The Merchant Shipping (Repatriation) Regulations 1979

11.—(1) The wages due under a crew agreement to a seaman to whom these Regulations apply in respect of his employment in a ship (other than a fishing vessel) in the case of a seaman left behind in any country shall (except when he leaves the ship on being discharged therefrom and is accordingly entitled to receive his wages and an account thereof under sections 7 and 8 of the Act) be paid to him in full and an account thereof shall be delivered by the person employing him (or the master acting in that behalf) within 28 days from the time when he was returned to a place ascertained under regulation 6; and, if the amount shown in the account delivered to a seaman as being the amount payable is replaced by an increased amount shown in a further account delivered to him, the balance shall be paid to him within that time. When the employer's obligation to return a seaman ceases pursuant to regulation 3(3), the wages shall be paid and an account thereof delivered within 28 days from the date the obligation ceased; if the employer does not know of the seaman's current address, an account thereof and notice that they may be had on application to the employer shall be sent to the seaman's last known address.

(2) If a person fails without reasonable cause to comply with the provisions of paragraph (1) of this regulation, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £20.