Where the wages due to a seaman left behind on the ground of his or her unfitness or inability to proceed to sea are paid to and accepted by the Registrar of Seamen or a proper officer, that Registrar or officer shall—
(a) where the seaman subsequently obtains employment at or leaves the port at which the payment has been made, obtain out of the money any expenses such as the owner or master is by this Act required to defray, and pay the remainder to the seaman and deliver to the seaman an account of the money received and expended on his or her behalf;
(b) where the seaman dies before his or her ship leaves the port, the officer will deal with the money as part of the property of a deceased seaman; and
(c) where the seaman is sent to a proper return port at the public expense under this Act, account for the money to the Minister, and after retaining any expenses duly incurred in respect of the seaman, except such expenses as the owner, master or agent of the ship is required by this Act to defray, the money shall be dealt with as wages of the seaman.