Commonwealth: Protection of the Sea (Powers of Intervention) Act 1981 (Cth)

Protection of the Sea (Powers of Intervention) Act 1981 No. 33, 1981 Compilation No. 13 Compilation date: 1 July 2019 Includes amendments up to: Act No. 86, 2018 Registered: 1 July 2019 About this compilation This compilation This is a compilation of the Protection of the Sea (Powers of Intervention) Act 1981 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 1 July 2019 (the compilation date). The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law. Uncommenced amendments The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law. Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes. Editorial changes For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes. Modifications If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law. Self‑repealing provisions If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes. Contents 1 Short title 2 Commencement 3 Interpretation 4 Act to bind Crown 5 Relationship to other laws 6 Operation of Act 7 Delegation 8 Taking of measures to prevent pollution of sea by oil—maritime casualty on the high seas 9 Taking of measures to prevent pollution of sea by substances other than oil—maritime casualty on the high seas 10 Taking of measures to prevent pollution of sea by oil or noxious substances—general powers 11 Directions under Act may require taking of action etc. 12 Addressing of directions under Act etc. 13 Issuing of more than one direction in relation to a ship 14 Directions under Act to ship or tangible asset with more than one owner etc. 15 Revocation and variation of directions under Act 16 Directions under Act to be in writing 17 Service of directions under Act 17A Liability for acts and omissions 17B Expenses of compliance with certain directions under Act may be recovered from owner of ship 18 Change in ownership or master of ship, or change in ownership of tangible asset 19 Contravention of direction under Act etc. 20 No time limit for prosecution 21 Evidence 22 Compensation for acquisition of property 23 Regulations Schedule 1—International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties Schedule 2—Protocol relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by substances other than Oil, 1973 Schedule 3—Resolution MEPC.49(31) Schedule 4—Resolution MEPC. 72(38) by Marine Environment Protection Committee Endnotes Endnote 1—About the endnotes Endnote 2—Abbreviation key Endnote 3—Legislation history Endnote 4—Amendment history Endnote 5—Editorial changes An Act authorizing the Commonwealth to take measures for the purpose of protecting the sea from pollution by oil and other noxious substances discharged from ships, and for related purposes 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Protection of the Sea (Powers of Intervention) Act 1981. 2 Commencement (1) This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation. (2) The date fixed under subsection (1) shall not be a date earlier than the date on which the International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties comes into force for Australia. 3 Interpretation (1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears: aircraft means any machine or craft that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air. Australia includes the external Territories. Australian coastal sea means: (a) the territorial sea of Australia; and (b) the sea on the landward side of the territorial sea of Australia and not within the limits of a State or the Northern Territory. Australian ship means: (a) a ship registered in Australia; or (b) an unregistered ship having Australian nationality. Authority means the Australian Maritime Safety Authority established by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990. cargo includes ballast and ship's stores and fuel. civil proceeding includes a civil action. constitutional corporation means a corporation to which paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution applies. controller of a tangible asset means: (a) in the case of land, seabed or premises—the occupier of the land, seabed or premises; or (b) in the case of a facility, structure or installation—the person in charge of the facility, structure or installation; or (c) in the case of goods—the person in control or possession of the goods. Convention means the International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties (a copy of the English text of which is set forth in Schedule 1), as amended from time to time. direction under this Act means a direction under paragraph 8(2)(b), 9(2)(b) or 10(3)(b) or a further direction under section 15. electronic communication has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Act 1999. engage in conduct has the same meaning as in the Criminal Code. goods has the same meaning as in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. high seas means all parts of the sea to which Part VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea applies. Note: Article 86 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea provides that the provisions of Part VII of the Convention apply to "all parts of the sea that are not included in the exclusive economic zone, in the territorial sea or in the internal waters of a State, or in the archipelagic waters of an archipelagic State". internal waters means waters of the sea within the limits of a State or the Northern Territory. For this purpose, sea includes any waters within the ebb and flow of the tide. master, in relation to a ship, means the person having command or charge of the ship. owner, in relation to a ship that is operated by a person (not being the owner of the ship) who has whole possession and control of the ship, means the operator of the ship. Protocol means the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by Substances other than Oil, 1973 (being the Protocol a copy of whose English text is set out in Schedule 2), as affected by the following resolutions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization revising the list of substances to be annexed to the Protocol: (a) the resolution adopted on 4 July 1991 (being the resolution a copy of whose English text is set out in Schedule 3); (b) the resolution adopted on 10 July 1996 (being the resolution a copy of whose English text is set out in Schedule 4); and as amended from time to time. services has the same meaning as in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, and includes services provided by an employee. ship: (a) when used in relation to a matter arising under, or relating to, section 8 or 9—has the same meaning as in the Convention; or (b) when used in relation to a matter arising under, or relating to, section 10—has the same meaning as vessel has in the Navigation Act 2012. supply has the same meaning as in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. tangible asset means: (a) land or seabed; or (b) premises; or (c) a facility; or (d) a structure; or (e) an installation; or (f) any of the following goods: (i) a vessel; (ii) an aircraft; (iii) a vehicle; (iv) an item of equipment or machinery; (v) a tool; (vi) any other article. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea means the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea done at Montego Bay on 10 December 1982. Note: The text of the Convention is set out in Australian Treaty Series 1994 No. 31. In 2006, the text of a Convention in the Australian Treaty Series was accessible through the Australian Treaties Library on the AustLII website (www.austlii.edu.au). (2) It is hereby declared to be the intention of the Parliament that the provisions of this Act that relate to the Protocol shall have full force and effect whether or not the Protocol has entered into force. 