{"id":"wa-marine-adjustment-of-compasses-regulations-1983","name":"W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Regulations 1983","slug":"w-a-marine-adjustment-of-compasses-regulations-1983","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":182349,"registerId":"wa-wa-marine-adjustment-of-compasses-regulations-1983-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Regulations 1983","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nWestern Australian Marine Act 1982\n\nW.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Regulations 1983\n\nWestern Australia\n\nW.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Regulations 1983\n\nContents\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n2. Commencement 1\n\n3. Application 1\n\n4. Adjustment of compasses 1\n\n5. Licence to adjust compass 3\n\n6. Certificates of competency 3\n\n7. Restriction 4\n\n8. Offence 4\n\n9. Repeal 4\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 5\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nWestern Australian Marine Act 1982\n\nW.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Regulations 1983\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\nThese regulations may be cited as the *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Regulations 1983* 1.\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThese regulations shall come into operation on 1 July 1983.\n\n[**2A.** Deleted: Gazette 15 February 1991 p.702.]\n\n##### 3. Application\n\nThese regulations shall apply to all vessels and voyages to which the Act applies.\n\n##### 4. Adjustment of compasses\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\nCode means the Uniform Shipping Laws Code, referred to in section 115 of the Act, as in existence on 1 October 2009;\n\nlicensed adjuster means —\n\n(a) the holder of a licence as an adjuster of compasses under regulation 5; or\n\n(b) in relation to a vessel that does not exceed 35 metres in length —\n\n(i) the holder of a licence as an adjuster of compasses (restricted) under regulation 5; or\n\n(ii) a person who is a licensed compass adjuster as defined in the *Marine Orders Part 21* (Commonwealth).\n\n(1A) Subject to subregulation (2) the compass of a vessel must be adjusted, and a deviation card must be furnished, by a licensed adjuster —\n\n(a) before an initial certificate of survey of the vessel is issued; and\n\n(b) thereafter at intervals not exceeding —\n\n(i) if the vessel is a new vessel as defined in Amendment List 7 to the Code as adopted on 7 November 2008 — 4 years; or\n\n(ii) for any other vessel — 3 years.\n\n(2) Where the chief executive officer is satisfied that a compass adjustment is not required or that an adjustment may be deferred without detriment to the safety of the vessel, the chief executive officer may exempt the vessel from compass adjustment for such period as the chief executive officer may determine.\n\n(2a) A deviation card referred to in subregulation (1) shall be in a form approved by the chief executive officer.\n\n(3) Without prejudice to the requirements of subregulations (1) and (2), the compass of a vessel must be adjusted, and a deviation card must be furnished, by a licensed adjuster in the following circumstances —\n\n(a) if the vessel has undergone repairs or alterations of such a nature as is, in the opinion of the chief executive officer, likely to affect the accuracy of the compass;\n\n(b) if the vessel has not previously operated from a port or place in Australia; and\n\n(c) if the compass of the vessel is, in the opinion of the chief executive officer, unsatisfactory or unreliable.\n\n[Regulation 4 amended: Gazette 5 August 1983 p.2839; 30 August 1985 p.3084; 16 October 1987 p.3896; 30 June 1989 p.1929; 1 August 1990 p.3644; 15 February 1991 p.702; 26 July 1991 p.3928; 30 June 1992 p.2905; 11 August 1992 p.3976; 29 June 1993 pp.3184‑5; 14 June 1994 p.2486; 11 July 1995 p.2947; 25 June 1996 p.2998; 11 Dec 2009 p. 5088‑9.]\n\n##### 5. Licence to adjust compass\n\n(1) A licence as an adjuster of compasses or an adjuster of compasses (restricted) may be issued by the chief executive officer to a competent person.\n\n[(2) deleted]\n\n(3) A person is competent to be granted a licence as an adjuster of compasses if he is the holder of a certificate of competency as compass adjuster.\n\n(4) A person is competent to be granted a licence as an adjuster of compasses (restricted) for the adjustment of compasses on vessels not exceeding 35 metres in length if he is the holder of a certificate of competency (restricted) as compass adjuster.\n\n[Regulation 5 amended: Gazette 11 August 1992 p.3976; 11 Dec 2009 p. 5089.]\n\n##### 6. Certificates of competency\n\n(1) The chief executive officer shall issue a certificate of competency as compass adjuster —\n\n(a) without further examination and on payment of a fee of $10 to the holder of a certificate of competency as extra master, Class I or equivalent, issued or recognized under the *Navigation Act 1912* of the Commonwealth;\n\n(b) without further examination and on payment of a fee of $10 to the holder of a licence as a compass adjuster issued or recognized under the *Navigation Act 1912* of the Commonwealth.