Section 27

The master of every British ship and of every ship of a foreign country which has no consular officer resident in Singapore shall enter into an agreement (referred to in this Act as an agreement with the crew) in accordance with this Act with every seaman whom he carries to sea from any port in Singapore.

This section shall not apply to the master of any ship of less than 25 tons exclusively employed in trading within such limits as are prescribed.

If a master of a ship carries any seaman to sea without entering into an agreement with him in accordance with this Act, the master in the case of a foreign-going ship, and the master or owner in the case of a home-trade or local-trade ship, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction for each offence to a fine not exceeding $100.[40