4 Act to bind Crown (1) This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities. (2) This Act does not make the Crown liable to be prosecuted for an offence. (3) Subsection (2) does not affect any liability of an employee or agent of the Commonwealth, the Authority or a State or Territory to be prosecuted for an offence. 5 Relationship to other laws State/Territory laws (1) This Act is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of a law of a State or Territory to the extent that the law is capable of operating concurrently with this Act. (1A) A direction under this Act prevails over a direction (however described) under a law of a State or Territory to the extent of any inconsistency. (1B) Subsection (1A) does not, by implication, limit: (a) the application of section 109 of the Constitution to a law of a State; or (b) the application of the corresponding principle to a law of a Territory. Commonwealth laws (1C) A direction under this Act prevails over a direction (however described) under another Act to the extent of any inconsistency, unless the other Act: (a) is enacted after the commencement of this subsection; and (b) refers specifically to a direction under this Act. (2) Nothing in the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 affects the operation of this Act. 6 Operation of Act This Act applies both within and outside Australia and extends to every external Territory. 7 Delegation The Minister may, by writing signed by him or her, delegate to a person any of his or her powers under this Act. Note: See sections 34AA, 34AB and 34A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. 8 Taking of measures to prevent pollution of sea by oil—maritime casualty on the high seas (1) Where the Authority is satisfied that, following upon a maritime casualty on the high seas or acts related to such a casualty, there is grave and imminent danger to the coastline of Australia, or to the related interests of Australia, from pollution or threat of pollution of the sea by oil which may reasonably be expected to result in major harmful consequences, the Authority may take such measures, whether on the high seas or elsewhere, as it considers necessary to prevent, mitigate or eliminate the danger. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the measures that the Authority may take under this section in relation to the ship, or any of the ships, involved in the maritime casualty include: (a) the taking of action, whether or not directions have been issued under paragraph (b) in relation to the ship: (i) to move the ship or part of the ship to another place; (ii) to remove cargo from the ship; (iii) to salvage the ship, part of the ship or any of the ship's cargo; (iv) to sink or destroy the ship or part of the ship; (v) to sink, destroy or discharge into the sea any of the ship's cargo; or (vi) to take over control of the ship or part of the ship; or (b) the issuing of directions of the kind authorized by section 11: (i) to the owner of the ship; (ii) to the master of the ship; or (iii) to any salvor in possession of the ship; or (iv) to any other person. (2A) The Authority must not exercise its powers under subparagraph (2)(a)(iv) without the approval of the Minister. (2B) Without limiting subparagraph (2)(b)(iv), a direction under that subparagraph may be issued to: (a) the owner of any other ship; or (b) the master of any other ship; or (c) the owner of a tangible asset; or (d) the controller of a tangible asset; or (e) the supplier of goods; or (f) a person to whom goods are being, or are proposed to be, supplied; or (g) the supplier of a service; or (h) a person to whom a service is being, or is proposed to be, supplied. (2C) The Authority must not issue a direction under subparagraph (2)(b)(iv) to the owner or master of another ship unless the other ship is: (a) in internal waters; or (b) in the Australian coastal sea; or (c) in the exclusive economic zone of Australia; or (d) an Australian ship. (3) This section does not authorize the taking of measures against a warship or other ship owned or operated by a foreign State and used, for the time being, only on government non‑commercial service. (4) The Minister and the Authority shall, in and in relation to the exercise of powers under this section, act in accordance with Articles III and V of the Convention. For this purpose, those Articles are taken to extend to the taking of measures under this section elsewhere than on the high seas. (5) This section shall not be construed as limiting or otherwise affecting any right or power that the Commonwealth may have, whether under international law, under this Act or otherwise, apart from this section. (6) An expression (other than high seas) that is used in this section (other than paragraph (2B)(c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (h) or (2C)(a), (b), (c) or (d)) and in the Convention (whether or not a particular meaning is assigned to it by the Convention) has, in this section, the same meaning as in the Convention. (7) A direction under this Act is taken to relate to a ship involved in a maritime casualty referred to in subsection (1) even if the direction is issued under subparagraph (2)(b)(iv). 9 Taking of measures to prevent pollution of sea by substances other than oil—maritime casualty on the high seas (1) Where the Authority is satisfied that, following upon a maritime casualty on the high seas or acts related to such a casualty, there is grave and imminent danger to the coastline of Australia, or to the related interests of Australia, from pollution or threat of pollution of the sea by substances other than oil which may reasonably be expected to result in major harmful consequences, the Authority may take such measures, whether on the high seas or elsewhere, as it considers necessary to prevent, mitigate or eliminate the danger. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the measures that the Authority may take under this section in relation to the ship, or any of the ships, involved in the maritime casualty include: (a) the taking of action, whether or not directions have been issued under paragraph (b) in relation to the ship: (i) to move the ship or part of the ship to another place; (ii) to remove cargo from the ship; (iii) to salvage the ship, part of the ship or any of the ship's cargo; (iv) to sink or destroy the ship or part of the ship; (v) to sink, destroy or discharge into the sea any of the ship's cargo; or (vi) to take over control of the ship or part of the ship; or (b) the issuing of directions of the kind authorized by section 11: (i) to the owner of the ship; (ii) to the master of the ship; or (iii) to any salvor in possession of the ship; or (iv) to any other person. (2A) The Authority must not exercise its powers under subparagraph (2)(a)(iv) without the approval of the Minister. (2B) Without limiting subparagraph (2)(b)(iv), a direction under that subparagraph may be issued to: (a) the owner of any other ship; or (b) the master of any other ship; or (c) the owner of a tangible asset; or (d) the controller of a tangible asset; or (e) the supplier of goods; or (f) a person to whom goods are being, or are proposed to be, supplied; or (g) the supplier of a service; or (h) a person to whom a service is being, or is proposed to be, supplied. (2C) The Authority must not issue a direction under subparagraph (2)(b)(iv) to the owner or master of another ship unless the other ship is: (a) in internal waters; or (b) in the Australian coastal sea; or (c) in the exclusive economic zone of Australia; or (d) an Australian ship. (3) This section does not authorize the taking of measures against a warship or other ship owned or operated by a foreign State and used, for the time being, only on government non‑commercial service. (4) The Minister and the Authority shall, in and in relation to the exercise of powers under this section, act in accordance with Articles III and V of the