16Authorising officers

#### 16 Authorising officers (1) For the purposes of authorising the exercise of maritime powers in relation to a vessel, installation, aircraft, protected land area or isolated person, each of the following is an authorising officer: (a) the most senior maritime officer who is in a position to exercise any of the maritime powers in person; (b) the most senior member or special member of the Australian Federal Police who is in a position to exercise any of the maritime powers in person; (c) the most senior maritime officer on duty in a duly established operations room; (d) the person in command of a Commonwealth ship or Commonwealth aircraft from which the exercise of powers is to be directed or coordinated; (e) a person appointed in writing by the Minister. Limited appointments (2) The Minister may appoint a person under paragraph (1)(e) as an authorising officer: (a) for the purposes of authorising the exercise of powers in relation to one or more of the following only: (i) a specified law; (ii) a specified international agreement or international decision; and (b) subject to any other conditions specified in the appointment. Purported authorisations (3) A purported authorisation given by a person who reasonably believed that he or she was an authorising officer has effect as if it were an authorisation.