49Offence for unregistered vessels to be in State waters

49 Offence for unregistered vessels to be in State waters

49 Offence for unregistered vessels to be in State waters

(1) This section applies to a vessel (a registrable vessel) that is not exempt from registration under this Act.

(2) A person who owns a registrable vessel must not allow the vessel to be in State waters if the vessel is not registered under this Act.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply within the period of 15 days after the date on which a vessel ceases to be registered.

(4) The master of a registrable vessel must not allow the vessel to be in State waters if the vessel is not registered under this Act.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(5) It is a defence to prosecution for an offence under subsection (4) if the master establishes that the master reasonably believed—

(a) the vessel was registered, or

(b) the vessel was not in State waters.

s 49: Am 2012 No 90, Sch 1 [15] [16]; 2016 No 28, Sch 1 [28]. Subst 2025 No 12, Sch 1[48].