Convention as applying by virtue of Article II of the Protocol or, if the Protocol has not entered into force, in accordance with those Articles of the Convention as they would apply by virtue of that Article of the Protocol if the Protocol had entered into force. For this purpose, those Articles of the Convention as applying by virtue of Article II of the Protocol are taken to extend to the taking of measures under this section elsewhere than on the high seas. (5) This section shall not be construed as limiting or otherwise affecting any right or power that the Commonwealth may have, whether under international law, under this Act or otherwise, apart from this section. (6) Where an expression (other than high seas) is used in this section (other than paragraph (2B)(c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (h) or (2C)(a), (b), (c) or (d)): (a) if the expression is also used in the Protocol (whether or not a particular meaning is assigned to it by the Protocol)—the expression has, in this section, the same meaning as in the Protocol; or (b) subject to paragraph (a), if the expression is also used in the provisions of the Convention referred to in paragraph 1 of Article II of the Protocol (whether or not a particular meaning is assigned to it by the Convention)—the expression has, in this section, the same meaning as in the Convention. (7) A direction under this Act is taken to relate to a ship involved in a maritime casualty referred to in subsection (1) even if the direction is issued under subparagraph (2)(b)(iv). 10 Taking of measures to prevent pollution of sea by oil or noxious substances—general powers (1) This section (other than subsections (3B) and (3C)) applies in relation to: (a) any ship in internal waters, where: (i) the ship is a ship in relation to which Australia has relevant international rights or obligations, whether arising under an international convention, treaty or otherwise; or (ii) the ship is engaged in trade or commerce between Australia and a place or places outside Australia; or (iii) the ship is engaged in trade or commerce between 2 places outside Australia; or (iv) the ship is engaged in trade or commerce among the States; or (v) the ship is engaged in trade or commerce within a Territory, between a State and a Territory or between 2 Territories; or (vi) the ship is engaged in operations incidental to trade or commerce referred to in subparagraph (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v); or (vii) the ship is owned, operated, managed or controlled by a constitutional corporation; or (viii) the ship is demised or sub‑demised to, or in the exclusive possession of, a constitutional corporation; or (ix) the beneficial interest in the ship is vested in a constitutional corporation; and (b) any ship in the Australian coastal sea; and (ba) any ship in the exclusive economic zone of Australia; and (c) any Australian ship on the high seas. (2) Where oil or a noxious substance is escaping, or has escaped, from a ship in relation to which this section applies, or the Authority is satisfied that oil or a noxious substance is likely to escape from such a ship, the Authority may, subject to subsection (4), take such measures as it considers necessary: (a) to prevent, or reduce the extent of, the pollution or likely pollution, by the oil or noxious substance, of any Australian waters, any part of the Australian coast or any Australian reef; (b) to prevent damage, or reduce the extent, or likely extent, of damage, to any of the related interests of Australia by reason of the pollution, or likely pollution, of the sea by the oil or noxious substance; (c) to protect any Australian waters, any part of the Australian coast or any Australian reef from pollution or likely pollution by the oil or noxious substance; (d) to protect any other related interests of Australia from damage by reason of the pollution, or likely pollution, of the sea by the oil or noxious substance; or (e) in a case where the oil or noxious substance has escaped—to remove or reduce the effects, or likely effects, of pollution or likely pollution, by the oil or noxious substance, on any Australian waters, any part of the Australian coast, any Australian reef or any of the related interests of Australia. (3) Without limiting the generality of subsection (2), the measures that the Authority may take under this section in relation to the ship include: (a) the taking of action, whether or not directions have been issued under paragraph (b) in relation to the ship: (i) to move the ship or part of the ship to another place; (ii) to remove cargo from the ship; (iii) to salvage the ship, part of the ship or any of the ship's cargo; (iv) to sink or destroy the ship or part of the ship; (v) to sink, destroy or discharge into the sea any of the ship's cargo; or (vi) to take over control of the ship or part of the ship; or (b) the issuing of directions of the kind authorized by section 11: (i) to the owner of the ship; (ii) to the master of the ship; or (iii) to any salvor in possession of the ship; or (iv) to any other person. (3A) The Authority must not exercise its powers under subparagraph (3)(a)(iv) without the approval of the Minister. (3B) Without limiting subparagraph (3)(b)(iv), a direction under that subparagraph may be issued to: (a) the owner of any other ship; or (b) the master of any other ship; or (c) the owner of a tangible asset; or (d) the controller of a tangible asset; or (e) the supplier of goods; or (f) a person to whom goods are being, or are proposed to be, supplied; or (g) the supplier of a service; or (h) a person to whom a service is being, or is proposed to be, supplied. (3C) The Authority must not issue a direction under subparagraph (3)(b)(iv) to the owner or master of another ship unless the other ship is: (a) in internal waters; or (b) in the Australian coastal sea; or (c) in the exclusive economic zone of Australia; or (d) an Australian ship. (4) The Minister and the Authority shall, in the exercise of powers under this section, act in accordance with the following principles: (a) measures taken under this section shall be in proportion to the damage, whether actual or threatened, in relation to which the measures are taken; (b) in determining whether measures are in proportion to the damage in relation to which the measures are taken, regard shall be had to: (i) the extent and probability of imminent damage if the measures are not taken; (ii) the likelihood of those measures being effective; and (iii) the extent of the damage which may be caused by the measures; (c) measures taken under this section shall not exceed those reasonably necessary to achieve the end sought to be achieved by the measures and shall cease as soon as that end has been achieved; (d) measures taken under this section shall not unnecessarily interfere with the rights and interests of other countries, and of any persons, likely to be affected by the measures; (e) in taking measures under this section, any risk to human life shall, as far as possible, be avoided. (5) Where oil or a noxious substance is being, has been or is likely to be, discharged, intentionally or otherwise, from a ship, the discharge or likely discharge of the oil or noxious substance from the ship shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be an escape or likely escape of the oil or noxious substance, as the case may be, from the ship. (6) A direction under this Act is taken to relate to a ship referred to in subsection (2) even if the direction was issued under subparagraph (3)(b)(iv). (8) In this section: Australian coast includes the coast and the shores of any island forming part of Australia and the shores of any internal waters. Australian reef means a reef in Australian waters or a reef outside Australian waters but forming part of the continental shelf of Australia. Australian