s 17 Use, custody and delivery up of certificate
17.—(1) The certificate of registry of a ship must be used only for the lawful navigation of the ship and must not be subject to detention by reason of any title, lien, charge or interest whatsoever had or claimed by any owner, mortgagee or other person to, on or in the ship. (2) Any person, whether interested in the ship or not, who refuses, without reasonable cause, on request to deliver up the certificate of registry when it is in the person’s possession or under the person’s control to —(a) the person entitled to the custody thereof for the purposes of the lawful navigation of the ship; (b) the Registrar; or (c) any other person entitled by law to require such delivery, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. (3) Where the registry of a ship is closed or deemed to be closed under this Part (except under section 43), the registered owner of the ship at the time of the closure who fails, without reasonable cause, to deliver up the certificate of registry to the Registrar for cancellation within 60 days of the closure shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. (4) If any person uses or attempts to use for the navigation of a ship a certificate of registry which is not legally granted in respect of the ship or the registry of which has been closed or deemed to be closed, the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.