as aforesaid may be appointed as a ship surveyor
or as an engineer surveyor, or as both, or as a radio surveyor.
(2) The Minister shall have power in respect of surveyors -
( a ) to remove any surveyor of ships;
( b ) to fix and alter, whether by regulation or otherwise,
the remuneration or fees payable to them in respect of
surveys, inspections or other services rendered by
them;
( c ) to regulate the amount and payment of any travelling
or other expenses incurred by them in the execution of
their duties and functions and the person by whom and
the conditions under which the payment of those
expenses is to be made;
( d ) to make regulations as to the performance of their
duties and functions and in particular as to the manner
in which surveys and inspections of ships are to be
made and as to the notice to be given by them when
surveys are required.
(3) If a surveyor of ships demands or receives directly or
indirectly any fee, remuneration or gratuity whatsoever in respect
of any duties or functions performed by him under this Act
otherwise than by the direction of the Minister, he shall for each
offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred units.
Cap. 13.
(4) Until such time as the Minister has under this article fixed
the remuneration or fees payable to surveyors, Part III of the
Schedule to the Commercial Code shall have effect as if the fees
therein established had been fixed by the Minister under this
article. The provisions of Part III of the said Schedule shall,
however, be deemed to have been repealed with effect from the
date on which the remuneration or fees payable to surveyors have
been fixed by the Minister under this article.
(5) ( a ) The Minister may make regulations prescribing the
criteria in accordance with which organizations or bodies of
surveyors may be recognised for the purposes of this article.
( b ) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph ( a )
  170        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
the Minister may by order make a list of organizations or bodies of
surveyors which are recognised by any other State or any
international body as meeting the minimum criteria as may be set
out in any regulation made under paragraph ( a ) hereof, and may by
a subsequent order, amend, delete or substitute any such order.
( c ) Any organization or body appearing on a list as
provided for in paragraph ( b ) hereof shall be recognised for the
purposes of this article.
Powers of 
surveyors. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2, 96.
368. (1) A surveyor of ships in the execution of his duties and
functions may go on board any ship at all reasonable times and
inspect the same or part thereof, or any of the machinery, boats,
equipment or articles on board thereof, or any books, certificates
(including certificates of competency), papers or documents to
which the provisions of this Act, or of any of the rules or
regulations made under this Act, apply, not unnecessarily detaining
the ship from proceeding on any voyage, and if in consequence of
any accident to the ship or for any other reason he considers it
necessary so to do, may require the ship to be taken into dock for
the purpose of surveying the hull thereof.
(2) If any person hinders any surveyor of ships from going on
board any ship or otherwise impedes him in the execution of his
duties or functions under this Act, or fails to comply with any
lawful requirement of the surveyor, that person shall for each
offence be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
Returns by 
surveyors to 
Registrar- General. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2.
369. (1) Surveyors of ships shall make such returns to the
Registrar-General as the Registrar-General may require with
respect to build, dimensions, draught, burden, rate of sailing, room
for fuel, crew accommodation and the nature and particulars of
machinery and equipment of ships surveyed by them.
(2) The owner, master and engineer of any ship so surveyed
shall, on demand, give to the surveyors all such information and
assistance within his power as they require for the purposes of
those returns.
(3) If any owner, master or engineer, on being applied to for
that purpose, fails without reasonable cause to give any such
information or assistance, he shall for each offence be liable to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty units.
Jurisdiction and proceedings
Jurisdiction of 
Civil Court, First 
Hall.
Amended by: 
L.N. 148 of 1975;
XXXIV.1995.362.
370. (1) The Civil Court, First Hall, shall continue to exercise,
as part of its ordinary jurisdiction and in accordance with the mode
of procedure in force in that court, the jurisdiction hitherto
exercised by it by virtue of the Vice-Admiralty Court (Transfer of
Jurisdiction) Ordinance. *
(2) The Minister may by rules regulate the procedure to be
followed by or before the said court in any matter falling within the
jurisdiction of that court by virtue of this article and such other
*Repealed by this Act.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         171
related matters, including the fees payable in connection with
proceedings before the said court, as the Minister may deem it
expedient so to regulate:
Provided that until rules made under this article otherwise
provide, the provisions of articles 3, 4 and 5 of the Ordinance†
aforesaid shall continue to have effect notwithstanding the repeal
by this Act of that Ordinance.