ship means: (a) a ship registered in Australia; or (b) an unregistered ship having Australian nationality. Australian waters means the Australian coastal sea and internal waters. noxious substance means a substance other than oil. oil means crude oil, fuel oil, diesel oil and lubricating oil. related interests of Australia, in relation to an escape or likely escape of oil or a noxious substance from a ship, means the interests of Australia directly affected or threatened by the escape or likely escape and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes any of the following interests of Australia: (a) maritime coastal, port or estuarine activities, including fisheries activities, in or connected with Australia, being activities constituting an essential means of livelihood of persons; (b) the tourist attractions of any part of Australia; and (c) the health of the coastal population of, and the well‑being of, any area of Australia, including the conservation of living marine resources and of wildlife in or connected with any area of Australia. sea includes any waters within the ebb and flow of the tide. substance other than oil has the same meaning as in the Protocol. 11 Directions under Act may require taking of action etc. (1) A direction under this Act issued in relation to a ship (the first ship) covered by either of the following paragraphs: (aa) a ship involved in a maritime casualty referred to in subsection 8(1) or 9(1); (ab) a ship referred to in subsection 10(2); may require the doing of any act or thing with respect to the first ship or the first ship's cargo, or prohibit the doing of any such act or thing and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may: (a) require or prohibit the movement of the first ship or part of the first ship, its movement to a place or area or its removal from a place or area; or (b) require or prohibit the removal of cargo from the first ship; or (c) require or prohibit the taking of salvage measures in relation to the first ship, part of the first ship or any of the first ship's cargo; or (d) require or prohibit the sinking or destruction of the first ship or part of the first ship; or (e) require or prohibit the sinking, destruction or discharging into the sea of any of the first ship's cargo; or (f) require or prohibit the handing over of control of the first ship or part of the first ship; or (g) require another ship to be made available for purposes in connection with unloading, receiving, treating, storing or disposing of any of the first ship's cargo; or (h) require another ship to be made available for purposes in connection with repairing, piloting, towing, berthing or securing the first ship; or (i) require: (i) the movement of another ship; or (ii) the removal of another ship from a place or area; where the movement or removal facilitates unloading, receiving, treating, storing or disposing of any of the first ship's cargo; or (j) require: (i) the movement of another ship; or (ii) the removal of another ship from a place or area; where the movement or removal facilitates repairing, piloting, towing, berthing or securing the first ship; or (k) prohibit: (i) the movement of another ship; or (ii) the removal of another ship from a place or area; where the movement or removal is likely to impede or interfere with unloading, receiving, treating, storing or disposing of any of the first ship's cargo; or (l) prohibit: (i) the movement of another ship; or (ii) the removal of another ship from a place or area; where the movement or removal is likely to impede or interfere with repairing, piloting, towing, berthing or securing the first ship; or (m) require a tangible asset (other than a ship) to be made available for purposes in connection with unloading, receiving, treating, storing or disposing of any of the first ship's cargo; or (n) require a tangible asset (other than a ship) to be made available for purposes in connection with repairing, piloting, towing, berthing or securing the first ship; or (o) require: (i) the movement of a tangible asset (other than a ship); or (ii) the removal of a tangible asset (other than a ship) from a place or area; where the movement or removal facilitates unloading, receiving, treating, storing or disposing of any of the first ship's cargo; or (p) require: (i) the movement of a tangible asset (other than a ship); or (ii) the removal of a tangible asset (other than a ship) from a place or area; where the movement or removal facilitates repairing, piloting, towing, berthing or securing the first ship; or (q) prohibit: (i) the movement of a tangible asset (other than a ship); or (ii) the removal of a tangible asset (other than a ship) from a place or area; where the movement or removal is likely to impede or interfere with unloading, receiving, treating, storing or disposing of any of the first ship's cargo; or (r) prohibit: (i) the movement of a tangible asset (other than a ship); or (ii) the removal of a tangible asset (other than a ship) from a place or area; where the movement or removal is likely to impede or interfere with repairing, piloting, towing, berthing or securing the first ship; or (s) require a specified place to be treated as a place of refuge for the first ship; or (t) require the supply of services by way of, or in connection with: (i) unloading, receiving, treating, storing or disposing of any of the first ship's cargo; or (ii) repairing, piloting, towing, berthing or securing the first ship; or (u) require the temporary release of contractual obligations, where the fulfilment of those obligations is likely to impede or interfere with the carrying out of any other direction under this Act that relates to the first ship. (1A) The Authority must not issue a direction under paragraph (1)(d) without the approval of the Minister. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), a direction under this Act may: (a) require that an act or thing be done in accordance with the direction, or with the approval, or in accordance with the instructions, of a specified person; or (b) prohibit the doing of an act or thing except in accordance with the direction, or with the approval, or in accordance with the instructions, of a specified person. 12 Addressing of directions under Act etc. A direction under this Act: (a) in the case of a direction to the owner of a ship—may be addressed to the owner of the ship without specifying the name of the owner or any of the owners of the ship; or (b) in the case of a direction to the master of a ship—may be addressed to the master of the ship without specifying him or her by name; or (c) in the case of a direction to the salvor in possession of a ship—may be addressed to the salvor in possession of the ship without specifying him or her by name; or (d) in the case of a direction to the owner of a tangible asset (other than a ship)—may be addressed to the owner of the tangible asset without specifying the name of the owner, or any of the owners, of the tangible asset; or (e) in the case of a direction to the controller of a tangible asset (other than a ship)—may be addressed to the controller of the tangible asset without specifying the name of the controller, or any of the controllers, of the tangible asset. 