Section 243

Where a complaint is made to the Minister or a detaining officer that a British ship is unsafe, the Minister or the detaining officer may require the complainant to give security to the satisfaction of the Minister for the costs and compensation which he may become liable to pay as hereinafter mentioned.

Such security shall not be required where the complaint is made by one-quarter, being not less than 3, of the seamen belonging to the ship, and is not in the opinion of the Minister or the detaining officer frivolous or vexatious, and the Minister or that officer shall, if the complaint is made in sufficient time before the sailing of the ship, take proper steps for ascertaining whether the ship ought to be detained.

Where a ship is detained in consequence of any complaint, and the circumstances are such that the Government is liable under this Act to pay to the owner of the ship any costs or compensation, the complainant shall be liable to pay to the Government all such costs and compensation as the Government incurs or is liable to pay in respect of the detention and survey of the ship.[264