\n\n(2) The chief executive officer shall issue a certificate of competency (restricted) as compass adjuster for compasses on vessels not exceeding 35 metres in length, without further examination and on payment of a fee of $10, to an applicant who has, not more than 12 months before making the application, successfully completed a course for compass adjusters (restricted) conducted by the Australian Maritime College at Launceston and approved by the chief executive officer.\n\n[Regulation 6 amended: Gazette 11 August 1992 p.3976.]\n\n##### 7. Restriction\n\nA licensed adjuster must not adjust the compass of a vessel, or furnish a deviation card in respect of a vessel, of which he is the master.\n\n[Regulation 7 amended: Gazette 11 Dec 2009 p. 5089.]\n\n##### 8. Offence\n\nThe owner or master of a vessel shall not send or take the vessel on a voyage or permit the vessel to begin a voyage unless the compass of the vessel has been adjusted and a deviation card furnished in accordance with the requirements of these regulations.\n\nPenalty: $1 000.\n\n##### 9. Repeal\n\n[Omitted under s. 7(4)(f) of the Reprints Act 1984.]\n\nNotes\n\n1 This is a compilation of the *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Regulations 1983* and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table. The table also contains information about any reprint.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Gazettal** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Regulations 1983* | 1 Jul 1983 p. 2191‑2 | 1 Jul 1983 (see r. 2) |\n| *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Amendment Regulations 1983* | 5 Aug 1983 p. 2839 | 5 Aug 1983 |\n| *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Amendment Regulations 1985* | 30 Aug 1985 p. 3084 | 2 Sep 1985 (see r. 2) |\n| *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Amendment Regulations 1987* | 16 Oct 1987 p.3896 | 16 Octber 1987 |\n| *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 1989* | 30 Jun 1989 p. 1928‑9 | 1 Jul 1989   (see r. 2) |\n| *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Amendment Regulations 1990* | 1 Aug 1990 pp.3643‑4 | 1 Aug 1990 (see r. 2) |\n| *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Amendment Regulations 1991* | 15 Feb 1991 p. 701‑02 | 15 Feb 1991 |\n| *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Amendment Regulations 1991* | 26 Jul 1991 p. 3928 | 1 Aug 1991 (see r. 2) |\n| *W.A. Marine Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 1992,* Pt. 2 | 30 Jun 1992 p. 2905 | 1 Jul 1992 (see r. 2) |\n| *W.A. Marine Amendment Regulations 1992,* Pt. 2 | 11 Aug 1992 p. 3976 | 11 Aug 1992 |\n| *W.A. Marine Amendment Regulations 1993,* Pt. 2 | 29 Jun 1993 p. 3184‑5 | 1 Jul 1993 (see r. 2) |\n| *W.A. Marine Amendment Regulations 1994*, Pt. 2 | 14 Jun 1994 p. 2486 | 1 Jul 1994 (see r. 2) |\n| *W.A. Marine Amendment Regulations 1995*, Pt. 2 | 11 Jul 1995 p. 2947 | 11 Jul 1995 |\n| *W.A. Marine Amendment Regulations 1996*, Pt. 2 | 25 Jun 1996 p. 2998 | 25 Jun 1996 |\n| **Reprint of the *W.A. Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Regulations 1983* as at 18 Jun 1999** (includes amendments listed above) | | |\n| *W.A. Marine Amendment Regulations 2009* Pt. 2 | 11 Dec 2009 p. 5087‑109 | 12 Dec 2009 (see r. 2(b)) |\n\n\n2 Regulation 4(2)(b) was repealed in *Gazette* 15 February 1991 p.702.\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nCode 4(1)\n\nlicensed adjuster 4(1)\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as the full text of the legislation is inaccessible. No comparison between original intent and current operation is possible."},"complexity_factors":["Legislative text is entirely unavailable — no content exists to assess for complexity","The source URL has been deprecated following a government website migration","Only metadata (title and year) is recoverable from the provided content"],"plain_english_summary":"This 1983 Western Australian regulation governed adjustment of navigational compasses, likely specifying who may adjust vessel compasses and the conditions for doing so. It sits within WA’s marine safety framework and would affect vessel operators, marine technicians, and compliance obligations.\n\nThe instrument’s text is currently unavailable online, so confirm its status (active, repealed, or consolidated) via the WA legislation site or the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office before relying on it."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations apply to all vessels and voyages covered by the Marine Act and set mandatory compass adjustment, licensing, certificates, exemptions and penalties. The text gives no indication of a change in scope from the instrument's stated application; it remains limited to vessels to which the Act applies (r.3)."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to external instruments: Uniform Shipping Laws Code (r.4(1)) and Marine Orders Part 21 (r.4(1)(b)(ii)) increase interpretive complexity.","Different compliance intervals depending on vessel status (new vessel 4 years v. other vessels 3 years) create conditional requirements (r.4(1A)(b)).","Chief Executive Officer discretion to exempt or require adjustments adds administrative uncertainty and case-by-case decision-making (r.4(2),(3)).","Two-tier licensing regime (full and restricted) and recognition of Commonwealth qualifications introduce multiple qualification pathways (r.5, r.6).","Low fixed fee for certificates ($10) but unspecified commercial cost for adjustments leaves private compliance costs variable (r.6).","Operational restriction that an adjuster cannot adjust their own vessel creates a conflict‑of‑interest rule (r.7).","Penal sanction for owners/masters ($1,000) is a clear enforcement mechanism but may require monitoring and proof of non‑compliance (r.8)."