13 Issuing of more than one direction in relation to a ship Nothing in this Act shall be taken to prevent the issuing (whether to the same person or to different persons) of more than one direction under this Act, or under a provision of this Act, in relation to a ship. 14 Directions under Act to ship or tangible asset with more than one owner etc. (1) Where there is more than one owner of a ship or more than one salvor in possession of a ship, a direction under this Act issued to the owner of the ship or to the salvor in possession of the ship has effect, for the purposes of this Act, as a direction issued to each of the owners of the ship or each salvor in possession of the ship, as the case requires. (2) If there is more than one owner of a tangible asset (other than a ship), a direction under this Act issued to the owner of the tangible asset has effect, for the purposes of this Act, as a direction issued to each of the owners of the tangible asset. (3) If there is more than one controller of a tangible asset (other than a ship), a direction under this Act issued to the controller of the tangible asset has effect, for the purposes of this Act, as a direction issued to each of the controllers of the tangible asset. 15 Revocation and variation of directions under Act Where the Authority has issued a direction under this Act to a person or to 2 or more persons, the Authority may, by a further direction issued to that person or those persons, revoke or vary the earlier direction. 16 Directions under Act to be in writing A direction under this Act shall be in writing. 17 Service of directions under Act Service of directions on the owner, master or salvor of a ship (1) A direction under this Act to any of the following persons: (a) the owner of a ship; (b) the master of a ship; (c) the salvor in possession of a ship; is to be served on the person in accordance with subsections (2) to (7) and, for the purposes of section 19, is taken to have been issued to the person at the time when it is served on the person in accordance with subsections (2) to (7). (2) Service of a direction under this Act on the owner or the owners of a ship may be effected: (a) by serving it personally on the owner or on all or any of the owners, as the case may be, of the ship or, if an owner who is to be served is a body corporate, on a director, secretary or other officer of the body corporate; (b) by serving it personally on any agent of the ship or, if an agent who is to be served is a body corporate, on a director, secretary or other officer of the body corporate; or (c) by serving it on the master of the ship. (3) Where there is more than one owner of a ship, a direction under this Act that is served on any of the owners of the ship shall be deemed, for the purposes of this Act, to be served on all those owners. (4) Service of a direction under this Act on the master of a ship may be effected by serving it personally on the master of the ship or, if for any reason (including the absence of the master from the ship) it is not practicable to serve the notice on the master, by delivering it to any person on board the ship who appears to be an officer of the ship. (5) Service of a direction under this Act on a salvor in possession of a ship may be effected by serving it personally on the person who appears to be in charge of salvage operations. (6) Where it is not reasonably practicable to serve a direction under this Act in accordance with the preceding provisions of this section, the direction shall be deemed to have been served on the person or persons to whom it is issued if the contents are transmitted to the ship concerned by any means and receipt of the transmission is acknowledged by a person on board the ship. (7) A person authorized in writing by the Authority for the purposes of this section may go on board a ship for the purpose of serving a direction under this Act on a person on board the ship. Service of directions on persons other than the owner, master or salvor of a ship (8) A direction under this Act to a person other than: (a) the owner of a ship; or (b) the master of a ship; or (c) the salvor in possession of a ship; is to be served on the person in accordance with subsection (9) or (10) and, for the purposes of section 19, is taken to have been issued to the person: (d) if paragraph (9)(d) applies—at the time when it is served on the person in accordance with section 28A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; or (e) if paragraph (9)(e) applies—at the time of receipt of the electronic communication (see section 14 of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999); or (f) if paragraph (10)(d) applies—at the time when it is served on the person in accordance with that paragraph; or (g) if paragraph (10)(e) applies—at the time of receipt of the electronic communication (see section 14 of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999). Note: See also section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. (9) Service of a direction under this Act on a person other than: (a) the owner of a ship; or (b) the master of a ship; or (c) the salvor in possession of a ship; may, in a case where the person is an individual or a body corporate, be effected: (d) in accordance with section 28A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; or (e) by sending the contents of the direction to the person by means of an electronic communication. (10) Service of a direction under this Act on a person other than: (a) the owner of a ship; or (b) the master of a ship; or (c) the salvor in possession of a ship; may, in a case where the person is a body politic, be effected: (d) by leaving it at, or sending it by pre‑paid post to, an office of a department or agency of the body politic; or (e) by sending the contents of the direction to the person, or to a representative of the person, by means of an electronic communication. 17A Liability for acts and omissions Minister (1) Criminal or civil proceedings do not lie against: (a) the Minister; or (b) a delegate of the Minister; because of an act done or omitted to be done in the exercise of any power conferred on the Minister by or under this Act. Authority (2) Criminal or civil proceedings do not lie against: (a) the Authority; or (b) a member of the Authority; or (c) a member of the staff of the Authority; or (d) a delegate of the Authority; because of an act done or omitted to be done in the exercise of any power conferred on the Authority by or under this Act. Persons specified in directions under this Act (3) If a person was specified in a direction under this Act as mentioned in paragraph 11(2)(a) or (b), criminal or civil proceedings do not lie against the person because of an act done or omitted to be done in the exercise of any power conferred on the person by or under the direction. Persons subject to directions under this Act (4) If a direction under this Act is or was issued to a person, criminal or civil proceedings do not lie against the person because of an act done or omitted to be done in compliance with the direction. (5) Subsection (4) does not apply to a proceeding under the Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability) Act 1981. (5A) Subsection (4) does not apply to: (a) a proceeding under the Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) Act 2008; or (b) a proceeding on a maritime claim referred to in paragraph 4(3)(ba) of the Admiralty Act 1988 (about claims relating to bunker oil pollution damage). (6) Subsection (4) does not apply to the extent to which it is inconsistent with an international agreement to which Australia is a party. Compensation for acquisition of property (7) This section does not apply to a proceeding under section 22. Varied direction (8) A reference in this section to a direction under this Act must, in the case of a direction that has been varied by a further direction issued under section 15, be construed as a reference to the direction as so varied by that further direction. Application (9) Subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) do not apply to an act done, or omitted to be done, before the commencement of this section. 