Cap. 37 Art. 6Master to report within 24 hours after arrival.

(1) (a) Without prejudice to any other obligation under any other law, the master of every vessel, whether laden or in ballast, shall inform the port authority about the vessel not later than the moment the vessel enters Maltese territorial seas.

(b) Without prejudice to any other obligation under any other law, the master of every vessel with goods, shall inform the port authority about such ladened goods to the port authority not later than the moment the vessel enters Maltese territorial seas. This obligation shall not apply when the goods have already been declared to the Commissioner.

(c) Without prejudice to any other obligation under any other law, the master of every vessel, whether laden or in ballast, shall make due report of such vessel to the Commissioner, as the Minister may by regulations prescribe, not later than the moment that the vessel berths, moors or anchors in Maltese territorial waters. This obligation shall not apply when the vessel has already made due report to the port authority electronically. Information given under paragraph (a) or (b) does not fulfil the obligation to make a due report under this paragraph.

(2) The provisions of sub-article (1) shall not apply to any vessel that enters Maltese territorial waters solely to receive orders or take on board stores for use of such vessel or when passing through territorial waters;

but if any such vessel does not depart within forty-eight hours after her arrival, the master shall make due report of such vessel and of her cargo.

(3) At the time of making report, the master shall answer all such questions relating to the ship, cargo, crew and voyage as shall be put to him by the Commissioner or by the port authority or by other proper officer.

(4) If the master fails to make due report, or if he shall present such a report and the same is inaccurate in any material particular, or if he refuses to answer or does not answer truly any question put to him as aforesaid, he shall on conviction be liable to a fine (multa) of not less than two hundred and fifty euro (€250) but not exceeding two thousand five hundred euro (€2,500).

(5) All goods falsely described either in the report or in the bill of lading shall be forfeited.

(6) All goods not duly reported may be detained by any Customs official until so reported, or until the omission is explained to the satisfaction of the Minister responsible for customs, and may in the meantime be removed to a government warehouse.

(7) Without prejudice to any other obligation under any other law, the provisions of this article apply also to any aircraft mutatis mutandis entering the airspace of Malta and the pilot of that aircraft has the same duties towards the airport authority as the master of a ship has towards the port authority, as provided for in this article, and on conviction is liable to the same fine (multa) if he is found guilty of non-fulfilment of these obligations.

(8) In this article, the word "aircraft" means any aircraft flying, or intended by the operator to fly, for the purpose of aerial work.