If it is shown to the satisfaction of a proper officer that a seafarer engaged or belonging to a South African ship has been guilty of desertion or absence without leave, as defined by sections one hundred and seventy-five and one hundred and seventy-six respectively, the Authority may direct that the seafarer's certificates of discharge shall be withheld for such period as the Authority may direct, and while such a direction is in force the proper officer or any other person may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, refuse to furnish copies of any of the seafarer's certificates of discharge or certified extracts of any particulars of his service or character.

[Section 179 substituted by section 29(i) of Act No. 12 of 2015]