NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
MARINE SAFETY (DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL VESSEL) (NATIONAL
UNIFORM LEGISLATION) ACT 2013
As in force at 10 February 2026
Table of provisions
Part 1 Preliminary matters
1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1
2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1
3 Purpose of Act ................................................................................. 1
4 Interpretation ................................................................................... 2
Part 2 Applied provisions
5 Application of Commonwealth laws as laws of Territory .................. 3
6 Interpretation of Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel
national law...................................................................................... 3
Part 3 Functions and powers under applied
provisions
7 Functions and powers of National Regulator and other
authorities and officers .................................................................... 4
8 Delegations by National Regulator .................................................. 4
Part 4 Offences
9 Object of Part................................................................................... 4
10 Application of Commonwealth criminal laws to offences
against applied provisions ............................................................... 5
11 Functions and powers conferred on Commonwealth officers
and authorities relating to offences .................................................. 5
12 No double jeopardy for offences against applied provisions ............ 6
Part 5 Administrative laws
13 Application of Commonwealth administrative laws to applied
provisions ........................................................................................ 6
14 Functions and powers conferred on Commonwealth officers
and authorities ................................................................................. 7
Part 6 Fees and fines
15 Fees payable to officers or employees of Territory acting as
delegates ......................................................................................... 7
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 ii
16 Infringement notice penalties ........................................................... 7
17 Fines, fees etc. not otherwise payable to Territory .......................... 7
Part 7 Miscellaneous matters
18 Things done for multiple purposes................................................... 8
19 Reference in Commonwealth law to a provision of another law ...... 8
20 Regulations of Territory ................................................................... 8
Part 8 Repeal
21 Regulations repealed ....................................................................... 8
Schedule 1 Repealed Regulations
ENDNOTES
MARINE SAFETY (DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL VESSEL) (NATIONAL
UNIFORM LEGISLATION) ACT 2013
An Act to apply as a law of the Territory a national law regulating marine
safety relating to domestic commercial vessels, and for related
purposes
Part 1 Preliminary matters
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial
Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on the day fixed by the Administrator by
Gazette notice.
3 Purpose of Act
(1) The purpose of this Act is to adopt in the Territory a national
approach to the regulation of marine safety in relation to domestic
commercial vessels (the domestic commercial vessel national law).
(2) Accordingly, this Act:
(a) applies the Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel
national law as a law of the Territory; and
(b) makes provision to enable the Commonwealth domestic
commercial vessel national law and the applied law of the
Territory to be administered on a uniform basis by the
Commonwealth (and by Territory officials as delegates of the
Commonwealth) as if they constituted a single law of the
Commonwealth.
Part 1 Preliminary matters
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 2
4 Interpretation
(1) In this Act:
applied provisions means the Commonwealth domestic
commercial vessel national law that applies as a law of the Territory
because of section 5.
Commonwealth administrative laws means the following:
(a) the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (Cth)
(excluding Part 7);
(b) the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth);
(c) the Ombudsman Act 1976 (Cth);
(d) the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth);
(e) the regulations and other legislative instruments in force under
any of those Acts.
Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel national law
means the provisions of the following Acts, regulations or other
legislative instruments:
(a) the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National
Law of the Commonwealth (being provisions applying as a law
of the Commonwealth because of section 4 of the Marine
Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012
(Cth));
(b) the regulations and other legislative instruments in force under
that Law;
(c) any other provision of a Commonwealth Act (or of a regulation
or other legislative instrument in force under a Commonwealth
Act) that is of a savings or transitional nature consequent on
the enactment or amendment of that Law.
function includes a duty.
(2) Terms used in this Act and also in the Commonwealth domestic
commercial vessel national law have the same meanings in this Act
as they have in that law.
Part 2 Applied provisions
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 3
(3) In this Act, a reference to a Commonwealth Act includes a
reference to:
(a) that Commonwealth Act, as amended and in force for the time
being; and
(b) an Act enacted in substitution for that Act and, if it is amended,
as amended and in force for the time being.
