Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

OFFSHORE PETROLEUM AND GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE ACT 2006 - SECT 620

  (1)   An authorised person may:

  (a)   require the master of a vessel that satisfies the following conditions:

  (i)   the vessel is a relevant vessel, or the authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel is a relevant vessel;

  (ii)   the vessel is in the area to be avoided otherwise than in accordance with an authorisation in force in relation to the vessel under subsection   618(3);

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

    to take the vessel outside the area to be avoided; or

  (b)   require the master of a vessel that satisfies the following conditions:

  (i)   the vessel is in a safety zone;

  (ii)   the vessel is not an exempt vessel in relation to the safety zone;

    to take the vessel outside the safety zone; or

  (c)   require the master of a disabled vessel that satisfies any of the following conditions:

  (i)   the vessel is in the area to be avoided, and either the vessel is a relevant vessel or the authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel is a relevant vessel;

  (ii)   the vessel is in a safety zone;

  (iii)   the vessel is a relevant vessel (or the authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel is a relevant vessel), and the authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel is likely to cause damage to any well, pipeline, structure or equipment in the area to be avoided or in a safety zone;

    to permit the vessel to be towed away from the area to be avoided or the safety zone, as the case requires, or to accept the giving of such other assistance to the vessel as the authorised person considers necessary.

Offences

  (2)   A person commits an offence if:

  (a)   the person is subject to a requirement under subsection   (1); and

  (b)   the person omits to do an act; and

  (c)   the omission breaches the requirement.

Penalty:   50 penalty units.

  (3)   A person commits an offence if:

  (a)   the person engages in conduct; and

  (b)   the conduct obstructs or hinders an authorised person who is acting under subsection   (1).

Penalty:   50 penalty units.

Note:   The same conduct may be an offence against both subsection   (3) of this section and section   149.1 of the Criminal Code .

Civil penalties

  (4)   A person is liable to a civil penalty if the person contravenes a requirement under subsection   (1).

Civil penalty:   350 penalty units.

  (5)   A person is liable to a civil penalty if the person obstructs or hinders an authorised person who is acting under subsection   (1).

Civil penalty:   350 penalty units.