Section 47, The Merchant Shipping Act, 2003

(1) When a Sierra Leonean ship is so altered as not to correspond with the particulars relating to its tonnage ordescription in the register, notification of the alteration shall be given within 30 days after the completion of the alteration to the Registrar and the notice shall be accompanied by a tonnage certificate stating the particulars of the alteration. (2) Upon receipt of notice of alteration of a Sierra Leonean ship under subsection (1), the Registrar shall either cause the alteration to be registered or direct that the ship be registered anew. (3) Where there is failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (1) or with the direction under subsection (2), the Registrar may suspend the Certificate of Registry of the ship in respect of which the failure occurs. (3) Where there is failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (1) or with the direction under subsection (2), the Registrar may suspend the Certificate of Registry of the ship in respect of which the failure occurs. (4) An owner of a ship that has been altered, who fails to register the ship anew or to register the alteration commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding three million leones.