Part 2 Applied provisions
5 Application of Commonwealth laws as laws of Territory
(1) The Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel national law, as in
force from time to time, applies as a law of the Territory.
(2) The Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel national law so
applies as if it extended to matters in relation to which the Territory
may make laws:
(a) whether or not the Commonwealth may make laws in relation
to those matters; and
(b) even though the Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel
national law provides that it applies only to specified matters
with respect to which the Commonwealth may make laws.
(3) Subsection (2) does not operate to exclude a law of the Territory
relating to marine safety that would not otherwise be excluded by
the Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel national law.
(4) The regulations made under this Act may provide that the
Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel national law applies
under this section as if an amendment to that law:
(a) made by a law of the Commonwealth; and
(b) specified in the regulations made under this Act;
had not taken effect.
6 Interpretation of Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel
national law
(1) The Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) applies as a law of the
Territory in relation to the interpretation of the applied provisions,
and so applies as if the applied provisions were a Commonwealth
Act or were regulations or other legislative instruments under a
Commonwealth Act, as the case requires.
Part 4 Offences
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 4
(2) The Interpretation Act 1978 does not apply to the applied
provisions.
Note for subsection (2)
Even though the Interpretation Act 1978 does not apply to the applied provisions,
it applies to this Act and to instruments made under this Act.
Part 3 Functions and powers under applied
provisions
7 Functions and powers of National Regulator and other
authorities and officers
The National Regulator and other authorities and officers referred to
in the applied provisions have the same functions and powers
under the applied provisions as they have under the
Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel national law, as that
law applies to the Commonwealth.
8 Delegations by National Regulator
Any delegation by the National Regulator under the Commonwealth
domestic commercial vessel national law, as that law applies to the
Commonwealth, is taken to extend to, and have effect for the
purposes of, the corresponding provision of the applied provisions.
Part 4 Offences
9 Object of Part
(1) The object of this Part is to further the purpose of this Act by
providing for an offence against the applied provisions to be treated
as if it were an offence against a law of the Commonwealth.
(2) The purposes for which an offence is to be treated as mentioned in
subsection (1) include, for example (but are not limited to):
(a) the investigation and prosecution of offences; and
(b) the arrest, custody, bail, trial and conviction of offenders or
persons charged with offences; and
(c) proceedings relating to a matter referred to in paragraph (a)
or (b); and
(d) appeals and reviews relating to criminal proceedings and to
proceedings of the kind referred to in paragraph (c); and
Part 4 Offences
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 5
(e) the sentencing, punishment and release of persons convicted
of offences; and
(f) fines, penalties and forfeitures; and
(g) infringement notices in connection with offences; and
(h) liability to make reparation in connection with offences; and
(i) proceeds of crime; and
(j) spent convictions.
(3) For the purposes of this Part, offences include contraventions for
which a civil penalty may be imposed.
10 Application of Commonwealth criminal laws to offences
against applied provisions
(1) The relevant Commonwealth laws apply as laws of the Territory in
relation to an offence against the applied provisions as if those
provisions were a law of the Commonwealth and not a law of the
Territory.
(2) For the purposes of a law of the Territory, an offence against the
applied provisions:
(a) is taken to be an offence against the laws of the
Commonwealth, in the same way as if those provisions were a
law of the Commonwealth; and
(b) is taken not to be an offence against the laws of the Territory.
(3) Subsection (2) has effect for the purposes of a law of the Territory
except as provided by the regulations made under this Act.
11 Functions and powers conferred on Commonwealth officers
and authorities relating to offences
(1) A Commonwealth law applying because of section 10 that confers
on a Commonwealth officer or authority a function or power in
relation to an offence against the Commonwealth domestic
commercial vessel national law also confers on the officer or
authority the same function or power in relation to an offence
against the corresponding provision of the applied provisions.
