{"id":"wa-marine-court-of-marine-inquiry-rules","name":"W.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules","slug":"w-a-marine-court-of-marine-inquiry-rules","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":182363,"registerId":"wa-wa-marine-court-of-marine-inquiry-rules-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"W.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nWestern Australian Marine Act 1982\n\nW.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules\n\nWestern Australia\n\nW.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules\n\nContents\n\nPart 1 — Preliminary\n\n1. Short title and commencement 1\n\n2. Interpretation 1\n\nPart 2 — Appointment of Court and notice to parties\n\n3. Clerk to inform Magistrate when notice of appeal filed 2\n\n4. Clerk to inform parties of hearing date 2\n\n5. Department to give notice to complainant 2\n\n6. Notice of inquiry to be served 2\n\nPart 3 — Assessors\n\n7. Qualifications of assessors 3\n\n8. Appointment of assessors 3\n\n10. Class of assessors to be appointed 3\n\n11. Department to notify Minister when assessors required 4\n\n12. Irregularity does not affect appointment 4\n\nPart 4 — Parties\n\nDivision 1 — Inquiries\n\n13. Parties to inquiries 5\n\n14. Who may appear 5\n\nDivision 2 — Appeals or references\n\n15. Parties to appeals or references 5\n\n16. Court may make any person a party 5\n\nPart 5 — Notice of appeal\n\n17. Notice of appeal to be given 6\n\nPart 6 — Evidence\n\n18. Notice to produce 7\n\n19. Notice to admit 7\n\n20. Subpoenas 7\n\n21. Report of survey to be produced 7\n\nPart 7 — Proceedings in Court\n\nDivision 1 — General\n\n22. Method of taking down evidence 8\n\nDivision 2 — Inquiries\n\n23. Proceedings on non‑appearance of any party 8\n\n24. Department to begin 8\n\n25. Order in which parties to be heard 8\n\n26. Parties may address the Court 9\n\nDivision 3 — Appeals or references\n\n27. Department to begin 9\n\n28. Complainant to follow 9\n\n29. Appellant to follow 9\n\n30. Department and complainant may call evidence in reply 9\n\n31. Order in which parties to address 10\n\n32. Order for release or detention 10\n\nDivision 4 — Adjournment\n\n33. Court may adjourn hearing 10\n\nPart 8 — Rehearing by order of the Governor\n\n34. Magistrate to fix time and place for rehearing 11\n\n35. Parties may be added 11\n\n36. Copy of evidence on hearing to be admitted on rehearing 11\n\n37. Copy of decision and notes of evidence to be sent to Governor 11\n\nPart 9 — Costs\n\n38. Court may order any party to pay costs 12\n\n39. Taxation of costs 12\n\nPart 10 — General provisions\n\n40. Court to report to Governor 13\n\n41. Master or officer may obtain copy of decision 13\n\n42. Computation of time 13\n\n43. Service of process 13\n\n44. Proof of service 14\n\n45. Local Courts Act and Rules to apply 14\n\n46. Fees 14\n\n47. Clerk 14\n\n48. Clerk of Local Court to act as Clerk 14\n\n49. Minute book 14\n\n50. Seal 15\n\n51. All process to be sealed 15\n\nAppendix\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 22\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nWestern Australian Marine Act 1982\n\nW.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules\n\n## Part 1 — Preliminary\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 1. Short title and commencement 2\n\nThese Rules may be cited as the *W.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules*. They shall come into operation on the date of their publication in the *Government Gazette*, and shall, so far as practicable, and unless otherwise expressly provided, apply to all matters arising in any pending inquiry, appeal, or reference, and also to all inquiries, appeals, references, or rehearings instituted on or after that date 1.\n\n[Rule 1 amended: Gazette 1 July 1983 p.2194.]\n\n##### 2. Interpretation\n\nIn these Rules —\n\n  Court means a Court of Marine Inquiry;\n\n  Clerk means Clerk of the Court of Marine Inquiry.\n\n[Rule 2 amended: Gazette 17 November 2000 pp.6293‑4.]\n\n## Part 2 — Appointment of Court and notice to parties\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 3. Clerk to inform Magistrate when notice of appeal filed 2\n\nImmediately upon the filing of a notice of appeal or reference, the Clerk shall communicate the fact to the Magistrate of the Court, who shall appoint a time and place for the hearing of the appeal or reference.\n\n##### 4. Clerk to inform parties of hearing date 2\n\nAs soon as the Clerk has ascertained when an appeal or reference will be heard, he shall send notice thereof to the Department and to the appellant, or, in the case of a reference, to the owner or master, in the Form No. 2 in the Appendix.\n\n##### 5. Department to give notice to complainant 2\n\nIf the appeal or reference is in respect of the detention of a ship after a survey made on the complaint of any person, hereinafter called the complainant, the Department shall send to the complainant notice of the time and place appointed for the hearing.\n\n##### 6. Notice of inquiry to be served 2\n\nWhen the time and place for holding an inquiry have been fixed by the Court, the Clerk shall cause a notice, to be called a notice of inquiry, to be served upon the Department, and the owner, master, and officers of the ship, as well as upon any person whom the Court may direct to be served with such notice. The notice shall be in the Form No. 5 of the Appendix with such variations as circumstances may require.