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 officer not
below the rank of inspector, or any officer of customs, or any
officer of the Ministry responsible for shipping, or any Maltese
consular officer, or an appropriate inspector, may detain the ship,
and if the ship after detention or after service on the master of any
notice of or order for detention proceeds to sea before it is released
by competent authority, the master of the ship, and also the owner
and any person who sends the ship to sea, if that owner or person is
party or privy to the offence, shall be liable for each offence to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding two hundred units.
†Articles 3, 4 and 5 of the Vice-Admiralty Court (Transfer of
Jurisdiction) Ordinance provide as follows:
Cases for 
damage by 
collision.
Cap.12.
3. (1)  Nevertheless, in cases for damage by collision, the
provisions contained in article 54 of the Rules made, for the said
Vice Admiralty Court, by Her Majesty’s Order in Council dated
23rd August, 1883, respecting certain acts called preliminary acts,
shall continue to be observed; and both the Commercial Court and
the Court of Appeal may, instead of committing to experts
appointed under the provisions of the Code of Organization and
Civil Procedure an inquiry into the facts, appoint assessors to
assist the court itself in such inquiry, as was provided in article
106 of the said Rules.
(2) The Court of Appeal may appoint, as assessors, other
persons than those who may have been appointed by the
Commercial Court, and may appoint assessors even though the
Commercial Court shall have proceeded otherwise.
Provisions 
concerning the 
preliminary 
acts.
Cap.12.
4. As long as it shall not be otherwise provided by rules
made as provided in article 29 of the Code of Organization and
Civil Procedure the following provisions, with reference to the
preliminary acts mentioned in the last preceding article of this
Ordinance shall be observed:
( a ) the laws and usages of the said Vice-Admiralty
Court shall continue to be applicable to those acts;
( b ) the plaintiff shall file his preliminary act with the
writ of summons containing his claim for
damages;
( c )  the defendant, unless he shall have already filed
his act as plaintiff shall file it with a note, not later
than seven working days from the day on which
the writ of summons shall have been served upon
him.
Fees. 5. (1)  The fees to be levied by the Registrar, or to be taxed to
advocates, legal procurators, experts, or witnesses, shall be
regulated in accordance with the Tariffs in Schedule A annexed to
the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure.
Cap. 12. (2) The fees of assessors shall be those allowed by the
Rules mentioned in article 3 of this Ordinance.
  172        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Detention of ships. 
Amended by: 
L.N. 148 of 1975; 
XIII. 1983.5;
XXII. 2000.2, 97.
(2) Where a ship so proceeding to sea takes to sea when on
board thereof there is, in the execution of his duty, any officer
authorised to detain the ship, or any surveyor or officer of the
Ministry responsible for shipping or any officer of customs, the
owner and master of the ship shall each 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 hundred units.
(3) Where under this Act a ship is to be detained, the officer
authorised to clear the ship outwards shall, and where under this
Act a ship may be detained such officer may, refuse to clear that
ship outwards or to grant a transire to that ship.
Offences by body 
of persons.
372.   Where an offence under this Act is committed by an
association or body of persons, every person who at the time of the
commission of the offence, was a director, manager, secretary or
other similar officer of such association or body of persons, or was
purporting to act in any such capacity, shall be guilty of that
offence unless he proves that offence was committed without his
knowledge and that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the
commission of the offence.
Fixing and 
imposition of fines. 
Added by: 
XXVII. 1988.45 . 
Cap. 12.
372A.   (1)  All penalties contemplated by any provision of this
Act may be fixed and imposed by the Registrar-General.
(2) The imposition of a penalty in terms of this Act shall
constitute an executive title within the meaning and for the
purposes of Title VII of Part I of Book Second of the Code of
Organisation and Civil Procedure.
Enforcement of 
fines. 
Added by: 
XXXVII. 1988.45. 
372B.     The Registrar-General shall serve a demand note upon
the person upon whom a fine is imposed and if payment is not made
within seven days from the date of the service of such demand note,
the Registrar-General may proceed to enforce payment after two
days from the service on the debtor of an intimation for payment
made by means of a judicial act.
