CTHIn ForceAct
Navigation Act 2012
143Failure to ensure vessel is operated so as not to cause pollution or damage to the marine environment outside Australia
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 143
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Navigation Act 2012.
#### 143 Failure to ensure vessel is operated so as not to cause pollution or damage to the marine environment outside Australia
(1) The master of a regulated Australian vessel, a domestic commercial vessel or a recreational vessel that has Australian nationality must ensure that the vessel is operated in a manner that does not cause:
(a) pollution to the marine environment in seas that are beyond the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone of Australia; or
(b) damage to the marine environment in seas that are beyond the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone of Australia.
Fault‑based offence
(2) A person commits an offence if the person contravenes subsection (1).
Penalty: 600 penalty units.
(3) Recklessness or negligence is the fault element for:
(a) the manner of operation of the vessel; and
(b) the result mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) occurring.
Civil penalty
(4) A person is liable to a civil penalty if the person contravenes subsection (1).
Civil penalty:
(a) for an aggravated contravention—6,000 penalty units; or
(b) in any other case—600 penalty units.