Section 345

(1) Any person who sends or attempts to send or is party to sending or attempting to send a Nigerian ship to sea in such an unseaworthy state that the fife of any person is likely to be thereby endangered, is guilty of a misdemeanour, unless he proves either that he used all reasonable means to insure her being sent to sea in a seaworthy state, or that her going to sea in such an unseaworthy state was in the circumstances reasonable and justifiable.

(2) The master of a Nigerian ship who knowingly takes the same to sea in such an unseaworthy state that the life of any person is likely to be thereby endangered is guilty of a misdemeanour, unless he proves that her going to sea in such an unseaworthy state was in the circumstances reasonable and justifiable.

(3) Any person convicted of a misdemeanour under this section is liable to imprisonment for two years.

(4) A prosecution shall not be instituted in respect of an offence under this section otherwise than by or with the consent of a law officer.