(2) In performing a function or exercising a power conferred by this
section, the Commonwealth officer or authority must act as nearly
as practicable as the officer or authority would act in performing or
exercising the same function or power in relation to an offence
Part 5 Administrative laws
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 6
against the corresponding provision of the Commonwealth
domestic commercial vessel national law.
12 No double jeopardy for offences against applied provisions
If:
(a) an act or omission is both an offence against the applied
provisions and an offence against the Commonwealth
domestic commercial vessel national law; and
(b) the offender has been punished for the offence against the
Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel national law;
the offender is not liable to be punished for the offence against the
applied provisions.
Part 5 Administrative laws
13 Application of Commonwealth administrative laws to applied
provisions
(1) The Commonwealth administrative laws apply as laws of the
Territory to any matter arising in relation to the applied provisions
as if those provisions were a law of the Commonwealth and not a
law of the Territory.
(2) For the purposes of a law of the Territory, a matter arising in
relation to the applied provisions:
(a) is taken to be a matter arising in relation to laws of the
Commonwealth in the same way as if those provisions were a
law of the Commonwealth; and
(b) is taken not to be a matter arising in relation to laws of the
Territory.
(3) Subsection (2) has effect for the purposes of a law of the Territory
except as provided by the regulations made under this Act.
(4) Any provision of a Commonwealth administrative law applying
because of this section that purports to confer jurisdiction on a
federal court is taken not to have that effect.
(5) For the purposes of this section, a reference in a provision of the
Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (Cth) (as that provision
applies as a law of this jurisdiction) to the whole or any part of
Part 7 of that Act is taken to be a reference to the whole or any part
of that Part as it has effect as a law of the Commonwealth.
Part 6 Fees and fines
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 7
14 Functions and powers conferred on Commonwealth officers
and authorities
(1) A Commonwealth administrative law applying because of
section 13 that confers on a Commonwealth officer or authority a
function or power also confers on the officer or authority the same
function or power in relation to a matter arising in relation to the
applied provisions.
(2) In performing a function or exercising a power conferred by this
section, the Commonwealth officer or authority must act as nearly
as practicable as the officer or authority would act in performing or
exercising the same function or power under the Commonwealth
administrative law.
Part 6 Fees and fines
15 Fees payable to officers or employees of Territory acting as
delegates
The Minister may, by Gazette notice, set fees payable to the
Territory in relation to anything done under the Commonwealth
domestic commercial vessel national law (as that law applies as a
law of the Commonwealth), or under the applied provisions, by a
delegate of the National Regulator, or an accredited person, who is
an officer or employee of the Territory or an agency of the Territory.
16 Infringement notice penalties
Any amount paid to the Territory by the National Regulator under
section 10 of the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel)
National Law Act 2012 (Cth) in relation to an infringement notice is
(subject to any refund payment under section 10(2) of that Act)
payable into the Central Holding Authority.
17 Fines, fees etc. not otherwise payable to Territory
(1) All fees, penalties, fines and other money that, under the applied
provisions, are authorised or directed to be payable by or imposed
on any person (but not including an amount ordered to be refunded
to another person) must be paid to the National Regulator.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any fees referred to in section 15.
Part 8 Repeal
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 8
Part 7 Miscellaneous matters
18 Things done for multiple purposes
The validity of a licence, certificate or other thing issued, given or
done for the purposes of the applied provisions is not affected only
because it was issued, given or done also for the purposes of the
Commonwealth domestic commercial vessel national law.
19 Reference in Commonwealth law to a provision of another law
For the purposes of sections 10 and 13, a reference in a
Commonwealth law to a provision of that or another
Commonwealth law is taken to be a reference to that provision as
applying because of those sections.
20 Regulations of Territory
(1) The Administrator may make regulations under this Act.
(2) The regulations may not be inconsistent with this Act or the applied
provisions.
