(1) Where any expenses are incurred by a consular officer on behalf of the Government under section 198 or are incurred by the government of a foreign country and are to be repaid to the foreign country by the Government, the Authority may pay to the consular officer or foreign government the amount of the expenses out of any moneys available for that purpose or out of any money appropriated for that purpose by Parliament.

(2) Money paid by the Authority under subsection (1) together with the wages, if any, due to a distressed seafarer, is a charge upon the ship to which the seafarer belonged, and is a debt due to the Government

  (a) from the owner, master or agent of the ship at the time of the loss;

(b) where the ship has been transferred, either from the owner for the time being or from the person who was the owner of the ship at the time of the transfer; or

(c) where the ship is a foreign ship, from the person, who engaged the seafarer for service in the ship,

(3) A debt under this section, in addition to any penalties and consular fees incurred, shall be recovered by the Authority on behalf of the Government as a civil debt.

(4) In any proceedings for recovery of a debt under this section, the production of an official account of the expenses incurred in accordance with this Act, and proof of payment of the expenses by or on behalf of the Government is prima facie evidence that the expenses were incurred or repaid under this Act by or on behalf of the Government.