\n\n## Part 3 — Assessors\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 7. Qualifications of assessors 2\n\nPersons placed on the list of assessors who assist in a Court of Marine Inquiry under the *Western Australian Marine Act 1982* shall be classified according to their qualifications as follows —\n\nClass I — Mercantile Marine Masters\n\n5 years’ service as a master in the merchant service of which 2 years must have been service in command of a ship with a certificate of competency as Master Class I or equivalent.\n\nClass II — Mercantile Marine Engineers\n\n5 years’ service as an engineer in the merchant service and at the time of appointment holding a certificate of competency as Marine Engineer Class I or equivalent.\n\n[Rule 7 inserted: Gazette 1 July 1983 p.2194.]\n\n##### 8. Appointment of assessors 2\n\nSubject to these Rules, assessors for investigations into shipping casualties shall be appointed from the list of assessors by the Minister controlling the Department, and, so far as in his opinion circumstances permit, shall be taken in order of rotation from each class or subclass abovementioned.\n\n[**9.** Deleted: Gazette 1 July 1983 p.2194.]\n\n##### 10. Class of assessors to be appointed\n\nSubject to any special appointment or appointments which the Minister may think it expedient to make in any case where special circumstances appear to him to require it (subject always to compliance with section 105(2), of the Act), assessors shall be appointed as follows —\n\n(a) where the inquiry involves or appears likely to involve any question as to the cancelling or suspension of the certificate of a master, mate, or coxswain, at least 2 assessors shall be appointed from Class I; and\n\n(b) where the investigation involves or appears likely to involve any question as to the cancelling or suspension of the certificate of a marine engineer or a marine engine driver, at least 2 assessors shall be appointed from Class II.\n\n[Rule 10 inserted: Gazette 1 July 1983 p.2194.]\n\n##### 11. Department to notify Minister when assessors required\n\nThe Department shall inform the Minister when assessors are required, and shall state from which of the aforesaid classes assessors ought, in its opinion, to be appointed; but the Department shall not request the appointment of any individual assessor.\n\n##### 12. Irregularity does not affect appointment\n\nAn appointment made by the Minister of any assessor or assessors for an investigation shall not be open to question on the ground that it was not in accordance with these Rules, or does not give full effect to the requirements of these Rules.\n\n## Part 4 — Parties\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n### Division 1 — Inquiries\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 13. Parties to inquiries 2\n\nThe Department, and any certificated officer upon whom a notice of inquiry has been served, shall be deemed to be parties to the proceedings; and, unless the Court shall otherwise order, the Department shall be the party having the conduct of the case.\n\n##### 14. Who may appear 2\n\nAny other person upon whom a notice of inquiry has been served, and any person who shows that he has an interest in the inquiry shall have a right to appear, and any other person may, by leave of the Court, appear; and any person who appears under this rule shall thereupon become a party to the proceedings.\n\n### Division 2 — Appeals or references\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 15. Parties to appeals or references 2\n\nThe Department and the appellant, or, in the case of a reference the owner or master, shall be parties to the proceedings.\n\n##### 16. Court may make any person a party 2\n\nAny other person, on entering an appearance, may by permission of the Court, be made a party to the proceedings.\n\n## Part 5 — Notice of appeal\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 17. Notice of appeal to be given 2\n\nWhere the owner or master of a ship, hereinafter called the appellant, desires to appeal to the Court, in respect of the detention of a ship alleged to be unsafe, he shall file at the office of the Clerk of the Court nearest to the place in which the ship is, a notice in the Form No. 1 in the Appendix.\n\n## Part 6 — Evidence\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 18. Notice to produce 2\n\nEither party may give to the other a notice in writing to produce such documents (saving all just exceptions) as relate to any matters in difference, and which are in the possession or control of such other party; and if such notice be not complied with, secondary evidence of the contents of the said documents may be given by or on behalf of the party who gave such notice.\n\n##### 19. Notice to admit 2\n\nEither party may give to the other party a notice in writing to admit any document (saving all just exceptions); and in the case of neglect or refusal to admit after such notice, the party so neglecting or refusing shall be liable for all costs of proving such documents, whatever the results may be, unless the Court is of opinion that the refusal to admit was reasonable; and no costs of proving any document shall be allowed unless such notice be given, except where the omission to give notice is, in the opinion of the officer by whom the costs are taxed, a saving of expense.