(3)All repatriation expenses, other than excepted expenses, incurred by or on behalf of the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall constitute a debt due to the Central Government for which the owner or agent of the ship to which the seaman in respect of whom they were incurred belonged at the time of his discharge or other event which resulted in his becoming distressed seaman shall be liable; and the owner or agent shall not be entitled to recover from the seaman any amount paid by him to the Central Government in settlement or part settlement of such debt.
