148. Court may award interest on wages due where there is no crew agreement
In any proceedings by the master of a ship or person employed in a ship other than under a crew agreement for the recovery of any sum due to him or her as wages, the court, unless it appears to it that the delay in paying the sum was due to—
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(a) a mistake;
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(b) a reasonable dispute as to liability;
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(c) the act or default of the person claiming the amount;
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(d) any other cause not being the wrongful act or default of the person liable to make the payment or their servants or agents,
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may order the master or person employed in the ship to pay in addition to the sum due, interest on it at the rate of 20% per annum or such lower rate as the court may specify, for the period beginning 7 days after the sum became due and ending when the sum is paid.