Section 107

If a seaman or apprentice is guilty of the offence of desertion or of absence without leave, or otherwise absents himself from his ship without leave, the master, any mate, the owner, ship’s husband or consignee of the ship, may, with or without the assistance of police officers, convey him on board his ship, and those officers are hereby directed to give assistance if required.

If the seaman or apprentice so requires he shall first be taken before a Magistrate’s Court to be dealt with according to law.

If it appears to the Magistrate’s Court that the seaman or apprentice has been conveyed on board or taken before the Court on improper or insufficient grounds, that Court may inflict on the master, mate, owner, ship’s husband or consignee, as the case may be, a fine not exceeding $400.

The infliction of such fine shall be a bar to any action for false imprisonment in respect of the arrest.[122