Navigation (Loading and Unloading - Safety Measures) Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1970L00059 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES

1970 No.

 

REGULATION UNDER THE NAVIGATION ACT 1912-1970.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the Navigation Act 1912-1970.

Dated this twenty-third day of April, 1970.

Paul Hasluck

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

(SGD.) IAN SINCLAIR

Minister of State for Shipping and Transport.

 

Amendment of the Navigation (Loading and Unloading—Safety Measures) Regulations†

Regulation 77 of the Navigation (Loading and Unloading—Safety Measures) Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Fees.

“77.—(1.) Where a surveyor, on an inspection of the cargo gear in respect of a ship—

(a) finds the cargo gear to be defective; and

(b) considers that, for the purpose of ensuring that the defect is rectified, further inspection will be necessary,

there is payable, by virtue of this sub-regulation, a fee of Four dollars in respect of the inspection so made and, in addition, a fee of Four dollars in respect of each further inspection by a surveyor for that purpose.

“(2.) Where, as a result of a request made by the owner, master or agent of a ship, a surveyor commences or completes, at a time when the office of the Department is not open for public business, an inspection of the cargo gear in respect of the ship, there is payable, by virtue of this sub-regulation, in respect of that inspection—

(a) if the inspection is commenced or completed on a day when the office of the Department is not at any time open for public business—a fee of Ten dollars fifty cents;

(b) if the inspection is commenced or completed between eleven o’clock in the evening of a day and six o’clock in the morning of the next succeeding day, and the day on which the inspection is commenced or completed is a day other than a day referred to in the last preceding paragraph—a fee of Eight dollars fifty cents; or

(c) in any other case—a fee of Four dollars fifty cents.

“(3.) Where, as a result of a request made by the owner, master or agent of a ship, a surveyor is required to attend at a time and place appointed for an

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 1970

† Statutory Rules 1961, No. 128, as amended by Statutory Rules 1967, No. 133; and 1969, No, 210.

25291/69—Price 5c 9/19.3.1970


inspection of the cargo gear in respect of the ship (being a time when the office of the Department is not open for public business) and sets out to commence the inspection but the proposed inspection does not commence because the owner, master or agent cancels the request, there is payable, by virtue of this sub-regulation—

(a) if the time appointed is on a day when the office of the Department is not at any time open for public business—a fee of Five dollars fifty cents;

(b) if the time appointed is between eleven o’clock in the evening of a day and six o’clock in the morning of the next succeeding day, and the day on which the time is appointed is a day other than a day referred to in the last preceding paragraph—a fee of Four dollars fifty cents; or

(c) in any other case—a fee of Two dollars fifty cents.

“(4.) The last two preceding sub-regulations apply in respect of each surveyor affected.

“(5.) Where—

(a) a surveyor is available at the time and place appointed for an inspection of the cargo gear in respect of a ship and, for a reason outside his control, he is compelled to wait for a period in excess of half an hour after that time before he can commence the inspection;

(b) a surveyor is carrying out such an inspection and, for a reason outside his control, the inspection is interrupted and he is compelled to wait for a period in excess of half an hour before he can continue the inspection; or

(c) a surveyor has completed such an inspection and is, for a reason outside his control, compelled to wait at the place of inspection for a period in excess of half an hour after the inspection,

a fee calculated at the rate of Four dollars for each hour, or part of an hour, of the excess, or a fee of Sixteen dollars, whichever is the less, is payable, by virtue of this sub-regulation, in respect of that inspection.

“(6.) Where, as a result of a request made by the owner, master or agent of a ship, a surveyor proceeds, for the purpose of carrying out an inspection of the cargo gear in respect of the ship, to a place outside the limits of the port at which he is ordinarily stationed, a fee equal to the amount of the travelling and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred by the surveyor is payable, by virtue of this sub-regulation, whether or not the proposed inspection is carried out.

“(7.) The fact that a fee is payable, by virtue of a particular sub-regulation of this regulation, in respect of an inspection of the cargo gear in respect of a ship does not prevent a further fee, or further fees, in respect of that inspection being payable by virtue of another sub-regulation of this regulation.

“(8.) A fee payable under this regulation is a debt due to the Commonwealth and may be recovered from the owner, master or agent of the ship in a court of competent jurisdiction.

“(9.) In this regulation, ‘the office of the Department’, in relation to an inspection, or proposed inspection, means the office of the Department of Shipping and Transport, or of the representatives of that Department, at the place where the inspection is made or the proposed inspection is to be made.”.

