Navigation Act 2012

The master of a vessel must not take the vessel to sea, or cause or permit another person to take the vessel to sea, if:

a seafarer is on board the vessel; and

when the vessel is taken to sea, a work agreement that complies with the regulations made for the purposes of subsection (5) is not in force in relation to the seafarer.

The owner of a vessel must not take the vessel to sea, or cause or permit another person to take the vessel to sea, if:

a seafarer is on board the vessel; and

when the vessel is taken to sea, a work agreement that complies with the regulations made for the purposes of subsection (5) is not in force in relation to the seafarer.

A person commits an offence if the person contravenes subsection (1) or (2).

A person is liable to a civil penalty if the person contravenes subsection (1) or (2).

The regulations may prescribe matters relating to work agreements including, but not limited to, the following:

the content and form of work agreements;

the right of a seafarer to review, and seek advice on, a work agreement before signing it;

the process for signing work agreements;

the information or documents that must be given to, or made available to, seafarers in relation to work agreements and the manner in which such information or documents must be given or made available;

the termination of work agreements;

keeping records of work agreements and retaining such records;

the home port of seafarers.