Marine Pollution Act 1999

(a) if, at the time of service, there is a person on board who is apparently in charge of the ship – with the person, after explaining to the person the purpose of the document; or

(b) otherwise – in a reasonably secure way in a conspicuous position near the ship's controls.

(2) If a document is required or permitted to be served on a ship's master and it is impracticable to serve the document on the ship's master, the document may be served on:

(b) the ship owner's agent, including a previous agent of the owner of the ship.

(3) A document is taken to be served on all owners of a ship if it is served on:

(c) an owner's agent, including a previous agent of an owner of the ship.

(a) the operation of another law that requires or permits service of a document other than as provided in this section; or

(b) the court's power to authorise service of a document other than as provided in this section.

previous owner, in relation to a ship, means the owner of the ship at the time the conduct occurred that is the subject of the document being served.

previous agent, in relation to a ship's owner, means the ship owner's agent at the time the conduct occurred that is the subject of the document being served.