Section 118: Provisions for relief and maintenance of distressed shipwrecked seaman

(1)
Where a distressed seaman:
(a)
whether or not he is a Nigerian citizen, is found at any place out of Nigeria discharged or left behind from any Nigerian ship or any Nigerian Government ship, or by reason of having been discharged or left behind from any such ship in any place out of Nigeria in distress in that place; or
(b)
who is a Nigerian citizen who was engaged by any person acting as principal or agent to serve on a ship belonging to the Government or a subject or citizen of a foreign country, is in distress in any place out of Nigeria, an appropriate officer shall, in accordance with and on the conditions prescribed by rules made or deemed to have been made pursuant to section 118 of this Act, provide in accordance with this Act, for the return of the distressed seaman to a proper return port.
(2)
The appropriate officer shall provide for the seaman the necessary clothing and maintenance he would require until his departure to a proper port and in addition, in the case of a shipwrecked seaman, for the repayment of any expenses incurred in the conveyance of the distressed seaman to port after the shipwreck and his maintenance while being so conveyed.