POLICE GIVEN POWERS TO ENTER HOMES AND TEAR DOWN ANTI-OLYMPICS POSTERS DURING 2012 GAMES

By James Slack
UPDATED: 17:36 GMT, 21 July 2009

Police have been given new powers to stop protesters during the London 2012 Olympics

Police have been handed 'Chinese-style' powers to enter private homes and seize political posters during the London 2012 Olympics.

Little-noticed measures passed by the Government will allow officers and Olympics officials to enter homes and shops near official venues to confiscate any protest material.

Breaking the rules could land offenders with a fine of up to £20,000.

Civil liberties groups compared the powers to those used by the Communist Chinese government to stop political protest during the 2008 Beijing Games.

Anita Coles, of Liberty, said: 'Powers of entry should be for fighting crime, not policing poster displays. Didn't we learn last time that the Olympics should not be about stifling free expression?'

The powers were introduced by the Olympics Act of 2006, passed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, supposedly to preserve the monopoly of official advertisers on the London 2012 site.

They would allow advertising posters or hoardings placed in shop or home to be removed. 

But the law has been drawn so widely that it also includes 'non-commercial material' - which could extend its reach to include legitimate campaign literature.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling said: 'This is a Government who just doesn't understand civil liberties. They may claim these powers won't be used but the frank truth is no one will believe them.'

Liberal Democrat spokesman Chris Huhne said: 'This sort of police action runs the risk of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. 'We should aim to show the Chinese that you can run a successful Olympics without cracking down on protestors and free speech.'

Scotland Yard denied it had any plans to use the powers.

Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison said: 'We have no intention of using our powers to go in and take down demonstration posters.'

But critics said that - given the powers were now law - it was impossible to predict what would happen in three years time.

Campaigners said the existence of the powers was 'dreadful'. Peter McNeil, who is against the holding of equestrian events in Greenwich Park said: 'It's bullying taken to another level. It's quite appalling that this should happen in a democracy.'

The power emerged as the Home Office and police outlined the £600million security operation for the Games, which will cost more than £9billion in total.

They said hundreds of flights could have to be diverted every day, with planes prevented from passing over the main venue for the London games.

Olympic security chiefs said they expected to have to 'manage' the airspace over the Olympic Park in east London. 

A senior Home Office official said: 'We do expect there will have to be some management of the airspace. We do not expect that any airports will have to close.'

The officials said they had no evidence of a specific terror threat against the Games at the moment.

But current preparations assume the terror threat level will be at 'severe' during the event, despite it being reduced to 'substantial' for the UK earlier this week. It is the lowest threat level nationwide since before the July 7 attacks in 2005.

A DCMS spokesman said: 'The advertising provisions in the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006 are there to prevent ambush marketing and the over-commercialisation of the Games, not to prevent or restrict lawful protests.

'The measures will only apply to areas within a few hundred metres of the London 2012 venues. The Government is currently developing detailed regulations for advertising during the Games which will enable these powers to come into effect. The Government will be consulting on the regulations in 2010.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1201171/Police-given-powers-enter-homes-tear-anti-Olympics-posters-Games.html

THOUSANDS COULD BEAT PARKING FINES AFTER JUDGE TACKLES £766k 'MR CLAMPIT' IN LANDMARK PENALTY CLAIM CASE

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150551/Thousands-beat-parking-fines-judge-tackles-766k-Mr-Clampit-landmark-penalty-claim-case.html#ixzz1w6UIi57Z

• Ruling that private company cannot pursue unpaid parking charges means many could be let off

By Martin Delgado

PUBLISHED: 01:10 GMT, 27 May 2012 | UPDATED: 01:11 GMT, 27 May 2012

Defeat: Simon Renshaw-Smith, owner of VCS, lost what may be a landmark case

Thousands of people facing parking fines may be let off after a judge ruled that one firm did not have the power to pursue a motorist for an unpaid penalty.

Ronald Ibbotson was taken to court by Vehicle Control Services (VCS) after he left his car at a Wickes DIY store for 35 minutes.

On his return, he found a ticket on his windscreen demanding £80, apparently because he had left the car park to go shopping elsewhere during the two-hour free parking period allowed.

When Mr Ibbotson refused to pay up, he was taken to court by VCS and ordered to pay £42.50 in costs.

But he appealed and last week a judge at Scunthorpe County Court dismissed the company’s claim  and instructed VCS to give him the money back.

Mr Ibbotson had learned that VCS did not have the legal go-ahead from the landowner of  the Wickes store site to pursue  parking charges.

VCS is one of Britain’s biggest parking control companies. It operates on more than 600 sites at shopping centres, hospitals and universities all over Britain.

The firm is owned by Simon Renshaw-Smith, who also runs a  vehicle immobilisation operation called  Mr Clampit.

The judge ordered Mr Renshaw-Smith to come to court next month to explain why he had pursued Mr Ibbotson when he had ‘no lawful contractual assignment of authority to do so’.

Landmark: The ruling potentially means that private companies will not be able to charge for unpaid tickets

Mr Renshaw-Smith, 45, lives in a £900,000 detached house in the  Derbyshire village of Barlow, five miles from the Sheffield headquarters of VCS.

Last year he paid himself a salary of £766,353 according to documents lodged at Companies House – and  his main company, Excel Parking Services, had a turnover of £10.3 million and an operating profit of nearly £500,000.

The case is embarrassing for the industry-funded British Parking Association (BPA), of which VCS is a member, because Mr Renshaw-Smith holds a senior position in the organisation.

A BPA spokesman said: ‘Our code of practice requires members to obtain authority from landowners to pursue parking charges from motorists on their behalf.

‘We audit operators’ contracts every year to ensure that they have that authority in place.

‘In rare cases where contracts do  not have this clause, they are found to be in breach of our code and, where appropriate, sanctions are applied.’

A VCS spokesman said: ‘We are  taking legal advice in respect of the judgment and a possible appeal.’

Mr Renshaw-Smith was unavailable for comment.

DRIVERS RUNNING RED LIGHTS AT KENNEDY AND COMMUNIPAW INTERSECTION PAID $1.7 MILLION IN TRAFFIC FINES, RECORDS SHOW

Published: Tuesday, May 29, 2012

 By Charles Hack/The Jersey Journal 

Drivers caught on camera running red lights at Kennedy Boulevard and Communipaw Avenue in Jersey City over the past year were issued 20,000 traffic tickets and shelled out $1.7 million in fines, county records show.

After paying fees to the state and to the private company that monitors the cameras at the profitable intersection, the City of Jersey City pocketed $658,765 while the county collected $354,553, the records show.

The records reveal fines issued May 2011 to April 2012.

“The primary purpose of the cameras is to slow up traffic and to ensure that drivers abide by traffic signals enhancing the safety of the driving public,” Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy said in a statement.

“A secondary and incidental benefit of the red-light cameras is certainly the funds they generate for the municipalities in which they are placed, many of which have seen drastic budget cuts and reduced revenues.”

Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said that based on $979,348 collected so far this year from cameras installed at eight intersections in Jersey City under a state Department of Transportation pilot program, the city expects to collect $3 million in fines this year, of which the city will net roughly $1 million.

A small share of every ticket goes to the state and to pay American Traffic Solutions for monitoring the cameras, Morrill said, noting the city plans to install red-light cameras at six more intersections.

Gary Biller, president of National Motorists Association, an advocacy group for motorists, believes the decision by municipalities to install red-light cameras is driven by the devices’ lucrative payoff.

“The fact that one camera made $1.7 million over one year and the city is adding more cameras shows that it is clearly about increasing revenue,” Biller said. “If the aim is to improve traffic safety there is no need for the cameras.”

