# Vessels to enter ports and be brought to boarding stations

> act-s247 — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

247 Vessels to enter ports and be brought to boarding stations
          (1) The master of a vessel which has entered Australia from overseas
              shall not suffer the vessel to enter any place other than a port.
               Penalty: 200 penalty units.
          (2) The master of a vessel (other than an aircraft) from overseas bound
              to or calling at a port:
                (a) shall, if so required by the Secretary or Australian Border
                    Force Commissioner, bring the vessel (other than an aircraft)
                    to for boarding under this Act at the boarding station
                    appointed for that port; and
                (b) shall not move the vessel (other than an aircraft) from that
                    boarding station until permitted to do so by the Secretary or
                    Australian Border Force Commissioner.
               Penalty: 200 penalty units.
        (2A) Subsection (2) does not apply if the master moves the vessel from
             the boarding station with the intention of leaving the port.
               Note:      A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
                          subsection (2A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).










          (3) The master of an aircraft from overseas arriving in Australia shall
              not suffer the aircraft to land at any other proclaimed airport until
              the aircraft has first landed:
                (a) at such proclaimed airport for which a boarding station is
                    appointed as is nearest to the place at which the aircraft
                    entered Australia; or
                (b) at such other airport for which a boarding station is appointed
                    as has been approved by the Secretary or Australian Border
                    Force Commissioner, in writing, as an airport at which that
                    aircraft, or a class of aircraft in which that aircraft is
                    included, may land on arriving in Australia from overseas.
               Penalty: 200 penalty units.
          (4) The master of an aircraft which is engaged on an air service or
              flight from a place overseas to a place in Australia:
                (a) shall not suffer the aircraft to land at a proclaimed airport for
                     which a boarding station is not appointed;
                (b) shall, as soon as practicable after the aircraft lands at a
                     proclaimed airport, bring the aircraft for boarding to the
                     boarding station appointed for that airport; and
                (c) shall not move the aircraft from that boarding station until
                     permitted to do so by the Secretary or Australian Border
                     Force Commissioner.
               Penalty: 200 penalty units.
          (5) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against
              subsection (1), (3) or (4) if the person charged proves that he or she
              was prevented from complying with the subsection by stress of
              weather or other reasonable cause.
               Note:      A defendant bears a legal burden in relation to the matters in
                          subsection (5) (see section 13.4 of the Criminal Code).

        (5A) An offence against any of subsections (1) to (4) is an offence of
             strict liability.
               Note:      For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.










          (6) While a vessel is at a boarding station, an officer may go and
              remain on board the vessel for the purposes of this Act.
          (7) The master of a vessel shall do all things reasonably required by an
              officer to facilitate the boarding of the vessel under this section and
              the performance by the officer of duties for the purposes of this
              Act.
               Penalty for any contravention of this subsection:                 100 penalty
                         units.
          (8) An offence against subsection (7) is an offence of strict liability.
               Note:      For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.