\n\n##### 20. Subpoenas 2\n\nSubpoenas shall be according to one of the forms (Forms Nos. 6 and 7) in the Appendix, and may be issued to any party without leave of the Court; and the Court may direct the Clerk to subpoena any person to attend for the purpose of being examined.\n\n##### 21. Report of survey to be produced 2\n\nOn the hearing of an appeal or reference in respect of the detention of a ship, the Department shall produce as evidence all the reports of the survey of the ship.\n\n## Part 7 — Proceedings in Court\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n### Division 1 — General\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 22. Method of taking down evidence 2\n\nThe evidence shall be taken down by a shorthand writer or typewriter, or in such other way as the Court may direct.\n\n### Division 2 — Inquiries\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 23. Proceedings on non‑appearance of any party 2\n\nAt the time and place appointed for holding an inquiry the Court may proceed with the inquiry, whether the parties upon whom a notice of inquiry has been served, or any of them, are present or not.\n\n##### 24. Department to begin 2\n\nThe proceedings on the inquiry shall commence by the Department opening its case and then proceeding with the examination of its witnesses. Each witness, after being examined on behalf of the Department, may be cross‑examined by the parties in such order as the Court may direct, and may then be re‑examined by the Department.\n\n##### 25. Order in which parties to be heard 2\n\nWhen the examination of the witnesses produced by the Department has been concluded, each party to the investigation shall be entitled to produce witnesses, or recall any of the witnesses who have already been examined for further examination, and generally adduce evidence. The parties shall be heard, and their witnesses examined, cross‑examined and re‑examined in such order as the Court shall direct. The Department may also produce and examine further witnesses who may be cross‑examined by the parties and re‑examined by the Department.\n\n##### 26. Parties may address the Court 2\n\nWhen the whole of the evidence has been concluded, any of the parties who desire so to do may address the Court upon the evidence, and the Department may address the Court in reply upon the whole case.\n\n### Division 3 — Appeals or references\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6295.]\n\n##### 27. Department to begin 2\n\nAt the hearing the Department shall open its case and then call its witnesses, and having done so, shall state, in writing, what order it requires the Court to make.\n\n##### 28. Complainant to follow 2\n\nThe complainant, if he has appeared, shall then call his witnesses and having done so, shall state, in writing, what order he requires the Court to make.\n\n##### 29. Appellant to follow 2\n\nThe appellant, or, in the case of a reference, the master or owner shall then call his witnesses, and having done so shall state, in writing, what order he requires the Court to make.\n\n##### 30. Department and complainant may call evidence in reply 2\n\nAfter the appellant or, in the case of a reference the master or owner has examined all his witnesses, the Department and the complainant may, on cause shown to the satisfaction of the Court call further witnesses in reply.\n\n##### 31. Order in which parties to address 2\n\nAfter all the witnesses have been examined the Court shall first hear the appellant or in the case of a reference the master or owner, then the complainant (if any), and afterwards the Department.\n\n##### 32. Order for release or detention 2\n\nAs soon as possible after the Court has come to its decision, the Court shall issue an order for the release or detention (either finally or on condition) of the vessel, in the Form No. 3 in the Appendix.\n\n### Division 4 — Adjournment\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6295.]\n\n##### 33. Court may adjourn hearing 2\n\nThe Court may adjourn the hearing of the inquiry, appeal, or reference from time to time and from place to place; and, where an adjournment is asked for by a party or by the Department, the Court may impose such terms as to payment of costs or otherwise as it may think just as a condition to granting the adjournment.\n\n## Part 8 — Rehearing by order of the Governor\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 34. Magistrate to fix time and place for rehearing 2\n\nWhere the Governor directs a rehearing of any case, the Magistrate shall fix a time and place for the rehearing, and the clerk shall give such reasonable notice to the parties affected by the order for rehearing as the circumstances of the case may permit.\n\n##### 35. Parties may be added 2\n\nThe Court may, if it thinks fit, order any other person, other than the parties served with the notice of rehearing, to be added as a party or parties to the proceedings for the purpose of the rehearing, on such terms with respect to costs and otherwise as the Court may think fit. Any party to the proceedings may object to the appearance on the rehearing, of any other party as unnecessary.