Value of unit.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.98.
372C. The term “unit” with reference to any fine ( multa ) that
may be imposed under this Act shall be equivalent to one lira or to
such other sum as the Minister with the concurrence of the Minister
responsible for justice may by order from time to time determine.
Application of Act to foreign ships by Order
Application of Act 
by order to foreign 
ships.
373.   Where it has been made to appear to the Minister that the
government of any foreign country is desirous that any of the
provisions of this Act which do not apply to the ships of that
country should so apply and there are no special provisions in this
Act for that application, the Minister may order that such of those
provisions as are in the order specified (subject to the limitations, if
any, contained therein) apply to the ships of that country, and to the
owners, masters, seamen and apprentices of those ships, when not
locally within the jurisdiction of the government of that country, in
the same manner in all respects as if those ships were Maltese
ships.
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         173
Regulations, Rules and Orders
Power to make 
regulations etc. 
Amended by: 
XXXVII. 1990.20.
374. (1) Without prejudice to the powers conferred by the
foregoing provisions of this Act, the Minister may make
regulations, rules or orders, or give instructions, for the carrying
into operation of any of the provisions of this Act and for
prescribing the fees to be paid for any service provided and any
other thing done under or for the purposes of this Act, and in
particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing,
for prescribing anything that is required or authorised by this Act to
be prescribed.
(2) Regulations, rules and orders made under the provisions of
this Act shall include such requirements, in regard to the matters in
respect of which the regulations, rules or orders are made, as
appear to the Minister to implement the provisions in regard to
those matters of international conventions or protocols ratified or
acceded to by the Government of Malta.
(3) Any power conferred on the Minister by this Act to make
regulations, rules or orders, or to give instructions, shall include
power - 
( a ) to vary, alter or repeal any such regulation, rule, order
or instruction, without prejudice to the making of a
new regulation, rule or order, or the giving of a new
instruction;
( b ) subject to such limitations or other express provision
contained in this Act, to provide for fines ( multa  or
ammenda ) or imprisonment, or both, and for such other
sanction as the Minister may deem appropriate;
( c ) to make such transitional or other incidental or
supplementary provisions as may appear to the
Minister to be appropriate.
(4) Regulations, rules and orders made under any of the
provisions of this Act may be made in the English language only.
(5) Regulations, rules and orders made under this Act shall be
laid on the Table of the House of Representatives as soon as may be
after they are made and if, within the period of twenty-eight days
after they are so laid, the House resolves that they be annulled or
amended, the same shall thereupon cease to have effect or shall be
so amended, as the case may require, but without prejudice to the
validity of anything previously done thereunder or to the making of
new regulations, rules or orders.
(6) In reckoning for the purposes of subarticle (5) any such
period of twenty-eight days, no account shall be taken of any time
during which the House of Representatives is not in session or
during which it is adjourned for more than seven days.
  174        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Ratification, etc., 
of certain treaties, 
etc., relating to 
merchant shipping.
Cap. 304.
Added by:
XXII. 2000.99.
375. (1) For the purposes of the Ratification of Treaties Act,
the Government of Malta is hereby empowered to ratify, or accede
to the treaties or conventions (including protocols, annexes and
appendices thereto) referring to merchant shipping listed in
subarticle (2), and the Minister may upon the ratification or
accession of any of the said treaties or conventions make
regulations giving effect to the provisions thereof, and such power
shall include the power to provide that any provision of this Act
inconsistent with the provisions of any such treaty or convention
shall no longer apply.
