Navigation (Danger Calls) Regulations 1921

Legislation au C1921L00093 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

STATUTORY RULES.

1921. No. 93.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVIGATION ACT 1912-1920.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Navigation Act 1912-1920, to come into operation on and from the first day of July, 1921.

Dated this twenty-eighth day of April, 1921.

FORSTER,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

W. MASSY GREENE,

Minister of State for Trade and Customs.

 

Navigation (Danger Calls) Regulations 1921.

Short title.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Navigation (Danger Calls) Regulations 1921.

Reports of dangers to navigation.

Sec. 269A.

2. The master of a ship registered in Australia or of a ship (whether British or foreign) engaged in the coasting trade, who is informed of (otherwise than by wireless message sent out in conformity with these Regulations), or who meets with, any dangerous ice, dangerous derelict, or other imminent and serious danger to navigation on or near his course (including any development of a cyclonic disturbance or typhoon, sudden and serious changes in position or form of, or the disappearance of, any fixed obstruction, lightbuoy or beacon, and the extinguishing or serious impairment of the light of any ocean lighthouse or lightship) shall—

(a) if the ship is fitted with wireless, immediately send out the danger call specified in Schedule IV. to the Navigation Act 1912-1920, followed, as provided in that Schedule, by a message conveying the information required to be communicated under these Regulations; or

(b) if the ship is not fitted with wireless, at the earliest opportunity communicate, by international Code Signals, if during daylight, or by Morse Code, if at night, the information to other ships in the vicinity or which he meets and to the first signal station on shore to which he approaches within signalling distance, and through that signal station make a report to the Director of Navigation communicating the information.

Entry in log book.

3. The master shall enter in the official log book a record of—

(a) all new dangers to navigation observed;

(b) all messages or information received in regard to other new dangers; and

(c) all messages and reports sent in regard to such dangers, with, in each case, the hour and minute and the position of the ship at the time.


Particulars to be communicated.

4. (1) The information required to be communicated under these Regulations shall include—

(a) in the case of dangerous ice, dangerous derelict, or other obstruction constituting an imminent and serious danger to navigation—

(i) information as to the kind of ice, or nature of the derelict or other danger observed or informed of;

(ii) information as to the position of the ice, derelict other obstruction when last determined; and

(iii) if the danger reported is afloat and likely to change position, information as to the direction and force of the wind and the set and velocity of the current; and

(b) in the case of cyclonic disturbances or typhoons, information as to the direction and force of the wind and the bearing of the storm centre.

(2) In all cases the message shall conclude with the name of the master and the call signal of the ship.

Transmission of reports by shore stations

5. The officer in charge of a Commonwealth wireless station, or of a signal station, shall, on receiving any report sent in accordance with these Regulations, immediately transmit the information, by telephone if practicable or, if not, by urgent telegram, to the Deputy Director of Navigation for the State or other official designated by the Director of Navigation as the person to whom the messages should be transmitted.

________________________

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

Overview

The Navigation (Danger Calls) Regulations 1921 were enacted under the authority of the Navigation Act 1912-1920 to address the need for timely communication of navigational hazards at sea. The Regulations were made by the Governor-General in accordance with the Federal Executive Council, and they came into effect on 1 July 1921. The primary policy objective behind these Regulations is to ensure the safety of maritime navigation by mandating that masters of ships promptly report any significant dangers they encounter or are informed about, such as dangerous ice, derelicts, or cyclonic disturbances. This is achieved through the requirement for masters to send out danger calls via wireless or other communication methods to other ships and relevant authorities on shore. The Regulations also stipulate that detailed logs of such observations and communications must be maintained, and that shore stations are to relay this information to the appropriate maritime authorities without delay.

Scope and Application

The Navigation (Danger Calls) Regulations 1921 apply to the masters of ships registered in Australia and those engaged in the coasting trade, whether Australian, British, or foreign. These Regulations mandate that the master of any such ship who encounters or is informed of significant navigational hazards, including dangerous ice, derelicts, cyclonic disturbances, or sudden changes in fixed navigational aids, must promptly report the details of the hazard. The master is required to communicate these dangers either through wireless if the ship is so equipped, using a specific danger call followed by detailed information, or through other means such as international Code Signals or Morse Code if wireless is unavailable. The Regulations also require the master to log all observed or reported dangers, along with the time and position of the ship, and ensure that shore stations relay these reports to designated maritime authorities. These provisions underscore the importance of timely communication of navigational hazards to ensure maritime safety and the efficient management of sea traffic within Australian waters.

Key Provisions

The Navigation (Danger Calls) Regulations 1921 contain several key provisions. Firstly, Section 269A mandates that the master of a ship registered in Australia or engaged in the coasting trade must report any imminent and serious dangers to navigation, such as dangerous ice, derelicts, or cyclonic disturbances. If the ship is equipped with wireless, the master must send a specified danger call followed by a detailed message (Section 2(a)). If not, the information must be communicated via international Code Signals or Morse Code to nearby ships and the nearest signal station, and subsequently reported to the Director of Navigation (Section 2(b)). The master is also required to record these dangers and communications in the ship's log book, noting the time, position, and specifics of the danger (Section 3). These Regulations impose specific obligations on the masters of ships to ensure they report and document any encountered or informed dangers to navigation. The requirement to send a danger call via wireless if the ship is equipped, or to communicate via signals if not, ensures that critical information is disseminated promptly. Additionally, the log book entries must be precise, detailing the type of danger, its location, and any relevant meteorological conditions. This documentation is crucial for maintaining maritime safety and for the Director of Navigation to take appropriate action. Failure to comply with these Regulations can lead to serious consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, non-compliance with maritime safety regulations generally can result in both civil and criminal penalties under broader maritime law. This could include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity and impact of the breach. The precise penalties would be determined in the context of broader maritime safety legislation and the specific circumstances of the violation.

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Area of Law
Maritime Law
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
Concepts
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Definitions & Interpretation
Compliance Obligations

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.