17B Expenses of compliance with certain directions under Act may be recovered from owner of ship (1) If: (a) a person is or was subject to a direction under this Act; and (b) the direction relates to: (i) a ship involved in a maritime casualty referred to in subsection 8(1) or 9(1); or (ii) a ship referred to in subsection 10(2); and (c) the person is not the owner, or one of the owners, of the ship; and (d) the person incurs a reasonable expense in complying with the direction; and (e) the direction requires the supply of a service to the owner of the ship; and (f) apart from this section, the owner of the ship is not liable to pay the amount of the expense to the person; the amount of the expense is a debt due to the person: (g) if there is only one owner of the ship—by the owner of the ship; or (h) if there are 2 or more owners of the ship—jointly and severally by the owners of the ship. (2) A debt due under subsection (1) may be recovered in: (a) the Federal Court of Australia; or (b) any other court of competent jurisdiction. (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the extent to which it is inconsistent with an international agreement to which Australia is a party. Varied direction (4) A reference in this section to a direction under this Act must, in the case of a direction that has been varied by a further direction issued under section 15, be construed as a reference to the direction as so varied by that further direction. Application (5) Subsection (1) does not apply to a direction issued before the commencement of this section. 18 Change in ownership or master of ship, or change in ownership of tangible asset (1) Where a direction under this Act issued to the owner of a ship is served in accordance with subsections 17(2) to (7) and a change in the ownership of the ship subsequently occurs while the direction is in force, the person who was the owner at the time the notice was served: (a) shall forthwith notify any new owner of the ship of the existence and contents of the direction; and (b) shall forthwith notify the Authority, in accordance with the regulations, of the change in the ownership of the ship and furnish the Authority with such particulars of the change as are prescribed for the purposes of this subsection. (2) Where a direction under this Act issued to the master of a ship is served in accordance with subsections 17(2) to (7) and the person who is the master of the ship subsequently ceases to be the master of the ship while the direction is in force, the person who ceases to be the master of the ship: (a) shall forthwith notify the new master (if any) of the existence and contents of the direction; and (b) shall forthwith notify the Authority, in accordance with the regulations, of his or her ceasing to be the master of the ship and furnish the Authority with such particulars as are prescribed for the purposes of this subsection. (3) If a direction under this Act issued to the owner of a tangible asset (other than a ship) is served in accordance with subsection 17(9) or (10) and a change in the ownership of the tangible asset subsequently occurs while the direction is in force, the person who was the owner at the time the notice was served: (a) must immediately notify any new owner of the tangible asset of the existence and contents of the direction; and (b) must immediately notify the Authority, in accordance with the regulations, of the change in the ownership of the tangible asset and give the Authority such particulars of the change as are prescribed for the purposes of this subsection. (4) A person commits an offence if: (a) a person is subject to a requirement under subsection (1), (2) or (3); and (b) the person engages in conduct; and (c) the person's conduct breaches the requirement. Penalty: 50 penalty units. 19 Contravention of direction under Act etc. (1) A person commits an offence if: (a) a person is subject to a direction under this Act; and (b) the person engages in conduct; and (c) the person's conduct breaches the direction. Penalty: 2,000 penalty units or imprisonment for 5 years, or both. (4) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1) if it is proved: (a) that the breach of the direction resulted from the need to save life at sea; or (b) that compliance with the direction was not possible; or (c) if the direction requires an act or thing to be done before a particular time—that compliance with the direction was not possible before that time and the direction was complied with as soon as possible after that time. (5) A reference in this section to a direction under this Act shall, in the case of a direction that has been varied by a further direction issued under section 15, be construed as a reference to the direction as so varied by that further direction. 20 No time limit for prosecution A prosecution for an offence against this Act may be brought at any time. 21 Evidence Where in proceedings for an offence against a provision of this Act it is established: (a) that a direction under this Act has been served on the owner of a ship by serving it on a person or body corporate as the agent of the ship; and (b) that the person or body corporate had, at any time before the direction was so served, acted as an agent of the ship; the person or body corporate shall be deemed, unless the contrary is proved, to have been an agent of the ship at the time when the direction was served. Note: The defendant bears a legal burden in relation to the matter in this section (see section 13.4 of the Criminal Code). 22 Compensation for acquisition of property (1) If the operation of this Act would result in an acquisition of property from a person otherwise than on just terms, the Commonwealth is liable to pay a reasonable amount of compensation to the person. (2) If the Commonwealth and the person do not agree on the amount of the compensation, the person may institute proceedings in: (a) the Federal Court of Australia; or (b) any other court of competent jurisdiction; for the recovery from the Commonwealth of such reasonable amount of compensation as the court determines. (3) In this section: acquisition of property has the same meaning as in paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution. just terms has the same meaning as in paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution. 23 Regulations The Governor‑General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act and, in particular, exempting, either absolutely or subject to conditions, a prescribed ship, or ships included in a prescribed class of ships, from all or any of the provisions of this Act. Schedule 1—International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties Subsection 3(1) The States Parties to the present Convention, CONSCIOUS of the need to protect the interests of their peoples against the grave consequences of a maritime casualty resulting in danger of oil pollution of sea and coastlines, CONVINCED that under these circumstances measures of an exceptional character to protect such interests might be necessary on the high seas and that these measures do not affect the principle of freedom of the high seas, HAVE AGREED as follows: ARTICLE I 1. Parties to the present Convention may take such measures on the high seas as may be necessary to prevent, mitigate or eliminate grave and imminent danger to their coastline or related interests from pollution or threat of pollution of the sea by oil, following upon a maritime casualty or acts related to such a casualty, which may reasonably be expected to result in major harmful consequences. 