\n\n##### 36. Copy of evidence on hearing to be admitted on re­hearing 2\n\nThe evidence taken at the hearing shall be proved before the Court at the re­hearing by a copy of the notes of the shorthand writer, or other person authorised by the Court to take down evidence. For the purpose of this rule, copies of the notes of the evidence, as well as a copy of the decision given by the Court, shall be supplied to any party to the proceedings, on request, on payment of the usual charge for copying.\n\n##### 37. Copy of decision and notes of evidence to be sent to Governor 2\n\nOn the conclusion of the rehearing the Court shall send to the Governor a copy of the decision, together with notices of any further evidence which may have been given.\n\n## Part 9 — Costs\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 38. Court may order any party to pay costs 2\n\nThe Court may, in its discretion, order the costs and expenses of the inquiry, appeal, reference, or rehearing, or any part thereof, to be paid by any party. An order for the payment of costs shall be in the Form No. 9 in the Appendix, with such variations as circumstances may require.\n\n##### 39. Taxation of costs 2\n\nWhere the costs are not assessed by the Court, they shall be taxed by the clerk on one of the scales provided by the *Local Court Rules 1961*, so far as same may be applicable; and the Court shall direct on what scale the taxation shall take place.\n\n## Part 10 — General provisions\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 17 November 2000 p.6294.]\n\n##### 40. Court to report to Governor 2\n\nAt the conclusion of the inquiry, or of the hearing, of the appeal or reference, the Court shall draw up its decision or report, which shall be in one of the forms (Forms Nos. 4 and 8) in the Appendix, with such variations as circumstances may require; and shall send the report, or a copy of the decision, together with notes of the evidence given, to the Governor.\n\n##### 41. Master or officer may obtain copy of decision 2\n\nWhere the certificate of a master, mate, or engineer has been cancelled or suspended, the clerk shall, on application by any party to the proceedings, give him a copy of the decision of the Court.\n\n##### 42. Computation of time 2\n\nIn computing the number of days within which any act is to be done, the same shall be reckoned exclusive of the first day and inclusive of the last day, unless the last day shall happen to fall on a Sunday, Christmas Day, or Good Friday, or public holiday, in which case the time shall be reckoned exclusive of that day also.\n\n##### 43. Service of process 2\n\nService of any notice, subpoena, summons, or other process shall be deemed good service if made personally on the person to be served, or if made at his last known place of abode or business, or if made on board any ship or vessel to which he belongs and accompanied with a statement of the purport thereof to the person being or appearing to be in command or charge of such ship or vessel; and in the case of an owner of a ship if made on board such ship in manner aforesaid, or at any address he may give for service.\n\n##### 44. Proof of service 2\n\nThe service of any notice, subpoena, summons, or other process or document may be proved by the oath or affidavit of the person by whom it was served.\n\n##### 45. Local Courts Act and Rules to apply 2\n\nThe provisions of the *Local Courts Act 1904*, and any Act amending the same, and of the *Local Court Rules 1961* made thereunder, shall apply to inquiries, appeals, references, and rehearings, so far as may be applicable, save and except in so far as they may conflict with these Rules.\n\n##### 46. Fees 2\n\nNo fees shall be demanded of any person for filing any document, or for issuing any process of the Court, other than process to enforce an order for the payment of money.\n\n##### 47. Clerk 2\n\nFor every Court there shall be a clerk, who shall sign and issue all process of the Court and have the custody of all records, minutes and proceedings of the Court.\n\n##### 48. Clerk of Local Court to act as Clerk 2\n\nThe officer of the Local Court performing for the time being the duties of Clerk of that Court shall act as Clerk of the Court of Marine Inquiry.\n\n##### 49. Minute book 2\n\nThe Clerk shall keep a minute book, according to the Form No. 10 in the Appendix, in which he shall enter a minute of the decision or report of the Court as to every inquiry, appeal, reference, or rehearing.\n\n##### 50. Seal 2\n\nFor each Court there shall be a seal bearing an impression of the Royal Arms, and having inscribed thereon the words “Court of Marine Inquiry”, with the name of the town where the Court is held.\n\n##### 51. All process to be sealed 2\n\nThe Clerk shall seal with the seal of the Court all process of the Court issued by him.\n\nAppendix\n\nThe following forms shall be employed, as far as possible, with such alterations as circumstances may require, but no deviation from the prescribed forms shall invalidate the proceedings, unless the Court shall be of opinion that the deviation was material: —\n\n**Form No. 1**\n\n*Western Australian Marine Act 1982*\n\n**NOTICE OF APPEAL**\n\nTo the Clerk of the Court of Marine Inquiry at\n\nheld at\n\nTake notice that I (name and address) the master (or managing owner or owner of shares) of the ship “ ” of the port\n\nof do appeal from the report of the surveyor appointed by the Department to survey the said ship (or as the case may be).