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(1) Subject to section 136, a seafarer or a person duly authorised on the seafarer's behalf, may, as soon as the wages due to the seafarer become payable, sue for them in a court having jurisdiction in the place at which the seafarer's service is terminated or at which the seafarer is discharged, or at which a master or an owner or any other person on whom the claim is made, resides.

(2) A Court on a complaint on oath made to it for the purposes of proceedings under this section may summon the master or owner or any other person to appear before the Court to answer the complaint.

(3) On the appearance of the master or owner or other person, the Court may examine the parties and their respective witnesses on oath regarding the complaint and the amount of wages due, and may make an order for the payment of any wages found due that appears reasonable and just.

(4) Where a master or owner or that other person does not appear, the Court, on proof that the master or owner or that other person was duly summoned, may examine the complainant and the complainant's witnesses on oath regarding the complaint and the amount of wages due, and may make an order for the payment of wages found due that appears reasonable and just.

(5) Where an order under this section for the payment of wages is not obeyed within twenty-four hours of its being made the Court may issue a warrant to levy the amount of the wages awarded together with all the charges and expenses incurred in connection with the distress, levy and the enforcement of the order by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the person on whom the order is made.

(6) Where sufficient distress cannot be found the Court may cause the amount of the wages, charges and expenses to be levied on the ship in respect of which the wages we earned or on the tackle and apparel, but if the ship is not within the jurisdiction of the Court, a levy shall not be made on the ship but the Court may cause the person on whom the order for payment is made to be arrested and committed to prison for a term not exceeding twelve months unless the payment is made earlier.