Biller argues that other measures, such as increasing the amount of time a light remains yellow and improving the visibility of the lights have proven “time and time again” to reduce traffic-ticket violations and make instersections safer.

Hudson County and the City of Jersey City share the income generated by red-light cameras installed at four intersections along Kennedy Boulevard, which is a county road.

“The ones (red-light cameras that) I know that have been installed enhance safety in area as well as generate revenue,” said Hudson County Freeholder Bill O’Dea.CAM LOCATIONS

Jersey City has 24 red-light cameras at these eight intersections. Another 14 cameras are slated to be installed at six more intersections in Jersey City soon, but officials have not said where.

Kennedy Boulevard and Communipaw Avenue

Kennedy Boulevard and Route 139/Hoboken Avenue

Jersey Avenue and 18th Street

Montgomery and Merseles streets

Newark and Tonnelle avenues

Sip Avenue and Routes 1 & 9/440

Duncan Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard

Montgomery Street and Kennedy Boulevard.

TRAINING MANUAL U.S WAR DEPARTMENT,

Many of you have seen the reprint of this document. If you have, it's worth reading again. If you have not, it is worth reading, studying, and reciting to your friends, family, and neighbors. It is copied from Training Manual No. 2000-25 that was published by the then War Department, Washington, D.C., November 30, 1928.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Definition of DEMOCRACY

NOTE

Here are four (4) facsimile section reproductions taken from a 156 page book officially compiled and issued by the U.S. War Department, November 30,1928, setting forth exact and truthful definitions of a Democracy and of a Republic, explaining the difference between both. These definitions were published by the authority of the United States Government and must be accepted as authentic in any court of proper jurisdiction. These precise and scholarly definitions of a Democracy and a Republic were carefully considered as a proper guide for U.S. soldiers and U.S. citizens by the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Such definition stake precedence over any "definition" that may be found in the present commercial dictionaries which have suffered periodical "modification" to please "the powers in office. Shortly after the "bank holiday" in the thirties, hush-hush orders from the White House suddenly demanded that all copies of this book be withdrawn from the Government Printing Office and the Army posts, to be suppressed and destroyed without explanation. This was the beginning of the complete red control of the Government from within, not from without.

-------------------

Prepared under the direction of the Chief of Staff.
CITIZENSHIP
This manual supersedes Manual of Citizenship Training The use of the publication "The Constitution of the United States," by Harry Atwood, is by permission and courtesy of the author.
CITIZENSHIP Democracy:
A government of the masses. Authority derived through mass meeting or any other form of "direct" expression. Results in mobocracy. Attitude toward property is communistic--negating property rights. Attitude toward law is that the will of the majority shall regulate, whether is be based upon deliberation or governed by passion, prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences. Results in demogogism, license, agitation, discontent, anarchyCITIZENSHIP Republic:
Authority is derived through the election by the people of public officials best fitted to represent them. Attitude toward law is the administration of justice in accord with fixed principles and established evidence, with a strict regard to consequences. A greater number of citizens and extent of territory may be brought within its compass. Avoids the dangerous extreme of either tyranny or mobocracy. Results in statesmanship, liberty, reason, justice, contentment, and progress. Is the "standard form" of government throughout the world. A republic is a form of government under a constitution which provides for the election of
(1) an executive and (2) a legislative body, who working together in a representative capacity, have all the power of appointment, all power of legislation, all power to raise revenue and appropriate expenditures, and are required to create (3) a judiciary to pass upon the justice and legality of their government acts and to recognize (4) certain inherent individual rights.
Take away any one or more of those four elements and you are drifting into autocracy. Add one or more to those four elements and you are drifting into democracy.
Atwood. Superior to all others.--Autocracy declares the divine right of kings; its authority can not be questioned; its powers are arbitrarily or unjustly administered. Democracy is the "direct" rule of the people and has been repeatedly tried without success. Our Constitutional fathers, familiar with the strength and weakness of both autocracy and democracy, with fixed principles definitely in mind, defined a representative republican form of government. They "made a very marked distinction between a republic and a democracy * * * and said repeatedly and emphatically that they had founded a republic."

"By order of the Secretary of War: C.P. Summerall, Major General, Chief of Staff. Official: Lutz Wahl, Major General, The Adjutant General.

WHY DEMOCRACIES FAIL

A Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of Government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that Democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy, always to be followed by a Dictatorship.(Written by Professor Alexander Fraser Tytler, nearly two centuries ago while our thirteen original states were still colonies of Great Britain. At the time he was writing of the decline and fall of the Athenian Republic over two thousand years before.

"Did I say "republic?" By God, yes, I said "republic!" Long live the glorious republic of the United States of America. Damn democracy. It is a fraudulent term used, often by ignorant persons but no less often by intellectual fakers, to describe an infamous mixture of socialism, miscegenation, graft, confiscation of property and denial of personal rights to individuals whose virtuous principles make them offensive."

Westbrook Pegler: New York Journal American, January 25^th and 26^th, 1951, under the titles- Upholds Republic of U.S. Against Phony Democracy, Democracy in the U.S. Branded Meaningless

Order original from:
Americans For Constitutional Government
P.O. Box 7012
Watchung, N.J. 07060
(201) 753-7347"This idea that government was beholden to the people, that it had no other source of power is still the newest, most unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man. This is the issue of this election: Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves."

Ronald Reagan's Speech at the 1964 National Convention: A Time for Choosing

http://www.1215.org/lawnotes/lawnotes/repvdem.htm

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA OF 10 DECEMBER 1982

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea lays down a comprehensive regime of law and order in the world's oceans and seas establishing rules governing all uses of the oceans and their resources. It enshrines the notion that all problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be addressed as a whole. The Convention was opened for signature on 10 December 1982 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This marked the culmination of more than 14 years of work involving participation by more than 150 countries representing all regions of the world, all legal and political systems and the spectrum of socio/economic development. At the time of its adoption, the Convention embodied in one instrument traditional rules for the uses of the oceans and at the same time introduced new legal concepts and regimes and addressed new concerns. The Convention also provided the framework for further development of specific areas of the law of the sea. The Convention entered into force in accordance with its article 308 on 16 November 1994, 12 months after the date of deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification or accession. Today, it is the globally recognized regime dealing with all matters relating to the law of the sea. The Convention (full text) comprises 320 articles and nine annexes, governing all aspects of ocean space, such as delimitation, environmental control, marine scientific research, economic and commercial activities, transfer of technology and the settlement of disputes relating to ocean matters. Some of the key features of the Convention are the following:
 * Coastal States exercise sovereignty over their territorial sea which they have the right to establish its breadth up to a limit not to exceed 12 nautical miles; foreign vessels are allowed "innocent passage" through those waters;
* Ships and aircraft of all countries are allowed "transit passage" through straits used for international navigation; States bordering the straits can regulate navigational and other aspects of passage;
* Archipelagic States, made up of a group or groups of closely related islands and interconnecting waters, have sovereignty over a sea area enclosed by straight lines drawn between the outermost points of the islands; the waters between the islands are declared archipelagic waters where States may establish sea lanes and air routes in which all other States enjoy the right of archipelagic passage through such designated sea lanes;
* Coastal States have sovereign rights in a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with respect to natural resources and certain economic activities, and exercise jurisdiction over marine science research and environmental protection; * All other States have freedom of navigation and overflight in the EEZ, as well as freedom to lay submarine cables and pipelines;
* Land-locked and geographically disadvantaged States have the right to participate on an equitable basis in exploitation of an appropriate part of the surplus of the living resources of the EEZ's of coastal States of the same region or sub-region; highly migratory species of fish and marine mammals are accorded special protection;
* Coastal States have sovereign rights over the continental shelf (the national area of the seabed) for exploring and exploiting it; the shelf can extend at least 200 nautical miles from the shore, and more under specified circumstances;
* Coastal States share with the international community part of the revenue derived from exploiting resources from any part of their shelf beyond 200 miles;
* The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf shall make recommendations to States on the shelf's outer boundaries when it extends beyond 200 miles;
* All States enjoy the traditional freedoms of navigation, overflight, scientific research and fishing on the high seas; they are obliged to adopt, or cooperate with other States in adopting, measures to manage and conserve living resources;
* The limits of the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of islands are determined in accordance with rules applicable to land territory, but rocks which could not sustain human habitation or economic life of their own would have no economic zone or continental shelf;
* States bordering enclosed or semi-enclosed seas are expected to cooperate in managing living resources, environmental and research policies and activities;
* Land-locked States have the right of access to and from the sea and enjoy freedom of transit through the territory of transit States;
* States are bound to prevent and control marine pollution and are liable for damage caused by violation of their international obligations to combat such pollution;
* All marine scientific research in the EEZ and on the continental shelf is subject to the consent of the coastal State, but in most cases they are obliged to grant consent to other States when the research is to be conducted for peaceful purposes and fulfils specified criteria;
 * States are bound to promote the development and transfer of marine technology "on fair and reasonable terms and conditions", with proper regard for all legitimate interests;
* States Parties are obliged to settle by peaceful means their disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention; 
* Disputes can be submitted to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea established under the Convention, to the International Court of Justice, or to arbitration. Conciliation is also available and, in certain circumstances, submission to it would be compulsory. The Tribunal has exclusive jurisdiction over deep seabed mining disputes.
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_overview_convention.htm

