A misrepresentation concerns a statement of fact (distinctly not an opinion) that is not true but persuades a party to enter into a contract, leading them to suffer damage. It can be made by an agent or employee on the part of their principal or employer; hence a Master can make a representation in a contract on behalf of the shipowner, which may in fact turn out to be a misrepresentation. This is an area of contract law in which the UK Government has implemented legislation with the Misrepresentation Act 1967, amending a much old statute, the Sale of Goods Act 1893.