Subject to subsection (5) of this section, this section applies to any country to which, immediately before the coming into operation of the repeal by this Act of section 238 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, that section applied by virtue of an Order in Council made under it or having effect as if made under it.

Where a seaman deserts in the United Kingdom from a ship registered in a country to which this section applies, a justice of the peace may, on the application of a consular officer of that country and on information on oath, issue a warrant for the arrest of the seaman.

Where a seaman has been arrested on a warrant issued under this section a magistrates’ court may, on proof of the desertion, order him to be conveyed on board his ship.

Where a seaman is liable to be arrested under this section, any person who, knowing or believing that he has deserted, does without lawful authority or reasonable excuse any act with intent to impede his arrest shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding F2level 2 on the standard scale.

Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that this section shall cease to apply to any country specified in the Order.

In its application to Scotland this section shall have effect as if for the reference to a justice of the peace there were substituted a reference to a sheriff, magistrate or justice of the peace, for the reference to a magistrates’ court a reference to a court of summary jurisdiction within the meaning of F3the M1Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975, and for the reference to information on oath a reference to evidence on oath.

In its application to Northern Ireland this section shall have effect as if in subsection (3) for the reference to a magistrates’ court there were substituted a reference to a court of summary jurisdiction.