Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Marine Act 1988 - SECT 26

Assistance to people in distress

26. Assistance to people in distress



(1) If the person in charge of a vessel believes that any other person in the
vicinity of the vessel is in distress, the person in charge must, unless he or
she is unable to do so or in the circumstances of the case he or she considers
it unsafe, unreasonable or unnecessary to do so, cause his or her vessel to
proceed with all practicable speed to the assistance of that other person.

(2) If the person in charge of a vessel contravenes subsection (1)-

   (a)  the person in charge is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to
        imprisonment for a term of not more than two years; and

   (b)  an investigation may be conducted into the conduct of the master and
        his or her certificate of competency may be cancelled or suspended
        and, for this purpose, the provisions of Division 3 of Part 8 with
        respect to investigations into accidents apply, with any necessary
        modifications, to investigations under this paragraph.

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