ADMIRALTY ACT 1988

Act No. 34 of 1988 as amended

This compilation was prepared on 30 January 2012
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 46 of 2011

The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section

The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General’s Department, Canberra

  

  

  

Contents

Part I—Preliminary                                                                                                              5

1............ Short title [see Note 1]........................................................................ 5

2............ Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................. 5

3............ Interpretation....................................................................................... 5

4............ Maritime claims................................................................................... 8

5............ Application........................................................................................ 10

6............ Certain rights not created or affected................................................. 11

7............ External Territories............................................................................ 11

8............ Act to bind Crown............................................................................ 11

Part II—Jurisdiction in Admiralty                                                                            13

9............ Admiralty jurisdiction in personam.................................................. 13

10.......... Jurisdiction of superior courts in respect of Admiralty actions in rem 13

11.......... Jurisdiction of other courts in respect of Admiralty actions in rem... 13

12.......... Jurisdiction in associated matters...................................................... 14

13.......... Restriction to Admiralty and maritime jurisdiction............................ 14

Part III—Rights to proceed in Admiralty                                                             15

14.......... Admiralty actions in rem to be commenced under this Act............... 15

15.......... Right to proceed in rem on maritime liens etc................................... 15

16.......... Right to proceed in rem on proprietary maritime claims.................... 15

17.......... Right to proceed in rem on owner’s liabilities................................... 15

18.......... Right to proceed in rem on demise charterer’s liabilities................... 16

19.......... Right to proceed in rem against surrogate ship................................. 16

20.......... Service on and arrest of only one ship.............................................. 16

21.......... Re-arrest............................................................................................ 17

22.......... Service and arrest out of jurisdiction................................................. 17

23.......... Service and Execution of Process Act not to apply........................... 18

24.......... Proceeds............................................................................................ 18

25.......... Limitation of liability under Liability Conventions............................ 18

26.......... Proceedings under Civil Liability Convention................................... 19

26A....... Proceedings in accordance with the Bunker Oil Convention............. 19

Part IV—Transfer and remittal of proceedings                                               20

27.......... Transfer............................................................................................. 20

28.......... Remittal............................................................................................. 20

29.......... Security in relation to stayed or dismissed proceedings.................... 22

30.......... Power to deal with ship or other property......................................... 23

Part V—Miscellaneous                                                                                                      24

31.......... Effect of judgment............................................................................. 24

32.......... Powers of Federal Court in relation to register.................................. 24

33.......... Co‑ownership disputes..................................................................... 24

34.......... Damages for unjustified arrest etc..................................................... 24

35.......... Priorities: general maritime claims..................................................... 25

36.......... Statutory powers of detention........................................................... 25

37.......... Limitation periods............................................................................. 26

38.......... Mode of trial..................................................................................... 27

39.......... Jurisdictional limits........................................................................... 27

40.......... Courts to act in aid of each other....................................................... 27

41.......... Rules................................................................................................. 28

42.......... Rules Committee............................................................................... 29

43.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 29

Part VI—Repeals and amendments of Imperial legislation                       30

44.......... Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act..................................................... 30

45.......... Repeal of certain Imperial laws......................................................... 30

46.......... Merchant Shipping Act..................................................................... 30

47.......... Transitional....................................................................................... 31

Part VII—Validation of certain provisions of the Navigation Act 1912   32

48.......... Validation.......................................................................................... 32

Part VIII—Amendments of the Navigation Act 1912                                   33

49.......... Principal Act..................................................................................... 33

50.......... Crown bound.................................................................................... 33

51.......... Abolition of defence of common employment.................................. 33

52.......... Jurisdiction as to wages.................................................................... 33

53.......... Compensation for loss occasioned by improper use of signals......... 33

54.......... Forfeiture of dangerous goods.......................................................... 33

55.......... Repeals.............................................................................................. 34

56.......... Limitation of actions.......................................................................... 34

57.......... Proceedings against the Crown......................................................... 34

Part IX—Amendment of the Shipping Registration Act 1981                 35

58.......... Principal Act..................................................................................... 35

59.......... Repeal............................................................................................... 35

Notes                                                                                                                                             37

An Act relating to Admiralty and maritime jurisdiction

Part I—Preliminary

  

1  Short title [see Note 1]

                   This Act may be cited as the Admiralty Act 1988.

2  Commencement [see Note 1]

                   This Act commences on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.

3  Interpretation

             (1)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

Australia, when used in a geographical sense, includes each external Territory.

Civil Liability Convention has the same meaning as the Convention has in the Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability) Act 1981.

commencement, in relation to a proceeding, has the meaning given by subsection (2).

costs and expenses, in relation to the Marshal, has the meaning given by subsection (5).

entering appearance has the meaning given by subsection (4).

Federal Court means the Federal Court of Australia.

foreign ship means a ship that is not registered, and is not permitted to be registered, under theShipping Registration Act 1981.

freight includes passage money and hire.

goods, in relation to a ship, has the meaning given by subsection (3).

hovercraft means an air‑cushion vehicle, or a similar vehicle, used wholly or principally in navigation by water.

initiating process includes a third party notice.

inland waters means waters within Australia other than waters of the sea.

inland waterways vessel means a vessel used or intended to be used wholly on inland waters.

Liability Convention means:

                     (a)  the Civil Liability Convention;

                     (b)  the Limitation Convention; or

                     (c)  any other international convention that is in force in relation to Australia and makes provision with respect to the limitation of liability in relation to maritime claims.

