Maritime Safety in Queensland

Maritime Safety in Queensland


AITKEN WHYTE LAWYERS BRISBANE

 

When operating a marine vessel in Queensland there are several requirements that must be followed. It is important to be aware of these requirements as there may are penalties associated with non-compliance.

The purpose of this article is to provide insight for marine operators, owners and crew in Queensland.

Overview

The main piece of legislation for maritime safety in Queensland is the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 (TOMSA). The Act serves to inform operators of their responsibility to make sure the ship is safe, properly equipped, properly maintained, and operated in a safe manner. The use and operation of personal watercraft is also included under this act.

Breaching these obligations can result in criminal charges, fines or imprisonment.

According to the Marine Incident Annual Report for 2022, 1,771 infringement notices were issued to 1,581 individuals in the 2021 – 2022 reporting period. If you receive an infringement notice, we recommend that you seek specialist legal advice at the earliest possible stage.

Who is accountable under the Transport Operations (Maritime Safety) Act?

All vessel owners, operators and masters, operating in Queensland as well as Queensland regulated ships must comply with the Act. But what do these terms mean?

The Act defines each of those terms as follows:

A ship connected with Queensland means:

  • any vessel which has a home port in Queensland and is registered under the Commonwealth Shipping Registration Act; or
  • that is owned or chartered by an individual who principally resides in Queensland, whose principal place of business is in Queensland, or whose principal place of business for managing the ship’s operations is in Queensland.

A master means:

  • the person having command or charge of the ship, or a pilot having the conduct of the ship (but not belonging to it).

An owner means:

  • the ships owner or person who holds a certificate of operation for the ship under national law; and
  • a person who exercises powers of the owner; and operates the ship or allows it to be operated by someone else

Part 4 of the TOMSA – General Safety Obligations

Part 4 of the Act contains the general safety provisions and regulatory provisions.

General safety provisions refer to sections 40 and 41 of the Act. Regulatory provisions refer to a provision of a regulation or standard about the condition, equipping or crewing of ships.

Ships Required to be Safe.

Queensland regulated ships are required to be safe and must not be operated if unsafe pursuant to section 41 of the Act. Part of this deeming a ship as safe is the issuing of a survey report. Only certain people under the Act are permitted to issue a survey report. It is an offence under the Act for someone to issue a survey report which is incorrect. The penalties for an incorrect survey report can be severe, including imprisonment.

For more information about survey reports see: Queensland Regulated Ships – Technical and Operational Guidelines.

The term safe is defined in the Act as “seaworthy and appropriately equipped and crewed, to meet the ordinary perils of the voyage the ship will be proceeding”. The Act is silent on exactly what “seaworthy” means but some guidance can be gained from relevant caselaw.

It is the owners and masters responsibility to ensure that the ship is seaworthy. Each of them are liable to a fine of over $70,000 or imprisonment for breaches. In serious cases, penalties are increased to be fined of over $700,000 and imprisonment for up to two years.

Previous Examples

In the case of Cross v McLean, a dive boat operator in North Queensland was charged and fined the sum of $4000 after the dive boat he was operating sank.

In assessing the “seaworthiness” of that vessel, it was found that it likely sank because of a combination of previous damage (and poor attempts at repair), stress to the vessel and a general lack of maintenance.

The combination of these factors led to the vessel taking on water, becoming flooded, and sinking to the seafloor.

Safe Operation of a Ship

Section 43 of the Act details safe operation of a ship. Section 43 does not apply to the ship’s pilot, these obligations are outlined in section 45.

Under section 43, a person involved with the ships operation must not cause it to operated unsafely. This operating the ship in a way that causes a marine incident or contravenes a condition of the ship’s registration under the Act that is about safety.

The term marine incident is broad, but includes:

  • the loss of a person from a ship; or
  • the death of, or grievous bodily harm to a person by the ship’s operation; or
  • the loss or presumed loss, or abandonment of a ship; or
  • a collision with a ship; or
  • the stranding of a ship; or
  • significant damage, or danger of significant damage, to a ship; or
  • significant damage caused by a ship’s operations; or
  • danger of significant damage to a structure caused by a ship’s operations; or
  • danger to a person caused by a ship’s operations.

Serious penalties for the owner, master or crew member of a ship apply if a marine incident results in the death or grievous bodily harm of a person.

Additional offences also exist for masters that fail to ensure that a ship has the appropriate safety equipment.

Previous Examples

In the case of R v Wood, a fisherman who operated a boat was charged with a breach of section 43 by operating his boat at unsafe speeds in close proximity to other vessels, causing collisions. Mr Wood’s Skipper’s licence was cancelled due to the breach. This decision was later appealed and Mr Wood only received a licence suspension.

However, Mr Wood was later charged with similar offences and sentenced to 3 months’ imprisonment as well as a license suspension. This was due to the nature of the offending causing damage and that this was one of multiple re-offences.

Division 2 of Part 4 – General Safety Obligations for Pilots and Managing Pilotage Entity

Part 4 of the Act also discusses the General Safety Obligations for Pilots and Managing Pilotage Entry.

A pilot who has conduct of a ship must not operate the ship unsafely. The term “unsafely” here is the same as outlined above.

A managing pilotage entity for a compulsory pilotage area must not provide for the piloted movement of ships in the pilotage area in unsafe way. This includes a managing pilotage entity who employs a pilot who is not appropriately licensed.

Part 5 of the TOMSA – Registration, Licensing and Permits

Part 5 of the Act discusses the various registration, licensing and permit requirements for ship owners, masters, crew and pilots.

It creates a general obligation for ships to be registered. It also creates offences for operating a ship contrary to its registration, or without registration.

Licensing

Certain regulations will require licensing for a person to operate a ship as a master or to act as crew on the ship. If you operate a ship as master or as crew without the relevant license you may be charged and face a maximum penalty of 40 penalty units.

If you are convicted of breaching that Act, you may also have your license suspended or cancelled.

What happens if you don’t comply with registration requirements?

It is a maximum penalty of 200 penalty units ($30,000) to breach the registration provisions of the Act.

Penalties can also result in the registration of the vessel being cancelled.

Key Take Aways

Operators of marine vehicles should always take care to ensure the vehicle meets required safety standards, and that the vessel is being operated safely.

Breaches of the Act can result in fines being imposed, as well as periods of imprisonment being ordered.

Conclusion

It is crucial to not delay in obtaining specialist legal advice should you receive notice that you have breached the Transport Operations (Maritime Safety) Act in any way.  

Our team of experienced practitioners are able to assist you in dealing with a complaint or investigation, including charges brought by the police for a breach under the Act.

If you require assistance, call Aitken Whyte Lawyers at any time on our 24-hour contact line, or by email at enquiries@awlaw.com.au.

Office Location and Contact Details

Brisbane

Aitken Whyte Lawyers Brisbane
2/414 Upper Roma Street
Brisbane QLD 4000

Ph: 07 3229 4459
Fax: +617 3211 9311
E: enquiries@awbrisbanelawyers.com.au