Merchant Shipping Act 1894

Property of seamen who die during voyage.

169

169.(1) If any seaman or apprentice to the sea service belonging to a British ship the voyage of which is to terminate in the United Kingdom, whether a foreign-going or a home trade ship, dies during that voyage, the master of the ship shall take charge of any money or effects belonging to the seaman or apprentice which are on board the ship.

(2) The master may, if he think fit, cause any of the effects to be sold by auction at the mast or otherwise by public auction.

(3) The master shall enter in the official log-book the following particulars:—

(a) A statement of the amount of the money and a description of the effects:

(b) In case of a sale, a description of each article sold, and the sum received for each:

(c) A statement of the sum due to the deceased for wages and of the amount of deductions (if any) to be made from the wages.

(4) The entry shall be signed by the master and attested by a mate and some other member of the crew.

(5) The said money, effects, proceeds of sale of effects, and balance of wages, are in this Act referred to as the property of the seaman or apprentice.

Annotations:

Modifications (not altering text):

C22

Application of ss. 169-181 extended (1.06.1907) by Merchant Shipping Act 1906 (6 Edw. 7) c. 48, s. 29, commenced as per s. 86(2). Note effect of Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, Adaptation Order 1942 (S.R.& O. No. 484 of 1942).

Property of seaman dying on a ship the voyage of which does not terminate in the United Kingdom. 

29. The provisions of Part II of the principal Act, relating to the property of deceased seamen shall be extended so as to apply to seamen belonging to a British ship registered in the United Kingdom, the voyage of which is to terminate out of the United Kingdom, and in that case the British consular officer at the port at which the voyage terminates, or, if the port is in a British possession, the officer of customs there, shall exercise the same powers as he may exercise under those provisions when a ship the voyage of which is to terminate in the United Kingdom touches and remains for forty-eight hours at a port elsewhere than in the United Kingdom, and those provisions shall apply accordingly.