Limitation Convention has the meaning given to the expression Convention by subsection 3(1) of the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Act 1989.

limitation proceeding means a proceeding under:

                     (a)  section 25 of this Act;

                     (b)  section 9 of the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Act 1989; or

                     (c)  section 10 of the Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability) Act 1981.

maritime claim, general maritime claim and proprietary maritime claim have the meanings given by section 4.

master, in relation to a ship, means a person who has command or charge of the ship.

member of the crew, in relation to a ship, means a person employed or engaged in any capacity on board the ship on the business of the ship, other than:

                     (a)  the master of the ship;

                     (b)  a person who has the conduct of the ship as the pilot of the ship; or

                     (c)  a person temporarily employed on the ship in port.

mortgage, in relation to a ship or a share in a ship, includes a hypothecation or pledge of, and a charge on, the ship or share, whether at law or in equity and whether arising under the law in force in a part of Australia or elsewhere.

relevant person, in relation to a maritime claim, means a person who would be liable on the claim in a proceeding commenced as an action in personam.

sea includes all waters within the ebb and flow of the tide.

ship means a vessel of any kind used or constructed for use in navigation by water, however it is propelled or moved, and includes:

                     (a)  a barge, lighter or other floating vessel;

                     (b)  a hovercraft;

                     (c)  an off‑shore industry mobile unit within the meaning of the Navigation Act 1912; and

                     (d)  a vessel that has sunk or is stranded and the remains of such a vessel;

but does not include:

                     (e)  a seaplane;

                      (f)  an inland waterways vessel; or

                     (g)  a vessel under construction that has not been launched.

surrogate ship has the meaning given by subsection (6).

this Act includes the regulations and the Rules made under this Act.

             (2)  A reference in this Act to the time when a proceeding is commenced is a reference to the time when the initiating process in relation to the proceeding is filed in, or issued by, a court.

             (3)  A reference in this Act to goods, in relation to a ship, includes a reference to the baggage and other possessions of a person who is on the ship, being baggage and possessions that are being carried or are to be carried on the ship.

             (4)  A reference in this Act to the entering of appearance includes a reference to any similar procedure.

             (5)  A reference in this Act to the costs and expenses of the Marshal includes a reference to the amounts payable to a person acting in accordance with the Rules as a Marshal of a court.

             (6)  For the purposes of this Act, where:

                     (a)  a proceeding on a maritime claim may be commenced against a ship under a provision of this Act (other than section 19); and

                     (b)  under section 19, a proceeding on the claim may be commenced against some other ship;

the other ship is, in relation to the claim, a surrogate ship.

4  Maritime claims

             (1)  A reference in this Act to a maritime claim is a reference to a proprietary maritime claim or a general maritime claim.

             (2)  A reference in this Act to a proprietary maritime claim is a reference to:

                     (a)  a claim relating to:

                              (i)  possession of a ship;

                             (ii)  title to, or ownership of, a ship or a share in a ship;

                            (iii)  a mortgage of a ship or of a share in a ship; or

                            (iv)  a mortgage of a ship’s freight;

                     (b)  a claim between co‑owners of a ship relating to the possession, ownership, operation or earnings of the ship;

                     (c)  a claim for the satisfaction or enforcement of a judgment given by a court (including a court of a foreign country) against a ship or other property in a proceeding in rem in the nature of a proceeding in Admiralty; or

                     (d)  a claim for interest in respect of a claim referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).

             (3)  A reference in this Act to a general maritime claim is a reference to:

                     (a)  a claim for damage done by a ship (whether by collision or otherwise); or

                     (b)  a claim in respect of the liability of the owner of a ship arising under Part II or IV of theProtection of the Sea (Civil Liability) Act 1981 or under a law of a State or Territory that makes provision as mentioned in subsection 7(1) of that Act; or

                   (ba)  a claim under:

                              (i)  the applied provisions (within the meaning of the Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) Act 2008); or

                             (ii)  a law of a State or Territory of a kind referred to in subsection 10(1) of that Act; or

                     (c)  a claim for loss of life, or for personal injury, sustained in consequence of a defect in a ship or in the apparel or equipment of a ship; or

                     (d)  a claim (including a claim for loss of life or personal injury) arising out of an act or omission of:

                              (i)  the owner or charterer of a ship;

                             (ii)  a person in possession or control of a ship; or

                            (iii)  a person for whose wrongful acts or omissions the owner, charterer or person in possession or control of a ship is liable;

                            being an act or omission in the navigation or management of the ship, including an act or omission in connection with:

                            (iv)  the loading of goods on to, or the unloading of goods from, the ship;

                             (v)  the embarkation of persons on to, or the disembarkation of persons from, the ship; and

                            (vi)  the carriage of goods or persons on the ship; or

                     (e)  a claim for loss of, or damage to, goods carried by a ship; or

                      (f)  a claim arising out of an agreement that relates to the carriage of goods or persons by a ship or to the use or hire of a ship, whether by charterparty or otherwise; or

                     (g)  a claim relating to salvage (including life salvage and salvage of cargo or wreck found on land); or

                     (h)  a claim in respect of general average; or

                      (j)  a claim in respect of towage of a ship; or

                     (k)  a claim in respect of pilotage of a ship; or

                    (m)  a claim in respect of goods, materials or services (including stevedoring and lighterage services) supplied or to be supplied to a ship for its operation or maintenance; or

                     (n)  a claim in respect of the construction of a ship (including such a claim relating to a vessel before it was launched); or

                     (o)  a claim in respect of the alteration, repair or equipping of a ship; or

                     (p)  a claim in respect of a liability for port, harbour, canal or light tolls, charges or dues, or tolls, charges or dues of a similar kind, in relation to a ship; or

                     (q)  a claim in respect of a levy in relation to a ship, including a shipping levy imposed by theProtection of the Sea (Shipping Levy) Act 1981, being a levy in relation to which a power to detain the ship is conferred by a law in force in Australia or in a part of Australia; or

                      (r)  a claim by a master, shipper, charterer or agent in respect of disbursements on account of a ship; or

                      (s)  a claim for an insurance premium, or for a mutual insurance call, in relation to a ship; or

                      (t)  a claim by a master, or a member of the crew, of a ship for:

                              (i)  wages; or

                             (ii)  an amount that a person, as employer, is under an obligation to pay to a person as employee, whether the obligation arose out of the contract of employment or by operation of law, including the operation of the law of a foreign country; or

                     (u)  a claim for the enforcement of, or a claim arising out of, an arbitral award (including a foreign award within the meaning of the International Arbitration Act 1974) made in respect of a proprietary maritime claim or a claim referred to in one of the preceding paragraphs; or

                    (w)  a claim for interest in respect of a claim referred to in one of the preceding paragraphs.

5  Application

             (1)  Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, this Act applies in relation to:

                     (a)  all ships, irrespective of the places of residence or domicile of their owners; and

                     (b)  all maritime claims, wherever arising.

             (2)  This Act does not apply in relation to a proceeding commenced before the commencement of this Act.

             (3)  This Act does not apply in relation to a cause of action that arose:

                     (a)  in respect of an inland waterways vessel; or

                     (b)  in respect of the use or intended use of a ship on inland waters.

             (4)  Paragraph (3)(b) does not have effect in relation to a cause of action if, at the time when the cause of action arose, the ship concerned was a foreign ship.

6  Certain rights not created or affected

                   The provisions of this Act (other than section 34) do not have effect to create:

                     (a)  a new maritime lien or other charge; or

                     (b)  a cause of action that would not have existed if this Act had not been passed.

7  External Territories

                   This Act extends to each external Territory.

8  Act to bind Crown

             (1)  This Act binds the Crown in all its capacities.

             (2)  This Act does not authorise:

                     (a)  a proceeding to be commenced as an action in rem against a government ship or government property; or

                     (b)  the arrest, detention or sale of a government ship or government property.

             (3)  Where a proceeding has been commenced as an action in rem against a government ship or government property, the court may, if it is satisfied that the proceeding was so commenced in the reasonable belief that the ship was not a government ship, or the property was not government property:

                     (a)  order that the proceeding be treated as though it were a proceeding commenced as an action in personam on the claim against a person specified as defendant in the order; and

                     (b)  make such consequential orders as are necessary.

