Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

NAVIGATION ACT 1912 - SECT 163A

             (1)  The regulations may make provision for and in relation to the relief and maintenance of distressed seamen.

             (2)  Without in any way limiting the generality of subsection (1), the regulations made by virtue of that subsection:

                     (a)  may prescribe the duties and functions of proper authorities in relation to the relief and maintenance of distressed seamen;

                     (b)  may require the owner or master of a ship to provide a distressed seaman with a passage on the ship, and maintenance during the passage, in connexion with the conveyance of the seaman to his or her port;

                     (c)  may prescribe the charges which the owner or master of a ship may make for providing a distressed seaman with a passage on the ship, and maintenance during the passage, in connexion with the conveyance of the seaman to his or her port; and

                     (d)  may provide for the recovery of expenditure incurred by or on behalf of the Commonwealth for or in connexion with the relief and maintenance of a distressed seaman and of wages, if any, due to the seaman and, in particular, may provide that expenditure so incurred, or wages so due, shall be a charge upon the ship to which the distressed seaman belonged.