\n\nThe address at which all notices and documents may be served on me is\n\nDated the day of , 20 .\n\n(To be signed by Appellant.)\n\n**Form No. 2**\n\n*Western Australian Marine Act 1982*\n\n**NOTICE OF SITTING OF COURT**\n\nThe Court of Marine Inquiry at\n\nIn the matter of an appeal by , from the report of\n\n, the surveyor appointed by the Department to\n\nsurvey the ship “ ” (or as the case may be).\n\nTo A.B., the master (or managing owner or owner of shares) of the\n\nship “ ” the appellant (or the Department).\n\nTake notice that the Court of Marine Inquiry will meet at\n\non the day of 20 ,\n\nat o’clock in the noon to hear the (appeal) in the above matter.\n\nDated this day of , 20 .\n\nClerk of the Court.\n\n![]()\n\n**Form No. 3**\n\n*Western Australian Marine Act 1982*\n\n**ORDER OF COURT FOR RELEASE OR DETENTION OF SHIP**\n\nThe Court of Marine Inquiry at\n\nIn the matter of an appeal by from the report of\n\nthe surveyor appointed by the Department to survey the ship\n\n“ ” (or as the case may be).\n\nThe Court (or I, ) (with the concurrence of )\n\norders (or do order) the said ship to be released (or detained) (finally or conditionally upon ).\n\nGiven under my hand this day of , 20 .\n\nPresiding Magistrate.\n\nWe (or I) concur in the above report.\n\nAssessor.\n\nAssessor.\n\n![]()\n\n**Form No. 4.**\n\n*Western Australian Marine Act 1982*\n\n**REPORT OF MAGISTRATE OF COURT OF MARINE INQUIRY**\n\nThe Court of Marine Inquiry at\n\nIn the matter of an appeal by from the report of the\n\nsurveyor appointed by the Department to survey the ship “ ” (or\n\nas the case may be).\n\nI, , do report that (this Court) having heard this\n\nappeal (I) did with (concurrence of ) order the\n\nsaid ship to be released (or detained) (finally and conditionally upon ).\n\nThe Court (or I) did also order that the costs of this appeal be paid by\n\nto the Department (or that all parties shall pay their own costs, or as the case may be).\n\nDated this day of , 20 .\n\nMagistrate.\n\nWe (or I) concur in the above report.\n\nAssessor.\n\nAssessor.\n\nI dissent from the above report, for the following reasons, viz.: —\n\nAssessor.\n\n![]()\n\n**Form No. 5**\n\n*Western Australian Marine Act 1982*\n\n**NOTICE OF INQUIRY**\n\nThe Court of Marine Inquiry at\n\nTo the Department (or to Master or (or as the case\n\nmay be) of (or belonging to) the ship “ ”).\n\nI hereby give you notice that the Court of Marine Inquiry will, on\n\nthe day of , 20 , at the hours of\n\no’clock in the noon, at the Courthouse, situate at make\n\ninquiry into the circumstances attending the shipwreck of the “ ”\n\n(or as to the charge of incompetency on the part of ) (or as the case may be).\n\nI have further to give you notice to produce to the Court (your master’s certificate, the log books of the vessel, and) any (other) documents relevant to this case which may be in your possession.\n\nDated this day of , 20 .\n\nClerk of the Court.\n\n![]()\n\n**Form No. 6**\n\n*Western Australian Marine Act 1982*\n\n**SUBPOENA TO WITNESS TO GIVE EVIDENCE**\n\nThe Court of Marine Inquiry\n\nIn the matter of an inquiry as to the shipwreck of the “ ”\n\n(or as the case may be).\n\nYou are hereby commanded to attend at the Courthouse at\n\non the day of 20 , at the hour of\n\nin the noon, to give evidence in the above case (on behalf of\n\n), and thence from day to day until the said case shall be disposed\n\nof.\n\nDated this day of , 20 .\n\nClerk of the Court.\n\nTo.\n\n![]()\n\n**Form No. 7**\n\n*Western Australian Marine Act 1982*\n\n**SUBPOENA TO WITNESS TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS**\n\nThe Court of Marine Inquiry at\n\nIn the matter of an inquiry as to the shipwreck of the\n\n(or as the case may be). You are hereby commanded to attend at the Court House, at , on the day of ,\n\n20 , at the hour of in the noon, to give\n\nevidence in the above case (on behalf of ), and thence from day to day until the said case shall be disposed of; and you are also to bring with you and produce at the time and place aforesaid the several documents hereunder specified (and all other books, papers, writing and other documents relating to the above case which may be in your custody, possession, or power).\n\nDated this day of , 20 .\n\nClerk of the Court.\n\nTo\n\nList of documents required to be produced: —\n\n![]()\n\n**Form No. 8.**\n\n*Western Australian Marine Act 1982*\n\n**DECISION OF THE COURT**\n\nThe Court of Marine Inquiry at\n\nIn the matter of a formal inquiry held at before (name\n\nof Magistrate) assisted by (names of assessors) into the circumstances attending the shipwreck of the (or as the case may be).\n\nThe Court having carefully inquired into the circumstances attending the abovementioned (shipping casualty) finds that the (here state the decision of the Court).\n\nDated this day of , 20 .\n\nMagistrate.