21Identifying vessels and aircraft

21 Identifying vessels and aircraft

Vessels without nationality (1) An authorising officer may authorise the exercise of maritime powers in relation to a vessel if: (a) the vessel is not flying the flag of a State; or (b) the officer suspects, on reasonable grounds, that the vessel: (i) has been flying the flag of more than one State; or (ii) is flying the flag of a State that it is not entitled to fly; or (iii) is not entitled to fly the flag of any State. Meaning of vessels without nationality authorisation (2) An authorisation under subsection (1) is a vessels without nationality authorisation. Aircraft that fail to meet identification requirements (3) An authorising officer may authorise the exercise of maritime powers in relation to an aircraft if: (a) a requirement made in the exercise of aircraft identification powers in relation to the aircraft has not been complied with; or (b) the officer suspects, on reasonable grounds, that information given in response to such a requirement is false or misleading in a material particular.

Note 1: Aircraft identification powers can be exercised without authorisation: see section 28.

Note 2: For aircraft identification powers, see subsection 55(4).