S.L. 234.51 Art. 74Repatriation of seafarers on termination of service at foreign port.

(1) Where the service of a seafarer terminates otherwise than by his consent to be discharged during the currency of the agreement, the master of the ship shall, besides giving the certificate of discharge required under this rule and besides paying the wages to which the seafarer is entitled, make adequate provision in accordance with this rule for his maintenance and for his return to a proper return port.

(2) If the master fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this rule, the expenses of maintenance and of the journey to the proper return port -

(a) if paid by the seafarer, shall be recoverable as wages due to him;

(b) if paid by any such seafarer as aforesaid or by any other person, shall (unless the seafarer has been guilty of barratry) be a charge on the ship to which the seafarer belonged, and may also be recovered against the owner of the ship, at the suit of the person who paid the expenses, or, in case they have been allowed out of public money, as a debt due to the Government of Malta.