When a registered ship is so altered as not to correspond with the particulars relating to her tonnage or description contained in the register book, then, if the alteration is made at any port having a registrar, that registrar, or if it is made elsewhere, the registrar of the first port haying a registrar at which the ship arrives after the alteration, shall, on application being made to him stating the particulars of the alteration, either cause the alteration to be registered or direct that the ship be registered anew.