             (4)  In this section:

government means the Commonwealth, a State, the Northern Territory or the Administration of Norfolk Island;

government property means cargo or other property that belongs to a government, but does not include cargo or other property that belongs to a trading corporation that is an agency of a government;

government ship means a ship that belongs, or is for the time being demised or sub‑demised, to a government (including such a ship used by or in connection with a part of the Defence Force), but does not include a ship that belongs, or is for the time being demised or sub‑demised, to a trading corporation that is an agency of a government.

Part II—Jurisdiction in Admiralty

  

9  Admiralty jurisdiction in personam

             (1)  Jurisdiction is conferred on the Federal Court, the Federal Magistrates Court and on the courts of the Territories, and the courts of the States are invested with federal jurisdiction, in respect of proceedings commenced as actions in personam:

                     (a)  on a maritime claim; or

                     (b)  on a claim for damage done to a ship.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not confer on a court other than the Federal Court or a Supreme Court of a Territory, or invest a court of a State other than the Supreme Court of a State with, jurisdiction in respect of limitation proceedings.

10  Jurisdiction of superior courts in respect of Admiralty actions in rem

                   Jurisdiction is conferred on the Federal Court and on the Supreme Courts of the Territories, and the Supreme Courts of the States are invested with federal jurisdiction, in respect of proceedings that may, under this Act, be commenced as actions in rem.

11  Jurisdiction of other courts in respect of Admiralty actions in rem

             (1)  The Governor‑General may by Proclamation declare a court of a State or of a Territory to be a court to which this section applies.

             (2)  Subject to any condition or limitation (whether as to locality, subject‑matter or otherwise) specified in the Proclamation, a court of a State to which this section applies is invested with federal jurisdiction, and jurisdiction is conferred on a court of a Territory to which this section applies, in respect of proceedings that may, under this Act, be commenced as actions in rem.

             (3)  Where a Proclamation has been varied or rescinded, the variation or rescission does not deprive a court of jurisdiction to hear and determine a proceeding that was pending in the court at the time of the variation or rescission.

12  Jurisdiction in associated matters

                   The jurisdiction that a court has under this Act extends to jurisdiction in respect of a matter of Admiralty and maritime jurisdiction not otherwise within its jurisdiction that is associated with a matter in which the jurisdiction of the court under this Act is invoked.

13  Restriction to Admiralty and maritime jurisdiction

                   This Act does not confer jurisdiction on a court, or invest a court with jurisdiction, in a matter that is not of a kind mentioned in paragraph 76(ii) or (iii) of the Constitution.

Part III—Rights to proceed in Admiralty

  

14  Admiralty actions in rem to be commenced under this Act

                   In a matter of Admiralty or maritime jurisdiction, a proceeding shall not be commenced as an action in rem against a ship or other property except as provided by this Act.

15  Right to proceed in rem on maritime liens etc.

             (1)  A proceeding on a maritime lien or other charge in respect of a ship or other property subject to the lien or charge may be commenced as an action in rem against the ship or property.

             (2)  A reference in subsection (1) to a maritime lien includes a reference to a lien for:

                     (a)  salvage;

                     (b)  damage done by a ship;

                     (c)  wages of the master, or of a member of the crew, of a ship; or

                     (d)  master’s disbursements.

16  Right to proceed in rem on proprietary maritime claims

                   A proceeding on a proprietary maritime claim concerning a ship or other property may be commenced as an action in rem against the ship or property.

17  Right to proceed in rem on owner’s liabilities

                   Where, in relation to a general maritime claim concerning a ship or other property, a relevant person:

                     (a)  was, when the cause of action arose, the owner or charterer of, or in possession or control of, the ship or property; and

                     (b)  is, when the proceeding is commenced, the owner of the ship or property;

a proceeding on the claim may be commenced as an action in rem against the ship or property.

18  Right to proceed in rem on demise charterer’s liabilities

                   Where, in relation to a maritime claim concerning a ship, a relevant person:

                     (a)  was, when the cause of action arose, the owner or charterer, or in possession or control, of the ship; and

                     (b)  is, when the proceeding is commenced, a demise charterer of the ship;

a proceeding on the claim may be commenced as an action in rem against the ship.

19  Right to proceed in rem against surrogate ship

                   A proceeding on a general maritime claim concerning a ship may be commenced as an actionin rem against some other ship if:

                     (a)  a relevant person in relation to the claim was, when the cause of action arose, the owner or charterer of, or in possession or control of, the first‑mentioned ship; and

                     (b)  that person is, when the proceeding is commenced, the owner of the second‑mentioned ship.

20  Service on and arrest of only one ship

             (1)  Where service of initiating process in a proceeding commenced as mentioned in section 15, 17, 18 or 19 has been effected on a ship, service of initiating process in the proceeding shall not be effected on any other ship unless the service on the first‑mentioned ship has been set aside or the proceeding, so far as it relates to that ship, has been discontinued, dismissed or struck out.

             (2)  Where service of initiating process in a proceeding commenced as mentioned in section 15, 17, 18 or 19 has been effected on a ship, service of initiating process in some other proceeding on the same claim commenced as mentioned in any of those sections shall not be effected on any other ship unless the first‑mentioned proceeding has been discontinued, dismissed or struck out.

             (3)  Where a ship has been arrested in a proceeding commenced as mentioned in section 15, 17, 18 or 19, no other ship shall be arrested in the proceeding unless the first‑mentioned ship:

                     (a)  was invalidly arrested and has been released from arrest; or

                     (b)  was unlawfully removed from the custody of the Marshal and the Marshal has not regained custody of the ship.

             (4)  Where:

                     (a)  a person has a claim that is both:

                              (i)  a claim on a maritime lien or other charge; and

                             (ii)  a general maritime claim;

                            in respect of a ship; and

                     (b)  the person has commenced a proceeding under section 19 against a surrogate ship;

subsection (3) does not prevent the arrest of the first‑mentioned ship in a proceeding on the maritime lien or other charge if the amount recovered by the person in the proceeding commenced under section 19 is less than the amount of the claim on the maritime lien or other charge.

21  Re-arrest

             (1)  A ship or other property arrested in a proceeding on a maritime claim may not be re-arrested in the proceeding in relation to the claim unless the court so orders, whether because default has been made in the performance of a guarantee or undertaking given to procure the release of the ship or property from the earlier arrest or for some other sufficient reason.

             (2)  An order under subsection (1) may be made subject to such conditions as are just.

22  Service and arrest out of jurisdiction

             (1)  Subject to subsection (4):

                     (a)  initiating process in a proceeding commenced as an action in rem in the Federal Court may be served on a ship or other property; and

                     (b)  a ship or other property may be arrested in such a proceeding;

at any place within Australia, including a place within the limits of the territorial sea of Australia.

             (2)  Subject to subsection (4), initiating process in a proceeding commenced as an action in rem in a court of a State or a Territory may be served on a ship or other property:

                     (a)  if, at a time when the process was effective for service, the ship or property was within the locality within which the court may exercise jurisdiction—at any place within Australia, including a place within the limits of the territorial sea of Australia; or

                     (b)  in any case—at any place within the State or Territory, including a place within the limits of the territorial sea of Australia that is adjacent to the State or Territory.

             (3)  Subject to subsection (4), in a proceeding commenced as an action in rem in a court of a State or Territory, a ship or other property may be arrested at any place within Australia, including a place within the limits of the territorial sea of Australia.

             (4)  Where the arrest of a foreign ship, or of cargo on board a foreign ship, would be inconsistent with a right of innocent passage that is being exercised by the ship, this Act does not authorise the service of process on the ship or the arrest of the ship or cargo.

