Cap. 12 Art. 857The authority in charge of the vessel to be considered official consignee.

(1) The authority which has in its hands or under its control the sea going vessel against which such warrant of arrest has been issued shall take all necessary measures to display the court order for the general attention of third parties.

(2) For the purposes of this warrant the Authority for Transport in Malta or such other authority as may be designated from time to time by the Minister shall be deemed to be the authority having in its hands or under its power or control the arrested ship or vessel.

(3) A vessel is deemed to be in the power or control of the

Authority for Transport in Malta as soon as the vessel enters

Maltese territorial waters.

(4) All expenses as may be necessary for the preservation of the arrested ship or vessel shall, from the moment that the warrant of arrest is served on the Authority for Transport in Malta, be borne by the party issuing the warrant, saving his right to recover such expenses together with his claim.