677Other powers of authorised persons

677 Other powers of authorised persons

(1) An authorised person may—

(a) board a vessel that the authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe has been used, is being used or is about to be used in contravention of section 669, 671 or 673;

(b) if the authorised person has boarded a vessel in the exercise of powers under paragraph (a)—

(i) require any person on board the vessel to answer questions relating to the vessel or to the movements of the vessel; or

(ii) require the master of the vessel to state whether a consent under section 668(1) or 670(1), or an authorisation under section 672(3), is in force in relation to the vessel and, if so, to produce the consent or authorisation, as the case may be; or

(iii) if the vessel is registered under the Shipping Registration Act 1981 of the Commonwealth—require the master of the vessel to produce the certificate of registration of the vessel; or

(iv) search the vessel for any documents relating to the vessel or to the movements of the vessel;

(c) require the master of a vessel to permit the authorised person to take measurements of the vessel if—

(i) the vessel is in, or is near, the area to be avoided; and

(ii) the authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel is a vessel of the kind referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition of relevant vessel in section 666; and

(iii) no authorisation under section 672(3) is in force in relation to the vessel; and

(iv) the vessel is not an exempt vessel in relation to a prescribed safety zone;

(d) detain a vessel that the authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe has been used in contravention of section 669, 671 or 673.

(2) An authorised person may exercise powers under subsection (1) in relation to a vessel only—

(a) in accordance with a warrant issued under section 682; or

(b) after obtaining the consent of the master of the vessel; or

(c) in circumstances of seriousness and urgency, in accordance with section 683.