2. However, no measures shall be taken under the present Convention against any warship or other ship owned or operated by a State and used, for the time being, only on government non‑commercial service. ARTICLE II For the purposes of the present Convention: 1. "maritime casualty" means a collision of ships, stranding or other incident of navigation, or other occurrence on board a ship or external to it resulting in material damage or imminent threat of material damage to a ship or cargo; 2. "ship" means: (a) any sea‑going vessel of any type whatsoever, and (b) any floating craft, with the exception of an installation or device engaged in the exploration and exploitation of the resources of the sea‑bed and the ocean floor and the subsoil thereof; 3. "oil" means crude oil, fuel oil, diesel oil and lubricating oil; 4. "related interests" means the interests of a coastal State directly affected or threatened by the maritime casualty, such as: (a) maritime coastal, port or estuarine activities, including fisheries activities, constituting an essential means of livelihood of the persons concerned; (b) tourist attractions of the area concerned; (c) the health of the coastal population and the well‑being of the area concerned, including conservation of living marine resources and of wildlife; 5. "Organization" means the Inter‑Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization. ARTICLE III When a coastal State is exercising the right to take measures in accordance with Article I, the following provisions shall apply: (a) before taking any measures, a coastal State shall proceed to consultations with other States affected by the maritime casualty, particularly with the flag State or States; (b) the coastal State shall notify without delay the proposed measures to any persons physical or corporate known to the coastal State, or made known to it during the consultations, to have interests which can reasonably be expected to be affected by those measures. The coastal State shall take into account any views they may submit; (c) before any measure is taken, the coastal State may proceed to a consultation with independent experts, whose names shall be chosen from a list maintained by the Organization; (d) in cases of extreme urgency requiring measures to be taken immediately, the coastal State may take measures rendered necessary by the urgency of the situation, without prior notification or consultation or without continuing consultations already begun; (e) a coastal State shall, before taking such measures and during their course, use its best endeavours to avoid any risk to human life, and to afford persons in distress any assistance of which they may stand in need, and in appropriate cases to facilitate the repatriation of ships' crews, and to raise no obstacle thereto; (f) measures which have been taken in application of Article I shall be notified without delay to the States and to the known physical or corporate persons concerned, as well as to the Secretary‑General of the Organization. ARTICLE IV 1. Under the supervision of the Organization, there shall be set up and maintained the list of experts contemplated by Article III of the present Convention, and the Organization shall make necessary and appropriate regulations in connexion therewith, including the determination of the required qualifications. 2. Nominations to the list may be made by Member States of the Organization and by Parties to this Convention. The experts shall be paid on the basis of services rendered by the States utilizing those services. ARTICLE V 1. Measures taken by the coastal State in accordance with Article I shall be proportionate to the damage actual or threatened to it. 2. Such measures shall not go beyond what is reasonably necessary to achieve the end mentioned in Article I and shall cease as soon as that end has been achieved; they shall not unnecessarily interfere with the rights and interests of the flag State, third States and of any persons, physical or corporate, concerned. 3. In considering whether the measures are proportionate to the damage, account shall be taken of: (a) the extent and probability of imminent damage if those measures are not taken; and (b) the likelihood of those measures being effective; and (c) the extent of the damage which may be caused by such measures. ARTICLE VI Any Party which has taken measures in contravention of the provisions of the present Convention causing damage to others, shall be obliged to pay compensation to the extent of the damage caused by measures which exceed those reasonably necessary to achieve the end mentioned in Article I. ARTICLE VII Except as specifically provided, nothing in the present Convention shall prejudice any otherwise applicable right, duty, privilege or immunity or deprive any of the Parties or any interested physical or corporate person of any remedy otherwise applicable. ARTICLE VIII 1. Any controversy between the Parties as to whether measures taken under Article I were in contravention of the provisions of the present Convention, to whether compensation is obliged to be paid under Article VI, and to the amount of such compensation shall, if settlement by negotiation between the Parties involved or between the Party which took the measures and the physical or corporate claimants has not been possible, and if the Parties do not otherwise agree, be submitted upon request of any of the Parties concerned to conciliation or, if conciliation does not succeed, to arbitration, as set out in the Annex to the present Convention. 2. The Party which took the measures shall not be entitled to refuse a request for conciliation or arbitration under provisions of the preceding paragraph solely on the grounds that any remedies under municipal law in its own courts have not been exhausted. ARTICLE IX 1. The present Convention shall remain open for signature until 31 December 1970 and shall thereafter remain open for accession. 2. States Members of the United Nations or any of the Specialized Agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency or Parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice may become Parties to this Convention by: (a) signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; (b) signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval followed by ratification, acceptance or approval; or (c) accession. ARTICLE X 1. Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be effected by the deposit of a formal instrument to that effect with the Secretary‑General of the Organization. 2. Any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited after the entry into force of an amendment to the present Convention with respect to all existing Parties or after the completion of all measures required for the entry into force of the amendment with respect to those Parties shall be deemed to apply to the Convention as modified by the amendment. ARTICLE XI 1. The present Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date on which Governments of fifteen States have either signed it without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Secretary‑General of the Organization. 2. For each State which subsequently ratifies, accepts, approves or accedes to it the present Convention shall come into force on the ninetieth day after deposit by such State of the appropriate instrument. ARTICLE XII 1. The present Convention may be denounced by any Party at any time after the date on which the Convention comes into force for that State. 2. Denunciation shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument with the Secretary‑General of the Organization. 3. A denunciation shall take effect one year, or such longer period as may be specified in the instrument of denunciation, after its deposit with the Secretary‑General of the Organization. ARTICLE XIII 1. The United Nations where it is the administering authority for a territory, or any State Party to the present Convention responsible for the international relations of a territory, shall as soon as possible consult with the appropriate authorities of such territories or take such other measures as may be appropriate, in order to extend the present Convention to that territory and may at any time by notification in writing to the Secretary‑General of the Organization declare that the present Convention shall extend to such territory. 