Commercial and fishing ships
All ships used for activities undertaken for financial reward are considered commercial ventures. This includes ships used where no direct fees are received (for example ships used at resorts).
The following ships must be commercially registered:
- ships commercially operating in Queensland waters that are owned or chartered by a person whose principal place of residence is Queensland
- ships commercially operated by a person whose principal place of business is Queensland
- ships commercially operated by a person whose principal place of business for managing the ships' operations is in Queensland.
However, this does not apply to:
- a ship that must be and is registered under the Commonwealth Shipping Registration Act 1981. Ships registered under the Commonwealth Act also require a current Certificate of Survey under Commonwealth law to be exempt from state registration
- a commercial ship (other than a barge) that is unpowered, or if powered, is powered by an engine of less than 3 kW
- fishing ships less than 10 m in length
- a tender to a registered commercial ship if the tender operates within two nautical miles of the mother ship. Before its use, the owner of the ship must record details of the tender in an equipment list or log book kept for the mother ship
- a ship displaying a restricted use flag
- commercial barges less than 15 m (unpowered or powered by an engine of less than 3 kW) not being used for carrying passengers, bulk petroleum or gas products, living aboard or entertainment, operating a pile frame, crane with safe working load over three tonnes or dredging machinery having a total brake power of 500 kW or more.
Ships that are not on or in the water do not have to be registered. For example if registration expires while the ship is on the slip being repaired, it only needs registering before being put back in the water. All ships moored and in the water, even though not in use for long periods of time, still must be registered. Registration must not lapse.
New legislation was introduced on 18 May 2007 requiring all ships over 15 m in length to have insurance sufficient to pay for potential pollution clean up, salvage and wreck removal. More information about ship insurance requirements is available.
Registration classification
Ships are registered according to type and classed under the Uniform Shipping Laws Code.
- Passenger ships carry or are certified to carry more than 12 passengers.
- Non-passenger ships are used for commercial purposes for trading, like dredges and cargo ships.
- Fishing ships are ships used or intended to be used for catching fish, whales, seals, walrus or other resources of the sea but excludes ships harvesting or transporting algae or aquatic plants, or that is primarily a carrier or a mother ship.
| class 1 passenger | class 2 non-passenger | class 3 fishing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For use in all operational areas up to and including unlimited operations (600 nm). | 1A | 2A | 3A |
| For use in all operational areas up to and including offshore operations (200 nm). | 1B | 2B | 3B |
| For use in all operational areas up to and including restricted offshore operations (50 nm). | 1C | 2C | 3C |
| For operations in partially smooth and smooth waters only. | 1D | 2D | 3D |
| For operations in smooth waters only. | 1E | 2E | |
| ‘Hire and drive’ vessels (commercial hire ships). | 1F |
The operational area for a class 1C, 2C commercial ship and a class 3C fishing ship is:
- not more than 50 nm from the coast; or
- if the ship is operated within the Great Barrier Reef region or the Torres Strait zone – any distance from the coast more than 50 nm within the region or zone.
Class 1D, 1E, 2D or 2E commercial ships operating from an island must operate within sight of, and be able to communicate with the island.
A class 1E commercial ship that is a permanently moored pontoon that may operate within the Great Barrier Reef region.
The operational areas for class D ships - smooth and partially smooth waters and class E ships - smooth waters, are shown on these chartlets.
Last updated 24 April 2008
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