This exemption allows people to work as a master or chief mate on a vessel operating in the Great Barrier Reef or Torres Strait Zone or from a Queensland island without the required certificate.
For vessels in distress or in need of assistance there can be, at times, a need to find an appropriate ‘place of refuge’, where steps can be taken to stabilise or repair the vessel and prevent the situation from worsening.
This exemption is for owners of certain kinds of unpowered barges where it may not be practical to comply with specified construction and equipment requirements.
When operating in the marine environment, there are compliance requirements you must meet. These include safety requirements, regular vessel surveys, permits and certificates of operation.