(2) The treaties and conventions to which subarticle (1) refers
are the following:
( a ) Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime
Claims signed in London on the 19th November, 1976;
( b ) Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on
Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976
signed in London on the 2nd May, 1996;
( c ) Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of
Passengers and their Luggage by Sea signed in Athens
on the 13th December, 1974;
( d ) Protocol to the Athens Convention relating to the
Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, 1974
signed in London on the 19th November, 1976;
( e ) Protocol of 1990 to amend the Athens Convention
relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their
Luggage by Sea, 1974 signed in London on the 29th
March, 1990;
( f ) International Convention on Salvage signed in London
on the 28th April, 1989;
( g ) Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts
Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation signed in
Rome on the 10th March, 1988;
( h ) Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against
the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the
Continental Shelf signed in Rome on the 10th March,
1988;
( i ) International Convention on Maritime Search and
Rescue signed in Hamburg on the 27th April, 1979;
( j ) International Convention on Liability and
Compensation for Damage in connection with the
Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea
signed in London on the 3rd May, 1996;
( k ) International Convention for Safe Containers signed in
Geneva on the 2nd December, 1972;
( l ) Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating to the
Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety
of Fishing Vessels, 1977 signed in Torremolinos on
the 2nd April, 1993;
( m ) International Convention on Maritime Liens and
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         175
Mortgages signed in Geneva on the 6th May, 1993;
( n ) International Convention on Arrest of Ships, 1999
signed in Geneva on the 12th March, 1999;
( o ) Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention,
1976 (No. 147) signed in Geneva on the 13th October,
1976;
( p ) Protocol of 1996 to the Merchant Shipping (Minimum
Standards) Convention, 1976 signed in Geneva on the
22nd October, 1996;
( q ) Prevention of Accidents (Seafarers) Convention, 1970
(No. 134) signed in Geneva on the 13th October, 1970;
( r ) Accommodation of Crews Convention (Revised), 1949
(No. 92) signed in Geneva on the 8th June, 1949;
( s ) Accommodation of Crews (Supplementary Provisions)
Convention, 1970 (No. 133) signed in Geneva on the
14th October, 1970;
( t ) Repatriation of Seamen Convention, 1926 (No. 23)
signed in Geneva on the 7th June, 1926;
( u ) Repatriation of Seafarers Convention (Revised), 1987
(No. 166) signed in Geneva on the 24th September,
1987;
( v ) Food and Catering (Ships’ Crews) Convention, 1946
(No. 68) signed in Seattle on the 6th June, 1946;
( w ) Labour Inspection (Seafarers) Convention, 1996 (No.
178) signed in Geneva on the 22nd October, 1996;
( x ) Seafarers’ Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships
Convention, 1996 (No. 180) signed in Geneva on the
22nd October, 1996;
( y ) Shipowners’ Liability (Sick and Injured Seamen)
Convention, 1936 (No. 55) signed in Geneva on the
6th October, 1936;
( z ) Health Protection and Medical Care (Seafarers)
Convention, 1987 (No. 164) signed in Geneva on the
24th September, 1987.
(3) The Minister shall upon the ratification or accession of any
treaty or convention to which this article refers publish a notice in
the Gazette stating the date on which such treaty or convention
shall come into force with regard to Malta.
(4) The House of Representatives may by resolution add to the
list of treaties or conventions in subarticle (2).
(5) Any reference in this article to a treaty or a convention or a
protocol shall include reference to any amendment to such treaty or
convention or protocol ratified, acceded to or accepted by the
Government of Malta.
  176        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
                                    
B. The rates per net tonnage payable on registration and annually in respect of all ships,
except pleasure yachts, of 24 metres in length overall and more, are as follows
Substituted by:
L.N. 37 of 1989; 
L.N. 152 of 1989.
Amended by:
L.N. 86 of 1993.
Substituted by:
L.N. 125 of 1995;
L.N. 278 of 2002.
Amended by:
L.N. 340 of 2002.
