S.L. 234.55 Art. 14Inspection, detentionandother measuresinrespect of ships.

(1) The Registrar General, or an appropriate inspector, may inspect any ship to which these regulations apply and if satisfied that the ship is not in compliance with the provisions of these regulations and the applicable requirements of the Convention, the Registrar General shall take such measures as are considered necessary to ensure that the ship shall not sail until it can proceed to sea without presenting an unreasonable threat of harm to the marine environment and any expenses incurred therefore shall be a charge on the ship, so however that the ship shall not be unduly detained or delayed:

Provided that the Registrar General may permit the ship to proceed to sea for the purpose of proceeding to the nearest appropriate repair yard available:

Provided further that, in the case of a non-Maltese ship, such inspection shall be limited to verify that there is on-board in relation to such ship a valid International Ballast Water Management Certificate and inspection of the Ballast Water record book, unless there are clear grounds for believing that the condition of the ship or its equipment does not correspond substantially with the particulars of that certificate or the master or the crew are not familiar with essential shipboard procedures relating to Ballast Water Management, or have not implemented such procedures, a more detailed inspection may be carried out.

(2) In the case of a non-Maltese ship, if the Registrar General takes such steps as specified in sub-regulation (1), the Registrar General shall forthwith notify the maritime Administration and the nearest maritime, consular or diplomatic representative of the flag State of the ship.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation, the provisions of article 154(2) and (3) of the Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Registrar General and to appropriate inspectors.