51Movement, damage or destruction of historic shipwrecks

#### 51 Movement, damage or destruction of historic shipwrecks 51 Movement, damage or destruction of historic shipwrecks > > (1) A person must not move, damage or destroy any historic shipwreck otherwise than in accordance with a historic shipwrecks permit. > > > (2) This section does not apply to a historic shipwreck that is subject to an interim heritage order made by the Minister or a listing on the State Heritage Register. > > > (3) This section does not prevent a person from moving, damaging or destroying a historic shipwreck situated in any land in accordance with an excavation permit in force in respect of that land. > > > (4) It is a defence to proceedings for an offence under this section if the defendant establishes that the act giving rise to the offence was done for the purpose of— > > > > > (a) saving human life, or > > > > > (b) securing the safety of a ship where the ship was endangered by stress of weather or by navigational hazards, or > > > > > (c) dealing with an emergency involving a serious threat to the environment. > > **pt 3C, divs 1–3 (ss 47–52):** Ins 2001 No 65, Sch 1 \[4\].