On 20 March, a Sydney commercial vessel master was convicted for breaching a condition on a vessel’s certificate of operation and fined $5,000, after a successful prosecution by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, on behalf of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
When a Transport for New South Wales Maritime Marine Safety Inspector, acting on behalf of AMSA, intercepted the vessel near North Bondi in November 2020, the captain claimed the trip was a recreational, not commercial trip, despite towing a barge with commercial construction equipment at the time.
AMSA Manager of Enforcement and Inspector Support David Marsh said the breach of the Certificate of Operation is a serious matter.
“This breach of a certificate of operation demonstrates exactly the kind of recklessness that commercial vessel operators can’t afford to have – not only does it risk the safety of people, property, and the marine environment, it also tarnishes the reputation of the industry,” Mr Marsh said.