Commonwealth Numbered Acts

IMMIGRATION (UNAUTHORIZED ARRIVALS) ACT 1980 No. 112 of 1980 - SECT 17

17. (1) An authorized officer, or an officer who has been requested by an
authorized officer, by writing under his hand, to do so, may detain a vessel,
or cause a vessel to be detained, at the place where she is found or cause her
to be brought to such other place or places as the authorized officer from
time to time deems appropriate and detain the vessel or cause the vessel to be
detained at that place or at those places-

   (a)  if the authorized officer has reasonable grounds to believe that an
        offence has been committed against sub-section 6 (1), (2), (3) or (4),
        7 (1) or 8 (5) or (7) in relation to the vessel; or

   (b)  if an officer has been prevented from boarding the vessel in pursuance
        of the power conferred by paragraph 16 (a).

(2) Where a vessel is detained by, or at the request of, an authorized officer
, the authorized officer shall, as soon as practicable after he has
ascertained the identity of the owner, agent or charterer of the vessel, give
notice of the detention of the vessel to the owner, agent or charterer, as the
case may be.

(3) For the purposes of the detention and other lawful dealings with a vessel,
a person authorized under sub-section (1) to detain the vessel is entitled to
take with him, and to have the assistance of, any police officers and other
persons that he may think necessary.

(4) A person (not being an officer) who moves, or assists a person (not being
an officer) in moving, a vessel from the place at which she is detained under
sub- section (1) except with the permission, in writing, of an
authorized officer, or at the direction of the officer by whom she is
detained, commits an offence against this sub-section punishable, upon
conviction, by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment for a period not
exceeding 6 months, or both.