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations require a vessel's compass to be adjusted and a deviation card furnished by a licensed adjuster before initial survey and thereafter at set intervals (every 3 years, or 4 years for certain new vessels) (r.4(1A)). The chief executive officer may grant temporary exemptions or order extra adjustments after repairs or if the compass is unreliable (r.4(2),(3)). Certificates of competency are issued on recognition of Commonwealth credentials or approved courses for a $10 fee (r.6). Owners/masters risk a $1,000 penalty for non‑compliance; adjusters may not service their own vessel (rr.7,8)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of regulating compass adjustment for maritime safety. While there have been numerous amendments over 26 years (1983-2009), these have primarily updated technical references (such as adopting the Uniform Shipping Laws Code and Amendment List 7), adjusted fee amounts, and refined the licensing categories. The core scope — ensuring compasses are adjusted by qualified persons on a regular schedule — has not expanded beyond the original safety intent."},"complexity_factors":["Only 2 defined terms in the interpretation section (regulation 4(1))","Straightforward conditional structure with clear triggers for compass adjustment (time intervals, repairs, new vessels)","Simple two-tier licensing system (full vs restricted based on vessel length)","Single cross-reference to external law (Navigation Act 1912 of the Commonwealth)","Minimal nested exceptions — only one exemption power in regulation 4(2) allowing the chief executive officer to defer adjustment","Short length (9 regulations plus notes)","Clear penalty provision without alternative sentencing options","Historical amendment trail is extensive but doesn't affect current operational complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set the rules for who can adjust ship compasses in Western Australia and how often it must be done. A compass that doesn't point accurately can put a vessel dangerously off course, so these rules are designed to keep maritime navigation safe.\n\n**Key requirements:**\n\n* **Regular adjustments:** Ship compasses must be adjusted and a \"deviation card\" (a document showing how much the compass deviates from true north in different directions) must be provided by a licensed professional:\n  * Every **4 years** for new vessels (as defined by the Uniform Shipping Laws Code)\n  * Every **3 years** for all other vessels\n  * Before a vessel gets its first certificate of survey\n  * After major repairs or alterations that might affect compass accuracy\n  * If the vessel hasn't operated from an Australian port before\n  * If the chief executive officer decides the compass is unreliable\n\n* **Who can do the work:**\n  * **Licensed adjusters** — qualified to work on any size vessel\n  * **Restricted licensed adjusters** — can only work on vessels **35 metres or shorter**\n  * Commonwealth-licensed compass adjusters (for small vessels)\n\n* **Getting a licence:**\n  * Full licence: Available to holders of extra master certificates or equivalent under Commonwealth navigation law, or existing Commonwealth compass adjuster licences (fee: $10)\n  * Restricted licence: Available to those who complete an approved course at the Australian Maritime College in Launceston within the past 12 months (fee: $10)\n\n* **Important restriction:** A compass adjuster cannot adjust the compass of a vessel they are the master (captain) of — this prevents conflicts of interest.\n\n* **Penalties:** Owners or masters who send a vessel to sea without proper compass adjustment face a **$1,000 fine**.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n* Ship owners and masters (captains) operating vessels in Western Australian waters\n* Compass adjusters seeking to work in WA\n* The chief executive officer of the Department of Transport (or equivalent) who issues licences and exemptions\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nMagnetic compasses are affected by the metal structure of ships and their cargo. Without regular adjustment by qualified professionals, compass errors can lead to groundings, collisions, or vessels becoming lost at sea. These regulations ensure there's a qualified workforce available to maintain this critical safety equipment and that vessels can't legally sail without it."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-adjustment-of-compasses-regulations-1983","history":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-adjustment-of-compasses-regulations-1983/history","analysis":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-adjustment-of-compasses-regulations-1983/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-adjustment-of-compasses-regulations-1983/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-adjustment-of-compasses-regulations-1983/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-adjustment-of-compasses-regulations-1983/documents"}}