             (5)  In this section:

innocent passage has the meaning it has under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea done at Montego Bay on 10 December 1982.

Note:          For the Convention on the Law of the Sea see the Schedule to the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973.

23  Service and Execution of Process Act not to apply

                   The Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 does not apply to the service of initiating process on, or the arrest of, a ship or other property under this Act.

24  Proceeds

                   Where, but for the sale of a ship or other property under this Act, a proceeding could have been commenced as an action in rem against the ship or property, the proceeding may be commenced as an action in rem against the proceeds of the sale that have been paid into a court under this Act.

25  Limitation of liability under Liability Conventions

             (1)  A person who apprehends that a claim for compensation under a law (including a law of a State or a Territory) that gives effect to provisions of a Liability Convention may be made against the person by some other person may apply to the Federal Court to determine the question whether the liability of the first‑mentioned person in respect of the claim may be limited under that law.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not affect the jurisdiction of any other court.

             (3)  On an application under subsection (1), the Federal Court may, in accordance with the law referred to in that subsection:

                     (a)  determine whether the applicant’s liability may be so limited and, if it may be so limited, determine the limit of that liability;

                     (b)  order the constitution of a limitation fund for the payment of claims in respect of which the applicant is entitled to limit his or her liability; and

                     (c)  make such orders as are just with respect to the administration and distribution of that fund.

             (4)  Where a court has jurisdiction under this Act in respect of a proceeding, that jurisdiction extends to entertaining a defence in the proceeding by way of limitation of liability under a law that gives effect to provisions of a Liability Convention.

26  Proceedings under Civil Liability Convention

                   A proceeding under this Act on a maritime claim referred to in paragraph 4(3)(b) shall not be brought otherwise than in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 3 of Article IX of the Civil Liability Convention, whether or not the proceeding also relates to a maritime claim or to a maritime lien or other charge.

26A  Proceedings in accordance with the Bunker Oil Convention

             (1)  A proceeding under this Act on a maritime claim referred to in paragraph 4(3)(ba) must not be brought otherwise than in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 9 of the Bunker Oil Convention, whether or not the proceeding also relates to another maritime claim or to a maritime lien or other charge.

             (2)  In this section:

Bunker Oil Convention has the same meaning as in the Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) Act 2008.

Part IV—Transfer and remittal of proceedings

  

27  Transfer

             (1)  Where a proceeding commenced under this Act is pending in the Federal Court, in the Federal Magistrates Court, in the Supreme Court of a State or Territory or in a court of a State or Territory exercising jurisdiction under section 11, the court (in this section called the first court) may, at any stage of the proceeding, upon application or on its own motion, by order, transfer the proceeding to some other court that has jurisdiction under this Act with respect to the subject‑matter of the claim (in this section called the second court).

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not authorise the transfer of a proceeding commenced as an action in remto a court that does not, apart from the operation of subsection 28(7), have jurisdiction in respect of proceedings so commenced.

             (3)  Where a proceeding has been so transferred, the second court shall proceed as if:

                     (a)  the proceeding had been commenced in that court;

                     (b)  the same or similar steps in the proceeding had been taken in that court as were taken in the first court; and

                     (c)  the orders and directions made by the first court in the proceeding had been made by the second court.

28  Remittal

             (1)  Where a proceeding commenced under this Act as an action in rem against a ship or other property is pending in the Federal Court or in the Supreme Court of a State, the court may, at any stage of the proceeding, upon application or on its own motion, remit the proceeding for hearing to:

                    (aa)  the Federal Magistrates Court; or

                     (a)  a court of a State; or

                     (b)  if service of the initiating process was effected on the ship or property in a Territory—a court of that Territory;

being a court that would have had jurisdiction in respect of the proceeding if:

                     (c)  the proceeding had been commenced in that court as an action in personam; and

                     (d)  service of initiating process in that proceeding had been effected within the locality within which that court may exercise jurisdiction.

             (2)  Where a proceeding commenced under this Act as an action in rem is pending in the Supreme Court of a Territory, the court may, at any stage of the proceeding, upon application or on its own motion, remit the proceeding for hearing to some other court of the Territory that would have had jurisdiction in respect of the proceeding if:

                     (a)  the proceeding had been commenced in that court as an action in personam; and

                     (b)  service of initiating process in that proceeding had been effected in that Territory.

             (3)  The court from which the proceeding is remitted (in this section called the first court) may give such orders or directions as are appropriate in relation to the further steps to be taken in the proceeding and, subject to any such orders and directions, the court to which the proceeding is remitted (in this section called the  second court) may give orders and directions of a similar kind.

             (4)  Subject to any orders and directions given under subsection (3), the second court shall proceed as if:

                     (a)  the proceeding had been commenced in that court;

                     (b)  the same or similar steps in the proceeding had been taken in the second court as were taken in the first court; and

                     (c)  the orders and directions made by the first court in the proceeding had been made by the second court.

             (5)  The first court shall give effect to a judgment or order given in the proceeding, being a judgment or order that finally disposes of the proceeding, as though that judgment or order were a judgment or order of that court in the proceeding.

             (6)  Subsection (5) does not affect:

                     (a)  a right of appeal that a party to the proceeding has; or

                     (b)  the power of a court to stay execution pending an appeal.

             (7)  The second court is invested with federal jurisdiction, or, if that court is the Federal Magistrates Court or a court of a Territory, jurisdiction is conferred on that court, in respect of the proceeding.

29  Security in relation to stayed or dismissed proceedings

             (1)  Where:

                     (a)  it appears to the court in which a proceeding commenced under this Act is pending that the proceeding should be stayed or dismissed on the ground that the claim concerned should be determined by arbitration (whether in Australia or elsewhere) or by a court of a foreign country; and

                     (b)  a ship or other property is under arrest in the proceeding;

the court may order that the proceeding be stayed on condition that the ship or property be retained by the court as security for the satisfaction of any award or judgment that may be made in the arbitration or in a proceeding in the court of the foreign country.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not limit any other power of the court.

             (3)  The power of the court to stay or dismiss a proceeding includes power to do so on such conditions as are just, including a condition:

                     (a)  with respect to the institution or prosecution of the arbitration or proceeding in the court of the foreign country; and

                     (b)  that equivalent security be provided for the satisfaction of any award or judgment that may be made in the arbitration or in the proceeding in the court of the foreign country.

             (4)  Where a court has made an order under subsection (1) or (3), the court may make such interim or supplementary orders as are appropriate in relation to the ship or property for the purpose of preserving:

                     (a)  the ship or property; or

                     (b)  the rights of a party or of a person interested in the ship or property.

             (5)  Where:

                     (a)  a ship or other property is under arrest in a proceeding;

                     (b)  an award or judgment as mentioned in subsection (1) has been made in favour of a party; and

                     (c)  apart from this section, the award or judgment is enforceable in Australia;

then, in addition to any other proceeding that may be taken by the party to enforce the award or judgment, the party may apply to the court in the stayed proceeding for an appropriate order in relation to the ship or property to give effect to the award or judgment.

30  Power to deal with ship or other property

             (1)  This section applies where:

                     (a)  a proceeding has been transferred or remitted under the preceding provisions of this Part; and

                     (b)  a ship or other property is under arrest in the proceeding.

             (2)  The court from which the proceeding was transferred or remitted:

                     (a)  may deal with the ship or property as though it were under arrest in a proceeding that had not been so transferred or remitted; and

                     (b)  may make such orders as are necessary or convenient for transferring the custody of the ship or property to the court to which the proceeding has been so transferred or remitted.

             (3)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an order made under subsection (2) has effect according to its tenor.

