S.L. 234.51 Art. 75Persons entitled to relief, etc.

(1) For the purpose of rules 76 to 85, both inclusive, persons hereinafter referred to as "distressed seafarers" are:

(a) any seafarer, whether a citizen of Malta or not, who is found in any place and who 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;

(b) any seafarer, being a citizen of Malta, who has been engaged to serve in a ship belonging to the Government of, or registered in, any foreign State, is in distress in any place: Provided that the relevant authority shall facilitate the repatriation of seafarers serving on ships which call at its ports or pass through the territorial or internal waters of Malta as well as their replacement on board.

(2) If three months have elapsed since a seafarer left his last ship before he applies to the proper authority for relief, he shall not be entitled to be dealt with under these rules.

(3) In case of shipwreck or foundering, the date on which each seafarer will be entitled to relief may vary according to the time when he ceases to be employed in connection with the abandoned ship.