An Australian charter boat operator has been fined AUS $30,000 for offences relating to the charter of the luxury yacht Lady Royal.
Now, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is reminding all charter operators of the importance of complying with the law for the safety of crew and passengers on board.
The fine follows an AMSA investigation which led to the successful prosecution of unlicensed charter boat operator, Prestige Rentals Pty Ltd, for offences under the Marine Safety National Law – Domestic Commercial Vessel (DCV).
The offences included operating the vessel Lady Royal with paying passengers on board without a certificate of survey or certificate of operation, operating with no unique identifier and permitting a person to operate a DCV without the required certification.
Operators of illegal boat charters or ‘black charters’ are risking passengers’ lives.
David Marsh
AMSA manager enforcement and inspector support, David Marsh, said this a clear example of how irresponsible behaviour in operating boat charters can be dangerous to everyone involved.
“Operators of illegal boat charters or ‘black charters’ are risking passengers’ lives when they do not meet the required safety standards set by AMSA,” he said.
“A vessel must be the subject of a certificate of survey and certificate of operation, have in place a safety management system that addresses the safe operation of the vessel, including emergency procedures and a passenger monitoring plans, to be legally operating as a charter vessel.”
Vessel of interest
He added: “In the case of the Lady Royal, the operator permitted an unqualified master to be in charge of the vessel with paying passengers, compounding the element of serious risk.”
AMSA identified the Lady Royal as a ‘vessel of interest’ during a patrol in December 2024 and followed it back into the Yarra River in Melbourne, boarding it when it berthed at Docklands.