             (4)  Where a court has made an order under paragraph (2)(b), the court to which the proceeding has been transferred or remitted has the same powers in relation to the ship or property as it has in relation to a ship or other property under arrest in a proceeding commenced in that court.

Part V—Miscellaneous

  

31  Effect of judgment

             (1)  Where judgment is given for the plaintiff in a proceeding on a maritime claim commenced as an action in rem against a ship or other property, the extent to which a defendant in the proceeding who has entered an appearance and is a relevant person in relation to the claim is personally liable on the judgment is not limited by the value of the ship or property.

             (2)  Where judgment is given for the plaintiff in a proceeding on a maritime claim commenced as an action in rem against a ship or other property, a defendant in the proceeding who has entered an appearance and is not a relevant person in relation to the claim is not personally liable on the judgment for the payment of money in respect of the claim except so far as the judgment is for costs against that defendant.

             (3)  Subsection (2) does not prevent the sale, under this Act, of a ship or other property that is under arrest in a proceeding.

32  Powers of Federal Court in relation to register

                   In a proceeding in the Federal Court on a proprietary maritime claim, the orders that the court may make include orders of the kind that a court may make under section 59 or 59A of theShipping Registration Act 1981.

33  Co‑ownership disputes

                   In a proceeding on a maritime claim between co‑owners of a ship relating to the possession, ownership, operation or earnings of the ship, the orders that the court may make include:

                     (a)  orders for the settlement of accounts outstanding and unsettled; and

                     (b)  an order directing that the ship, or a share in the ship, be sold.

34  Damages for unjustified arrest etc.

             (1)  Where, in relation to a proceeding commenced under this Act:

                     (a)  a party unreasonably and without good cause:

                              (i)  demands excessive security in relation to the proceeding; or

                             (ii)  obtains the arrest of a ship or other property under this Act; or

                     (b)  a party or other person unreasonably and without good cause fails to give a consent required under this Act for the release from arrest of a ship or other property;

the party or person is liable in damages to a party to the proceeding, or to a person who has an interest in the ship or property, being a party or person who has suffered loss or damage as a direct result.

             (2)  The jurisdiction of a court in which a proceeding was commenced under this Act extends to determining a claim arising under subsection (1) in relation to the proceeding.

35  Priorities: general maritime claims

             (1)  Where:

                     (a)  a proceeding in respect of a general maritime claim concerning a ship has been commenced under this Act against a surrogate ship; or

                     (b)  in relation to a proceeding commenced under this Act concerning a ship, a surrogate ship has been arrested;

the order in which general maritime claims against both the ships shall be paid out of the proceeds of the sale of the surrogate ship shall be determined as if all the claims were general maritime claims against the surrogate ship.

             (2)  Subsection (1) applies notwithstanding any other law, including a law of a State or Territory.

36  Statutory powers of detention

             (1)  This section applies where:

                     (a)  a law other than this Act (including a law of a State or Territory) confers on a person a power to detain a ship in relation to a civil claim; and

                     (b)  a proceeding on the civil claim may be commenced as an action in rem against the ship.

             (2)  Where the ship is under arrest under this Act, the power to detain the ship shall not be exercised.

             (3)  The exercise of the power to detain the ship does not prevent the arrest of the ship under this Act.

             (4)  Where a ship that has been detained under such a power is arrested under this Act, then, by force of this subsection, the detention is suspended for so long as the ship is under arrest.

             (5)  Where a ship that has been detained, or would, but for subsection (2), be liable to be detained, under such a power is arrested and sold under this Act, the civil claim is, unless the court otherwise directs, payable in priority to any claim against the ship other than the claim of a Marshal for expenses.

37  Limitation periods

             (1)  A proceeding may be brought under this Act on a maritime claim, or on a claim on a maritime lien or other charge, at any time before the end of:

                     (a)  the limitation period that would have been applicable in relation to the claim if a proceeding on the claim had been brought otherwise than under this Act; or

                     (b)  if no proceeding on the claim could have been so brought—a period of 3 years after the cause of action arose.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply if a limitation period is fixed in relation to the claim by an Act, an Imperial Act, an Act of a State or an Act or Ordinance of a Territory, including such an Act or Ordinance in its application in a part of Australia.

             (3)  Where:

                     (a)  but for this subsection, a court would not have power to extend a limitation period in respect of a maritime claim or a claim of a particular kind on a maritime lien or other charge; and

                     (b)  the court has power to extend a limitation period in respect of a claim of the same kind;

then, by force of this subsection, the court has power, exercisable in the same way, and in the same kinds of circumstances, as the power referred to in paragraph (b), to extend the period fixed by subsection (1) in respect of maritime claims, or claims on maritime liens or other charges, of a kind referred to in that subsection.

             (4)  The absence of the ship or property concerned from the locality in which the court may exercise jurisdiction shall not be taken into account in relation to the exercise of the power conferred by subsection (3).

             (5)  The law relating to laches does not apply in relation to a claim brought within a period fixed by or under this section.

38  Mode of trial

                   A proceeding under this Act commenced as an action in rem, a limitation proceeding and a proceeding under this Act that is associated with either shall be tried without a jury.

39  Jurisdictional limits

             (1)  Subject to any Proclamation made under subsection 11(2), where a court of a State is invested with jurisdiction in relation to a proceeding commenced as an action in rem, or such jurisdiction is conferred on a court of a Territory, by or under this Act, then:

                     (a)  in the case of a court of a State—the court is invested with the jurisdiction within the limits of the jurisdiction of that court as to the amount claimed and as to remedies, but not otherwise; and

                     (b)  in the case of a court of a Territory—the jurisdiction is conferred on the court only so far as the Constitution permits and within the limits of the jurisdiction of that court as to the amount claimed, as to locality and as to remedies, but not otherwise.

             (2)  Where a court of a State is invested with jurisdiction in relation to a proceeding commenced under section 9 or such jurisdiction is conferred on a court of a Territory, the jurisdiction is invested or conferred within the limits of the jurisdiction of the court concerned and, in the case of a court of a Territory, only so far as the Constitution permits.

             (3)  Section 15C of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 does not apply in relation to proceedings to which this section applies.

40  Courts to act in aid of each other

                   All courts having jurisdiction under this Act, the judges of those courts and the officers of or under the control of those courts shall severally act in aid of, and be auxiliary to, each other in all matters arising under this Act.

41  Rules

             (1)  The Governor‑General may make Rules, not inconsistent with this Act, making provision in relation to the practice and procedure to be followed in courts exercising jurisdiction under this Act and matters incidental to such practice and procedure.

             (2)  In particular, the Rules may make provision in relation to:

                     (a)  pleading;

                     (b)  parties;

                     (c)  appearance;

                     (d)  the service and execution of process;

                     (e)  bail;

                      (f)  caveats against arrest or release of ships and other property;

                     (g)  the arrest, custody and sale of ships and other property;

                     (h)  the furnishing of security;

                      (j)  the forms to be used;

                     (k)  records and registers and inspections of those records and registers;

                    (m)  limitation proceedings, including:

                              (i)  the parties to those proceedings; and

                             (ii)  the operation of determinations made in those proceedings;

                     (n)  evidence; and

                     (o)  enforcement and satisfaction of judgments of courts in matters under this Act.

             (3)  The Rules may prescribe penalties for offences against the Rules not exceeding:

                     (a)  if the defendant is a natural person—a fine of $1,000; or

                     (b)  if the defendant is a corporation—a fine of $5,000.

             (4)  Jurisdiction is conferred on the Federal Court, the Federal Magistrates Court and on the courts of the Territories, and the courts of the States are invested with federal jurisdiction, in respect of matters arising under the Rules.

