Cap. 144 Art. 8Disposalofforeign wrecked ships or articles on such ships.

Where any foreign ship or any article belonging to or forming part of a foreign ship which has been wrecked on or near the coasts of Malta, or belonging to and forming part of the cargo, is found on or near those coasts or is brought into any port in Malta, the consular officer of the country to which the ship or in the case of cargo to which the owners of the cargo may belong, or any other consular officer authorized in that behalf by any treaty or arrangement with that country, shall, in the absence of the owner and of the master or other mandatory of the owner, be deemed to be the mandatory of the owner, so far as relates to the custody and disposal of such ship or article: Provided that, if the Minister considers such ships or any such articles to constitute a navigational hazard within the territorial waters of Malta or an obstruction within the meaning of article 224 of the Code of Police Laws, he may take such action as he may think fit to remove such hazard or such obstruction.