Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003

The purpose of this Act is to safeguard against unlawful interference with maritime transport or offshore facilities or operational interference with maritime transport or offshore facilities.

Division 6 of Part 6 has an additional purpose (see section 113E).

To achieve this purpose, this Act establishes a regulatory framework centred around the development of security plans for ships, other maritime transport operations and offshore facilities.

The implementation of a security plan should make an appropriate contribution to the achievement of the maritime security outcomes.

The maritime security outcomes are as follows:

Australia’s obligations under Chapter XI‑2 of the SOLAS Convention and the ISPS Code, including those with regard to the rights, freedoms and welfare of seafarers, are met;

the risk of unlawful interference with maritime transport or offshore facilities is reduced without undue disruption to trade;

the risk that maritime transport or offshore facilities are used to facilitate terrorist or other unlawful activities is reduced;

security information is communicated effectively among maritime industry participants and government agencies with security responsibilities for maritime transport and offshore facilities.

It is not the purpose of this Act to prevent lawful advocacy, protest, dissent or industrial action that does not compromise maritime security.