42  Rules Committee

             (1)  The Attorney‑General shall constitute a committee consisting of not more than 7 persons to advise the Attorney‑General with respect to the Rules and shall appoint a member of the committee to preside at meetings of the committee.

             (2)  The members of the committee shall include a Judge of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory and a Judge of the Federal Court.

             (3)  Subject to the directions, if any, of the Attorney‑General, the procedure of the committee shall be as the committee determines.

43  Regulations

                   The Governor‑General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters:

                     (a)  required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

                     (b)  necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

Part VI—Repeals and amendments of Imperial legislation

  

44  Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act

             (1)  The Imperial Act known as the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890, as amended and in force at the date of commencement of this Act, is repealed so far as it is part of the law of the Commonwealth or of an external Territory.

             (2)  The repeal effected by subsection (1) does not affect a proceeding under the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890 commenced but not finally determined before the commencement of this Act.

45  Repeal of certain Imperial laws

                   The Imperial Acts specified in the following Table are repealed to the extent set out in the Table so far as they are part of the law of the Commonwealth or of an external Territory:

Reign and chapter	Citation or description	Extent of repeal
13 Richard II, Statutes I, chapter 5	Jurisdiction of the Admiral and his Deputy	The whole
15 Richard II, chapter 3	Jurisdiction of the Admiral	The whole
17 Edward II, chapter 13	Prerogativa Regis	The paragraph commencing Also the King shall have Wreck”
2 Henry IV, chapter 11	Statute of 13 Richard II, Statutes 1, chapter 5 as to the Admiral’s Jurisdiction confirmed	The whole
2 William and Mary, Session 2, chapter 2	Admiralty Act, 1690	The whole

46  Merchant Shipping Act

                   Sections 449 and 472 of the Imperial Act known as the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, as amended and in force at the date of commencement of this Act, are repealed so far as they are part of the law of the Commonwealth or of an external Territory.

47  Transitional

                   The application of section 8 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 extends to an Imperial Act, and a provision of an Imperial Act, repealed by this Part as though it were an Act of the Parliament, or a provision of an Act of the Parliament, repealed by this Part.

Part VII—Validation of certain provisions of the Navigation Act 1912

  

48  Validation

             (1)  No provision of the Navigation Act 1912 is invalid, or shall be taken to have been at any time invalid, because of:

                     (a)  its inconsistency with an Imperial Act; or

                     (b)  a failure to comply with section 4 of the Imperial Act known as the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890.

             (2)  This section binds the Crown in all its capacities.

Part VIII—Amendments of the Navigation Act 1912

  

49  Principal Act

                   In this Part, Principal Act means the Navigation Act 1912.

50  Crown bound

                   This Part binds the Crown in the same capacities as the Principal Act binds the Crown.

51  Abolition of defence of common employment

                   Section 59A of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after subsection (2) the following subsection:

          (2A)  Notwithstanding sections 2 and 10, this section applies in relation to all ships.

52  Jurisdiction as to wages

             (1)  Section 91 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “, and any court having Admiralty jurisdiction,”.

             (2)  The amendment effected by subsection (1) does not affect a proceeding under section 91 of the Principal Act commenced but not finally determined before the commencement of this Act.

53  Compensation for loss occasioned by improper use of signals

                   Section 230 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting subsection (2).

54  Forfeiture of dangerous goods

             (1)  Section 252 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “any Court having Admiralty jurisdiction” and substituting “the Supreme Court of a State or Territory”.

             (2)  The amendment effected by subsection (1) does not affect a proceeding under section 252 of the Principal Act commenced but not finally determined before the commencement of this Act.

55  Repeals

             (1)  Sections 262, 318 to 320 (inclusive) and 322 and 326, Division 5 of Part VII and sections 383 and 385 of the Principal Act are repealed.

             (2)  The repeal effected by subsection (1) does not affect an order issued under section 383 of the Principal Act and in force immediately before the commencement of this Act and proceedings on such an order may be instituted, continued and completed as though this section had not been enacted.

56  Limitation of actions

                   Section 396 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from subsection (3) all words after “as it thinks fit”.

57  Proceedings against the Crown

                   Section 405A of the Principal Act is amended by omitting subsection (2).

Part IX—Amendment of the Shipping Registration Act 1981

  

58  Principal Act

                   The Shipping Registration Act 1981 is in this Part referred to as the Principal Act.

59  Repeal

                   Section 94A of the Principal Act is repealed.

Notes to the Admiralty Act 1988

Note 1

The Admiralty Act 1988 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 34, 1988 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For all relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Admiralty Act 1988	34, 1988	22 May 1988	1 Jan 1989 (see Gazette 1988, No. S359)
Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Act 1989	151, 1989	30 Nov 1989	30 May 1991	—
Service and Execution of Process (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992	166, 1992	11 Dec 1992	10 Apr 1993 (see s. 2 and Gazette1993, No. GN13)	—
Maritime Legislation Amendment Act 1994	20, 1994	15 Feb 1994	1 Aug 1994 (see Gazette 1994, No. S289)	—
International Maritime Conventions Legislation Amendment Act 2001	149, 2001	1 Oct 2001	Schedule 1 (item 1): 13 May 2004 (seeGazette 2004, No. S157)	—
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2004	62, 2004	26 May 2004	Schedule 1 (item 5): 27 May 2004	—
Jurisdiction of the Federal Magistrates Court Legislation Amendment Act 2006	23, 2006	6 Apr 2006	Schedule 3: 4 May 2006	Sch. 3 (items 2, 6, 8)
Statute Law Revision Act 2008	73, 2008	3 July 2008	Schedule 1 (item 3): Royal Assent	—
Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008	77, 2008	12 July 2008	Schedule 1 (items 1–4): 16 June 2009 (see s. 2(1))	—
Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Act 2009	131, 2009	14 Dec 2009	Schedule 3 (item 1): 30 Jan 2012 (seeF2011L02397)	—
Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011	46, 2011	27 June 2011	Schedule 2 (item 35) and Schedule 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011	Sch. 3 (items 10, 11)

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part I
S. 3......................................	am. No. 151, 1989; No. 149, 2001; No. 62, 2004
S. 4......................................	am. Nos. 73 and 77, 2008
Part II
S. 9......................................	am. No. 23, 2006
Part III
S. 22....................................	am. No. 20, 1994
Note to s. 22.......................	ad. No. 20, 1994
S. 23....................................	am. No. 166, 1992
S. 26A.................................	ad. No. 77, 2008
Part IV
Ss. 27, 28............................	am. No. 23, 2006
Part V
S. 32....................................	am. No. 131, 2009
S. 41....................................	am. No. 23, 2006; No. 46, 2011

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Jurisdiction of the Federal Magistrates Court Legislation Amendment Act
2006 (No. 23, 2006)

Schedule 3

2  Application of amendment of section 9

The amendment of section 9 of the Admiralty Act 1988 made by this Schedule applies in relation to matters arising before, on or after the commencement of this Schedule.

6  Application of amendments of sections 27 and 28

The amendments of sections 27 and 28 of the Admiralty Act 1988 made by this Schedule apply in relation to proceedings started before, on or after the commencement of this Schedule.

8  Application of amendment of section 41

The amendment of section 41 of the Admiralty Act 1988 made by this Schedule applies in relation to matters arising before, on or after the commencement of this Schedule.

Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011 (No. 46, 2011)

Schedule 3

10  Saving—appointments

The amendments made by Schedule 2 do not affect the validity of an appointment that was made under an Act before the commencement of this item and that was in force immediately before that commencement.

11  Transitional regulations

The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to the amendments and repeals made by Schedules 1 and 2.

http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2012C00166

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