2. The present Convention shall, from the date of receipt of the notification or from such other date as may be specified in the notification, extend to the territory named therein. 3. The United Nations, or any Party which has made a declaration under paragraph 1 of this Article may at any time after the date on which the Convention has been so extended to any territory declare by notification in writing to the Secretary‑General of the Organization that the present Convention shall cease to extend to any such territory named in the notification. 4. The present Convention shall cease to extend to any territory mentioned in such notification one year, or such longer period as may be specified therein, after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary‑General of the Organization. ARTICLE XIV 1. A Conference for the purpose of revising or amending the present Convention may be convened by the Organization. 2. The Organization shall convene a Conference of the States Parties to the present Convention for revising or amending the present Convention at the request of not less than one‑third of the Parties. ARTICLE XV 1. The present Convention shall be deposited with the Secretary‑General of the Organization. 2. The Secretary‑General of the Organization shall: (a) inform all States which have signed or acceded to the Convention of: (i) each new signature or deposit of instrument together with the date thereof; (ii) the deposit of any instrument of denunciation of this Convention together with the date of the deposit; (iii) the extension of the present Convention to any territory under paragraph 1 of Article XIII and of the termination of any such extension under the provisions of paragraph 4 of that Article stating in each case the date on which the present Convention has been or will cease to be so extended; (b) transmit certified true copies of the present Convention to all Signatory States and to all States which accede to the present Convention. ARTICLE XVI As soon as the present Convention comes into force, the text shall be transmitted by the Secretary‑General of the Organization to the Secretariat of the United Nations for registration and publication in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations. ARTICLE XVII The present Convention is established in a single copy in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authentic. Official translations in the Russian and Spanish languages shall be prepared and deposited with the signed original. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned being duly authorized by their respective Governments for that purpose have signed the present Convention. DONE at Brussels this twenty‑ninth day of November 1969. ANNEX CHAPTER I CONCILIATION ARTICLE 1 Provided the Parties concerned do not decide otherwise, the procedure for conciliation shall be in accordance with the rules set out in this Chapter. ARTICLE 2 1. A Conciliation Commission shall be established upon the request of one Party addressed to another in application of Article VIII of the Convention. 2. The request for conciliation submitted by a Party shall consist of a statement of the case together with any supporting documents. 3. If a procedure has been initiated between two Parties, any other Party the nationals or property of which have been affected by the same measures, or which is a coastal State having taken similar measures, may join in the conciliation procedure by giving written notice to the Parties which have originally initiated the procedure unless either of the latter Parties object to such joinder. ARTICLE 3 1. The Conciliation Commission shall be composed of three members: one nominated by the coastal State which took the measures, one nominated by the State the nationals or property of which have been affected by those measures and a third, who shall preside over the Commission and shall be nominated by agreement between the two original members. 2. The Conciliators shall be selected from a list previously drawn up in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 4 below. 3. If within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of the request for conciliation, the Party to which such request is made has not given notice to the other Party to the controversy of the nomination of the Conciliator for whose selection it is responsible, or if, within a period of 30 days from the date of nomination of the second of the members of the Commission to be designated by the Parties, the first two Conciliators have not been able to designate by common agreement the Chairmen of the Commission, the Secretary‑General of the Organization shall upon request of either Party and within a period of 30 days, proceed to the required nomination. The members of the Commission thus nominated shall be selected from the list prescribed in the preceding paragraph. 4. In no case shall the Chairman of the Commission be or have been a national of one of the original Parties to the procedure, whatever the method of his nomination. ARTICLE 4 1. The list prescribed in Article 3 above shall consist of qualified persons designated by the Parties and shall be kept up to date by the Organization. Each Party may designate for inclusion on the list four persons, who shall not necessarily be its nationals. The nominations shall be for periods of six years each and shall be renewable. 2. In the case of the decease or resignation of a person whose name appears on the list, the Party which nominated such person shall be permitted to nominate a replacement for the remainder of the term of office. ARTICLE 5 1. Provided the Parties do not agree otherwise, the Conciliation Commission shall establish its own procedures, which shall in all cases permit a fair hearing. As regards examination, the Commission, unless it unanimously decides otherwise, shall conform with the provisions of Chapter III of The Hague Convention for the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes of 18 October 1907. 2. The Parties shall be represented before the Conciliation Commission by agents whose duty shall be to act as intermediaries between the Parties and the Commission. Each of the Parties may seek also the assistance of advisers and experts nominated by it for this purpose and may request the hearing of all persons whose evidence the Party considers useful. 3. The Commission shall have the right to request explanations from agents, advisers and experts of the Parties as well as from any persons whom, with the consent of their Governments, it may deem useful to call. ARTICLE 6 Provided the Parties do not agree otherwise, decisions of the Conciliation Commission shall be taken by a majority vote and the Commission shall not pronounce on the substance of the controversy unless all its members are present. ARTICLE 7 The Parties shall facilitate the work of the Conciliation Commission and in particular, in accordance with their legislation, and using all means at their disposal: (a) provide the Commission with the necessary documents and information; (b) enable the Commission to enter their territory, to hear witnesses or experts, and to visit the scene. ARTICLE 8 The task of the Conciliation Commission will be to clarify the matters under dispute, to assemble for this purpose all relevant information by means of examination or other means, and to endeavour to reconcile the Parties. After examining the case, the Commission shall communicate to the Parties a recommendation which appears to the Commission to be appropriate to the matter and shall fix a period of not more than 90 days within which the Parties are called upon to state whether or not they accept the recommendation. ARTICLE 9 The recommendation shall be accompanied by a statement of reasons. If the recommendation does not represent in whole or in part the unanimous opinion of the Commission, any Conciliator shall be entitled to deliver a separate op