\n\n![]()\n\n**Form No. 9**\n\n*Western Australian Marine Act 1982*\n\n**ORDER ON A PARTY FOR PAYMENT OF COSTS**\n\nThe Court of Marine Inquiry at\n\nIn the matter of a formal inquiry held at , before (name of\n\nMagistrate) assisted by (names of assessors) into the circumstances attending the shipwreck of the (or as the case may be).\n\nThe Court orders (or I do order) that A.B. do pay to the Department (or as the case may be) the sum of dollars on account of the\n\nexpenses of this (inquiry).\n\nGiven under my hand this day of , 20 .\n\nMagistrate.\n\n![]()\n\n**Form No. 10.**\n\n*Western Australian Marine Act 1982*\n\n**MINUTE BOOK**\n\nMinutes of Proceedings in the Court of Marine Inquiry at\n\n| No. of<br>Case | Name of<br>Ship | Name of<br>Parties | Nature of<br>Inquiry,<br>Appeal or<br>Reference | Judgment<br>or<br>Decision<br>of the<br>Court | Names of<br>Members<br>of the<br>Court<br>and<br>Assessors | Date of<br>Judgment<br>or<br>Decision |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |\n\n\n[Appendix amended: Gazette 1 July 1983 p.2194.]\n\nNotes\n\n1 This is a compilation of the *W.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules* and includes the amendments referred to in the following Table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Gazettal** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *W.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules* | 15 Mar 1950 p. 583-9 | 15 Mar 1950 |\n| *W.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Amendment Rules 1983* | 1 Jul 1983 p. 2194 | 1 Jul 1983 (see r. 2) |\n| *W.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Amendment Rules 2000* | 17 Nov 2000 p. 6293-5 | 17 Nov 2000 |\n\n\n2 The *W.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Amendment Rules 2000* deleted headings to various rules that formed part of the written law. The deletions are not noted in footnotes to the rules. The headings to the rules in this reprint do not form part of the witten law (see *Interpretation Act 1984* s. 32).\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\nClerk 2\n\nCourt 2\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of establishing procedural rules for the Court of Marine Inquiry. The amendments shown in the compilation table (1983 and 2000) are minor housekeeping changes—updating assessor qualifications and removing redundant headings—rather than expansions of scope. The rules continue to address only the specific mechanics of maritime inquiries, appeals, and rehearings without encroaching into broader administrative or regulatory areas."},"complexity_factors":["Only 2 defined terms in the interpretation section ('Court' and 'Clerk')","Linear structure with 10 clear Parts and minimal cross-referencing","Straightforward procedural rules without nested exceptions or conditional logic","Simple appointment mechanism for assessors with only 2 qualification classes","Incorporation by reference to Local Courts Act and Rules (saving clause in rule 45)","Standard court forms provided in Appendix reduce ambiguity","No delegated legislation or regulation-making powers within the instrument","Short length (approximately 15 pages of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"These rules set out how the Court of Marine Inquiry operates in Western Australia. This is a special court that investigates shipping accidents, decides appeals about detained ships, and can cancel or suspend the licences of ship masters and engineers.\n\n**What the rules cover:**\n\n*   **Setting up hearings:** How the Court schedules inquiries and appeals, and who gets notified (ship owners, masters, the Department of Transport, and complainants).\n*   **Expert assessors:** The Court must include qualified assessors—experienced ship captains (Class I) or marine engineers (Class II)—who help the Magistrate decide technical questions. The rules specify their qualifications and how they are chosen.\n*   **Who can participate:** The Department, ship owners, masters, and officers are automatically parties to proceedings. Others with an interest can ask to join.\n*   **Evidence and procedure:** How witnesses are called, documents are produced, and evidence is recorded (e.g., by shorthand). The rules also cover subpoenas (orders to attend court) and notices to admit documents.\n*   **Order of proceedings:** Who speaks first in inquiries versus appeals. In inquiries, the Department leads; in appeals, the Department opens but the appellant (ship owner/master) gets the final word before the Court decides.\n*   **Rehearings:** Special procedures when the Governor orders a case to be reheard.\n*   **Costs and fees:** The Court can order parties to pay costs, but no fees are charged for filing documents except for enforcing money orders.\n*   **Administrative details:** The Clerk of the Local Court acts as Clerk for this Court, keeps a minute book, and seals all official documents.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThese rules ensure maritime investigations and appeals are conducted fairly and consistently. They protect the rights of ship owners and crew while ensuring the Department can properly investigate safety incidents. The requirement for expert assessors ensures technical maritime knowledge informs decisions about safety and professional conduct."