Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)

Chapter IV : Engagement, Discharge, Repatriation, Payment, Discipline and General Treatment of Seafarers and Cadets

Purchase

(1)	Subject to the provisions of subsection (4) of section three hundred and fifty-five, no seafarer engaged on or belonging to a treaty ship shall without reasonable cause—

[Words preceding section 175(1)(a) substituted by section 29(d) of Act No. 12 of 2015]

(a)	at a port in the Republic, in the case of a treaty ship other than a South African ship; or

[Section 175(1)(a) substituted by section 28 of Act No. 40 of 1963]

(b)	at any place whatsoever, in the case of a South African ship,

absent himself from his ship with the intention of not returning thereto.

[Section 175(1) substituted by section 46 of Act No. 69 of 1962]

(2)	Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of desertion.

(3)	No person shall knowingly harbour or secrete a seafarer who has contravened or is contravening the provisions of subsection (1).

[Section 175(3) substituted by section 29(d) of Act No. 12 of 2015]