 

Printed by Authority by the Government Printer of the Commonwealth of Australia

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1970 No. 59, made under the Navigation Act 1912-1970, introduce amendments to the Navigation (Loading and Unloading—Safety Measures) Regulations, specifically addressing the fees payable for inspections of cargo gear on ships. Enacted by the Governor-General in the context of the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations aim to establish a clear framework for the collection of fees associated with the inspection and rectification of cargo gear defects, ensuring that the maritime safety measures are upheld and efficiently managed. The policy objective of these regulations is to provide a structured fee system for surveyors who inspect cargo gear, thereby facilitating timely and effective safety measures while maintaining the operational efficiency of maritime activities. The regulations detail various scenarios under which fees are applicable, including inspections carried out during non-public business hours, inspections that are scheduled but subsequently cancelled, and instances where surveyors are delayed beyond a reasonable period due to reasons outside their control. Additionally, fees are specified for instances where surveyors must travel outside their usual port limits to conduct inspections. The fees are intended to compensate for the additional time, travel, and inconvenience incurred by surveyors, ensuring they are appropriately remunerated for their work. This regulation underscores the importance of clear financial guidelines in maritime safety operations.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1970 No. 59, made under the Navigation Act 1912-1970, pertain to the regulation of fees associated with the inspection of cargo gear on ships within Australian waters. These regulations apply to ship owners, masters, and agents who request inspections of their cargo gear for safety compliance, as well as to surveyors who conduct these inspections. The fees outlined in the regulation cater to various scenarios, including instances where the cargo gear is found to be defective, inspections conducted outside normal office hours, instances where an inspection is requested but subsequently cancelled, delays in commencing or continuing an inspection due to uncontrollable circumstances, and the costs incurred when surveyors are required to travel outside their usual port of station. The fees are applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and are designed to cover the costs of the inspection services provided by the Department of Shipping and Transport. Notably, the regulation specifies that the fees are a debt due to the Commonwealth and can be pursued in a court of competent jurisdiction against the ship's owner, master, or agent.

Key Provisions

The Statutory Rules of 1970 under the Navigation Act 1912-1970 amend the Navigation (Loading and Unloading—Safety Measures) Regulations. Specifically, Regulation 77, which concerns fees associated with the inspection of cargo gear on ships, is repealed and replaced. The new Regulation 77 sets out detailed fees for various scenarios of inspection and non-inspection. For example, if a surveyor finds cargo gear to be defective and further inspection is deemed necessary, a fee of $4 is charged for the initial inspection, with an additional $4 charged for each subsequent inspection (sub-regulation (1)). If a surveyor conducts an inspection outside of regular office hours, fees range from $4.50 to $10.50 depending on the time of day (sub-regulation (2)). If a ship owner, master, or agent requests an inspection that is not carried out due to cancellation, fees between $2.50 and $5.50 are applicable (sub-regulation (3)). There are also provisions for fees if a surveyor's inspection is delayed due to circumstances beyond their control, with charges calculated at a rate of $4 per hour or a flat rate of $16, whichever is less (sub-regulation (5)). Additionally, if a surveyor travels outside the port for an inspection, fees for travel and subsistence are charged regardless of whether the inspection is conducted (sub-regulation (6)). The regulation also clarifies that fees can be cumulative, meaning more than one fee can apply to the same inspection (sub-regulation (7)), and that these fees constitute a debt owed to the Commonwealth, recoverable from the ship's owner, master, or agent (sub-regulation (8)). Under this amended regulation, several obligations and requirements are imposed on the parties involved. Ship owners, masters, or agents must ensure that any requested inspections are conducted at appropriate times, as inspections outside regular hours or on non-business days incur higher fees. They must also be aware of the potential for cumulative fees if multiple conditions apply to a single inspection. Surveyors are required to provide accurate and timely inspections and to notify parties if they are delayed by circumstances beyond their control. Both parties must be prepared to pay the stipulated fees promptly, as these fees are legally binding debts owed to the Commonwealth. Breaches of these regulations can lead to civil consequences, primarily financial in nature. If fees are not paid as stipulated, they can be pursued as debts in a court of competent jurisdiction. There are no stated criminal penalties for non-payment or other breaches in this regulation, but the enforcement of fees as debts can serve as a significant deterrent. The regulation ensures that compliance is straightforward and that the financial implications of non-compliance are clearly defined, thereby promoting adherence to safety inspection protocols.

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