Part 8 Repeal
21 Regulations repealed
The Regulations specified in Schedule 1 are repealed.
Schedule 1 Repealed Regulations
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 9
Schedule 1 Repealed Regulations
section 21
Marine Amendment Regulations 2007 Subordinate Legislation
No. 38 of 2007
Marine (Crew Accommodation) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 17 of 1982
Amendment of Marine (Crew Accommodation)
Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 5 of 2001
Marine (Examinations and Certificates)
Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 16 of 1982
Amendment of the Marine (Examinations and
Certificates) Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 9 of 1984
Amendments of the Marine (Examinations and
Certificates) Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 34 of 1991
Amendments of the Marine (Examinations and
Certificates) Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 48 of 1994
Amendment of the Marine (Examinations and
Certificates) Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 6 of 2001
Marine (Hire-and-Drive Vessel) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 36 of 1994
Amendments of Marine (Hire-and-Drive Vessel)
Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 7 of 2001
Marine (Load Line) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 15 of 1982
Amendments of Marine (Load Line) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 8 of 2001
Marine (Pleasure Craft) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 10 of 1985
Amendments of Marine (Pleasure Craft)
Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 12 of 1993
Amendments of Marine (Pleasure Craft)
Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 12 of 2001
Schedule 1 Repealed Regulations
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 10
Amendments of Marine (Pleasure Craft)
Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 24 of 2002
Marine (Safety) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 12 of 1982
Amendments of Marine (Safety) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 11 of 1993
Amendments of Marine (Safety) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 14 of 2001
Marine (Safety Manning) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 14 of 1982
Amendments of the Marine (Safety Manning)
Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 35 of 1991
Amendment of Marine (Safety Manning)
Regulations
Subordinate Legislation
No. 9 of 2001
Marine (Small Craft) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 28 of 1985
Amendment of Marine (Small Craft) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 16 of 2001
Amendments of Marine (Small Craft) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 23 of 2002
Marine (Survey) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 20 of 1982
Amendments of the Marine (Survey) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 28 of 1984
Amendments of Marine (Survey) Regulations Subordinate Legislation
No. 17 of 2001
ENDNOTES
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 11
ENDNOTES
1 KEY Key to abbreviations
amd = amended od = order
app = appendix om = omitted
bl = by-law pt = Part
ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule
cl = clause rem = remainder
div = Division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired rep = repealed
f = forms s = section
Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule
hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title sub = substituted
nc = not commenced
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013
(Act No. 11, 2013)
Assent date 29 May 2013
Commenced 1 July 2013 (Gaz S24, 25 June 2013)
Statute Law Revision Act 2014 (Act No. 38, 2014)
Assent date 13 November 2014
Commenced 13 November 2014
Statute Law Revision Act 2017 (Act No. 4, 2017)
Assent date 10 March 2017
Commenced 12 April 2017 (Gaz G15, 12 April 2017, p 3)
Statute Law Revision and Repeals Act 2026 (Act No. 3, 2026)
Assent date 9 February 2026
Commenced 10 February 2026 (s 2)
3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS
General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table
of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation
Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1 and 6.
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
s 4 amd No. 3, 2026, s 40
s 12 amd No. 38, 2014, s 2
s 13 amd No. 3, 2026, s 41
s 22 exp No. 11, 2013, s 22(6)
pt 8 hdg amd No. 4, 2017, s 34
pt 9 hdg exp No. 11, 2013, s 67
ENDNOTES
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 12
pt 9
div 1 hdg exp No. 11, 2013, s 67
ss 23 – 65 exp No. 11, 2013, s 67
pt 9
div 2 hdg exp No. 11, 2013, s 67
s 66 exp No. 11, 2013, s 67
pt 9
div 3 hdg exp No. 11, 2013, s 67
s 67 exp No. 11, 2013, s 67
sch 2 exp No. 11, 2013, s 67