FIRST SCHEDULE
[Article 6]
R E G I S T R A T I O N  F E E S
A. The fee on registration and the annual fee for all ships shall be as follows:
Ship Fee on Registration
Annual
Basic
Fee Lm
Tonnage Tax
Fishing vessels of less than 24 metres length overall
Commercial 10 cents per net tonnage 10 5 cents per net 
tonnage
Recreational Lm 50 10 Lm 50
All other ships of less than 24 metres length overall
less than 50 gross tonnage Lm 50 10 Lm 75
of 50 gross tonnage or more 20
Pleasure yachts of 24 metres
length overall or more
10 cents per net tonnage 
subject to minimum of 
Lm 75
50
15 cents per net 
tonnage subject to 
minimum of Lm 150
All other ships of 24 metres
length overall or more
Rates as appear in para B 
subject to reduction as 
appear in para C
100 for 
year of 
registration 
and 300 
thereafter
Rates as appear in 
para B subject to 
reduction or increase 
as appear in para C
Ship of Net Tonnage (NT)
Fee on Registration Annual Tonnage TaxExceeding Not 
Exceeding
0 2,500 Lm250 Lm375
2,500 8,000
Lm250 plus 10 cents for every 
NT in excess of 2,500 NT
Lm375 plus 15 cents for 
every NT in excess of 
2,500 NT
8,000 10,000
Lm800 plus 3 cents for every NT 
in excess of 8,000 NT
Lm1,200 plus 8 cents for 
every NT in excess of 
8,000 NT
10,000 15,000
Lm860 plus 3 cents for every NT 
in excess of 10,000 NT
Lm1,360 plus 6 cents for 
every NT in excess of 
10,000 NT
15,000 20,000
Lm1,010 plus 3 cents for every 
NT in excess of 15,000 NT
Lm1,660 plus 5 cents for 
every NT in excess of 
15,000 NT
20,000 30,000
Lm1,160 plus 3 cents for every 
NT in excess of 20,000 NT
Lm1,910 plus 4 cents for 
every NT in excess of 
20,000 NT
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         177
C. The fees due on registration and the annual tonnage tax in respect of all ships, except
pleasure yachts, of 24 metres length overall and more shall be subject to reduction or increase
as follows:
D. Registration fees for any one year paid after the anniversary of registration for that
year shall be increased by ten per cent.
E. Dues on any ship shall be rounded upwards to the nearest whole lira.
F. The Minister may, under such conditions as he may deem appropriate, exempt any
ship or any class of ships from the payment of all or part of the fees payable in terms of these
regulations.
G. For the purposes of this Schedule,
"age"  in relation to a ship, means the difference between the year in which the ship was
built and the year in respect of which the fee is due;
"fishing vessel"  means a vessel granted a licence or permit to fish in terms of the Fisheries
Conservation and Management Act;
"gross tonnage" , "length overall"  and "net tonnage" shall be that as may be ascertained in
terms of the tonnage regulations made under this Act.
30,000 50,000
Lm1,460 plus 3 cents for every 
NT in excess of 30,000 NT
Lm2,310 plus 3 cents for 
every NT in excess of 
30,000 NT
Exceeding 50,000
Lm2,060 plus 3 cents for every 
NT in excess of 50,000 NT
Lm2,910 plus 2 cents for 
every NT in excess of 
50,000 NT
Age of Ship
Reduction on Fee on 
Registration
%
Reduction or Increase on 
Annual Tonnage Tax
%
Equal to or 
Exceeding Less than
Years
0 5 50 - 30
5 10 25 - 15
10 15 - -
15 20 - + 5
20 25 - + 10 Subject to 
minimum 
increase of 
Lm500
25 30 - + 25
Equal to or exceeding 30 - + 50
  178        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Substituted by:         SECOND SCHEDULE
XVII. 1991.82;
XXII. 2000.100.
[A R T I C L E  69]
DOCUMENTS TO BE IN THE FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE MINISTER
1. Provisional Certificate of Registry
2. Certificate of Registry
3. Renewal Certificate of Registry
4. Provisional Certificate of Bareboat Charter Registry
5. Certificate of Bareboat Charter Registry
6. Renewal Certificate of Bareboat Charter Registry
7. Certificate of Surveyor 
8. Declaration of ownership by individual owner
9. Declaration of ownership by individual transferee
10. Declaration of ownership on behalf of body corporate as owner
11. Declaration of ownership on behalf of body corporate as transferee
12. Declaration of owner taking by transmission
13. Declaration by mortgagee taking by transmission
14. Declaration of bareboat charter by individual charterer
15. Declaration of bareboat charter on behalf of body corporate as charterer
16. Bill of Sale
17. Mortgage
18. Transfer of Mortgage
19. Special Privilege
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         179
THIRD SCHEDULE 
[A R T I C L E  72]
NATIONAL COLOURS FOR MALTESE SHIPS
  180        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
FOURTH SCHEDULE 
[A R T I C L E  195]
FORM OF MALTESE SEAMAN’S CARD
1 2
DECLARATION
1. This card is a seaman’s
identity document for the purpose
of the Seafarer’s Identity
Documents Convention, 1958,
adopted by the General
Conference of the International
Organisation on 13th May, 1958. 
