Cap. 352 Art. 13Agent may not relinquish agency.

A ship agent, who has performed any act in respect of the ship required to be performed by any of the provisions of this Act or who has incurred or has made any payment or entered into any liability in respect of a ship in any port, shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to be the agent of the ship, during the time such ship remains in Malta:

Provided that the said ship agent shall no longer be deemed the agent of the ship as aforesaid if the ship owner has replaced the said ship agent, and has appointed another ship agent to represent the ship whilst the said ship is still in Malta, in which case, the ship agent so replaced shall no longer be deemed to be the agent of the ship from the date of the appointment of the subsequent ship agent by the ship owner.

fees which may from time to time be prescribed.

(2) The following persons shall be liable for the payment of any dues, charges or fees levied under this Act:

(a) the master or owner of the ship;

(b) the agent of the ship, who shall have paid or made himself liable to pay any charge on account of such ship: Provided that the ship agent’s liability for such charges shall not exceed a maximum of the amount up to which the agent enjoys a privilege under article 50 of the Merchant Shipping Act.

(3) Where any dues, charges or fees levied under this article are paid by the agent or representative made liable for payment by subarticle (2)(b), such agent or representative may retain out of any moneys in his hands received on account of the ship, or the owner thereof, the amount paid by him together with any reasonable expense he may have incurred by reason of such payment or liability.