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The rules remain a procedural code for Court of Marine Inquiry matters established in 1950 and subsequently amended (1983, 2000). Amendments updated forms, clarified assessor classes and administrative arrangements but did not materially broaden the substantive scope of the Court’s jurisdiction. The instrument still governs procedure (appointment, notice, evidence, hearings, rehearings, costs and reporting) rather than creating new substantive regulatory powers (see compilation table and rr.1–2, Parts 2–10)."},"complexity_factors":["Relatively short rule set: 51 rules + Appendix forms (limited length).","Only 2 defined terms in interpretation (Court, Clerk) (r.2).","Multiple cross‑references to external instruments (Local Courts Act 1904 and Local Court Rules 1961) (r.45).","Appendix contains 10 prescribed forms that parties must use (Forms Nos.1–10).","Moderate conditional logic around assessor appointment and composition (rr.7–12, r.10).","Several procedural pathways (inquiries vs appeals/references vs rehearings) with small differences in order of calling evidence and rights (Parts 4, 6–8).","Discretionary powers spread across several actors (Minister, Department, Magistrate, Governor) increasing practical complexity despite simple rules (rr.8,11,24,34).","Rule 12 limits judicial challenge to assessor appointments, creating a legal exception with potential practical consequences."],"plain_english_summary":"**What these Rules do (mechanics first)**\n\n- Establish the procedure for Court of Marine Inquiry matters under the Western Australian Marine Act 1982: how a Court is appointed, how parties are notified, how evidence is handled, how hearings proceed, who may be a party, how assessors are chosen, rehearings, costs, reporting and record‑keeping (see Parts 2–10 and the Appendix forms).\n\n- Set specific administrative duties: the Clerk must notify the Magistrate when an appeal or reference is filed and tell parties the hearing date (rr.3–4). The Clerk also issues and serves the ‘notice of inquiry’ (r.6) and keeps the minute book and records (rr.49–51).\n\n- Require the Department to produce all survey reports when an appeal concerns detention after survey (r.21) and give the Department responsibility for opening the case in inquiries and appeals unless the Court orders otherwise (rr.24, 27).\n\n- Provide for the appointment and classification of assessors (experienced masters and engineers) and set minimum composition rules where certificate cancellation or suspension is an issue (rr.7–12, r.10). The Minister appoints assessors on the Department’s request (rr.8, 11).\n\n- Specify who is a party and who may appear: the Department and the person(s) served are parties; others with an interest may appear or be added with the Court’s leave (rr.13–16).\n\n- Prescribe evidence and compulsion powers: notices to produce or admit documents, subpoenas in prescribed forms, and taking of survey reports as evidence (rr.18–21, r.20). Evidence is to be recorded by shorthand, typewriter or as the Court directs (r.22).\n\n- Fix hearing order and post‑hearing steps: the order of calling and addressing witnesses/parties (Parts 7 Divs.2–3), power to adjourn and impose terms (r.33), and issuance of a release/detention order for the vessel (Form No.3; r.32).\n\n- Allow rehearing if the Governor so directs, with procedures for notice, adding parties and admitting copies of earlier evidence (rr.34–37).\n\n- Enable the Court to award costs against any party and to have those costs taxed according to Local Court scales where applicable; generally no filing fees for documents or process except for enforcement of monetary orders (rr.38–39, r.46).\n\n- Require the Court to report its decision and evidence notes to the Governor (r.40) and to make decisions and minutes available to affected persons (rr.36, 41).\n\n\n**Who is affected**\n\n- Ship owners, masters and certificated officers: they can be served with a notice of inquiry, required to produce documents, subpoenaed, and may have certificates suspended or cancelled subject to inquiry (rr.6, 13, 21, 10).\n\n- The Department (the maritime regulator): conducts the Department’s case, requests assessor classes, receives process and must produce survey reports (rr.11, 21, 24, 27).\n\n- Assessors and the Minister: assessors are drawn from a prescribed list and appointed by the Minister (rr.7–8, 10–12).\n\n- Complainants and other interested persons: may be notified, appear, call witnesses and, subject to Court leave, be made parties (rr.5, 14–16, 28).\n\n- The Governor and the Magistrate: the Governor can order rehearings (r.34); the Magistrate fixes rehearing times and presides over the Court (rr.3, 34).\n\n\n**Why it matters (stated purpose and practical effects)**\n\n- Stated purpose: provide an orderly, standardised procedure for marine casualty inquiries, appeals from survey reports and references concerning vessel safety or officer competency (covered across Parts 2–10 and Appendix forms). That purpose is realised by allocating administrative duties, setting evidence and hearing rules, and defining participant rights.\n\n- Practical effects and the mechanisms by which they occur:\n  - Administrative predictability: deadlines, service rules and prescribed forms reduce uncertainty about how to start and carry through an appeal or inquiry (rr.1, 6, Form Nos.1–5).