
General safety obligation
As the fundamental principle of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) legislation, the general safety obligation transfers the responsibility of safety to owners and operators and encourages risk management. The Act imposes general safety obligations on:
- ship designers, builders and surveyors about the condition of ships
- persons involved with the operation of a ship to operate it safely
- owners and masters about safety equipment.
- safe
- properly equipped and crewed
- operated in a safe manner.
The Act provides penalties for breach of safety obligations of up to A$37,000 or one year imprisonment. Should the breach cause death or grievous bodily harm to a person, the penalty is up to A$375,000 or imprisonment for two years.
Last updated 03 July 2008