2. This card must be carefully
preserved and produced on
demand to the Shipping Master.
 I DECLARE (i) that the person to
whom this card relates has satisfied
me as to entitlement to hold the card
and (ii) that the photograph within
bearing an official stamp is a true
likeness of that person and that the
signature and preserved a personal
description of that person are true.
3. If the card is lost the fact
must be reported to the Registrar-
General of Shipping and Seamen.
Date................................ 
OFFICE STAMP
4. Only the Registrar-General or
a duly authorised person may
make an entry or alteration on this
card. The Holder may not do so
himself. If any particulars require
alteration, apply to the Registrar-
General. It is a punishable offence
to forge or fraudulently alter this
card or to allow it to be used by
another person.
SIGNATURE OF 
ISSUING OFFICER 
_______________________________
5. This card may be held only
by persons who, being citizens of
Malta, are employed or engaged,
or ordinarily employed or
engaged, in seagoing employment.
If the Holder ceases to be entitled
to a Maltese Seaman’s Card, he
must surrender the card to the
Registrar-General, but it will be
re-issued on resumption of
entitlement to a card. Failure to
observe this or any other
requirement of the Merchant
Shipping Act, in relation to
Identity Cards, may render the
offender liable to prosecution.
_______________________________
Note: Any person finding this card
must deliver it or forward it to the
Registrar-General of Shipping and
Seamen, Valletta, Malta.
____________________________
 MERCHANT SHIPPING            [ CAP. 234.         181
3 4
MALTESE SEAMAN’S CARD 
PERSONAL PARTICULARS
All particulars to   be   in   BLOCK
CAPITALS
Serial No. ......................
Surname ................................................. National Insurance No........................
Other names ........................................... Union or Society No...........................
Birth    (a)  Date .......................................
            (b)  Place ......................................  Photograph of Holder
Colour  (a)  Eyes  ......................................
           (b)  Hair  ........................................
EMBOSSING
STAMPComplexion ...........................................Height ......... ft .................... ins.
......... meters ..............centimetres
Distinguishing marks (if any)..................  Signature of Holder 
..............................................................
Discharge Book No ...............................  (or if holder is unable to sign, his left
thumbprint and the signature of a
witness)Nationality ............................................Home Address .......................................
..............................................................
Name and address of next-of-Kin 
..............................................................
  182        CAP. 234. ]               MERCHANT SHIPPING
Added by: 
XXXVII.1988.38.                                             FIFTH SCHEDULE 
         [A R T I C L E  86]
DECLARATION IN LIEU OF TAX RETURN IN RESPECT OF A 
COMPANY OWNING AND, OR, OPERATING AN EXEMPTED SHIP
Name of Company ............................................................ 
Name and official number of ship ...................................... 
Declaration made by ..........................................................
of ...................................................................................... 
Year of Assessment ...........................................................
I the undersigned do solemnly declare that I have ascertained to
the best of my ability that the above mentioned company is the
owner of the above mentioned ship which is an exempted ship under
the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, and that the objects of
the company limit its operations to the owing and, or, operation of
an exempted ship, and the company qualifies for the concessions
granted by the said Act for the period commencing
..................................................................................................
and ending ....................................................................................
and that the relative registration fees for this period have been paid.
I also declare that I have ascertained to the best of my ability that
the company has not engaged in any business other than the
ownership and, or, operation of exempted ships and that during any
period not covered by the above mentioned dates the company has
not traded and has not had any income which would not be
exempted under the said Merchant Shipping Act.
I finally declare that to the best of my knowledge the company
does not stand to lose any of the concessions granted nor has it
waived any of the said concessions under the Act.
I make this declaration in full knowledge of the consequence of
false declarations under the laws of Malta.
Signature ...............................................
Identity Document No. ...........................
Status .................................................... 
Date: ......................................................