\n  - Compulsory disclosure: subpoenas and notices to produce mean parties must provide documents and witnesses or risk admission of secondary evidence and cost orders (rr.18–20, 19).\n  - Allocation of decision‑making and influence: the Minister appoints assessors from classes recommended by the Department (rr.8, 10–11). The Department normally conducts the case (r.13) and opens hearings (rr.24, 27). These rules therefore concentrate procedural control with the Department, the Clerk and the Magistrate.\n  - Cost allocation and financial incentives: the Court may order costs against any party and costs may be taxed on Local Court scales (rr.38–39). No filing fees are charged for court documents (r.46), but parties may incur legal and operational costs (detention, witness time, copying) as a result of inquiries.\n\n\n**Compliance costs, incentives and trade‑offs**\n\n- Who pays: parties may be ordered to pay costs (r.38). Owners and masters face direct operational costs from detention orders (r.32) and indirect costs from lost time, legal fees and compliance with subpoenas and document requests (rr.20, 21, 18–19).\n\n- Who decides and where discretion lies: the Minister appoints assessors and may make special appointments (rr.8, 10); the Court (Magistrate) controls hearing order, adjournments and what evidence is accepted (rr.22, 25, 33). The Governor can order rehearings (r.34). These points of discretion create administrative levers that affect outcomes.\n\n- Trade‑offs and opportunity costs: the rules prioritise a formal, evidence‑based process (benefit: procedural fairness and record) at the cost of time and resources for participants and the regulator (cost: vessel downtime, staff time, copying fees, and administrative overhead).\n\n- Effects on private choice and commercial operation: owners and masters retain the right to appeal detention and to call evidence (r.17, r.29), but the procedural burdens (service, subpoenas, producing survey reports) constrain how quickly they can return a vessel to service.\n\n\n**Risks and implementation notes (mechanisms, not judgments)**\n\n- Concentration of administrative influence: the Department recommends assessor class and conducts the case (rr.11, 24). The Minister appoints assessors and may make special appointments (rr.8, 10). Rule 12 bars challenging an appointment on the ground it did not comply with the Rules, which reduces judicial review on appointment technicalities (r.12).\n\n- Reliance on cross‑reference to Local Courts law: several rules make the Local Courts Act and Local Court Rules applicable where not inconsistent (r.45). That imports a second body of procedural law and may complicate practice when provisions interact.\n\n- Operational dependencies: timely performance relies on the Clerk and on the Magistrate making and communicating appointments and hearing dates (rr.3–4). Delays in those steps will delay the whole process.\n\n\n**Key sections to reference quickly**\n- Appointment/notice: rr.3–6\n- Assessors: rr.7–12\n- Parties and appearances: rr.13–16\n- Notice of appeal: r.17 and Form No.1\n- Evidence and subpoenas: rr.18–21, Forms Nos.6–7\n- Hearing procedure, orders for release/detention: rr.22–33, Form No.3\n- Rehearing by Governor: rr.34–37\n- Costs and fees: rr.38–39, r.46\n- Reporting and records: rr.40–41, 49–51\n\n"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed — no legislative text was retrievable from the provided URL. The page has been removed from the Western Australian legislation website."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content was provided — only a broken webpage error message","Unable to assess any legal complexity without actual legislative text","Score of 1 reflects absence of content, not simplicity of any real law"],"plain_english_summary":"**No legislation could be analysed.**\n\nThe link provided does not lead to actual legislation — it leads to a **broken/removed webpage** on the Western Australian legislation website. The page for the *W.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules* is no longer available, likely due to system upgrades on the Parliamentary Counsel's Office website.\n\n**What this means for you:**\n- There is no legislative text available to review or summarise.\n- If you need to find this legislation, visit the [Western Australian legislation website](https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au) and search directly for *W.A. Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules*.\n- It is also possible this legislation has been **repealed** (cancelled/removed from law) and is no longer in force, which may explain why the page was removed rather than redirected."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-court-of-marine-inquiry-rules","history":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-court-of-marine-inquiry-rules/history","analysis":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-court-of-marine-inquiry-rules/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-court-of-marine-inquiry-rules/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-court-of-marine-inquiry-rules/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/w-a-marine-court-of-marine-inquiry-rules/documents"}}