Maritime Safety Queensland
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SEIZE AND REMOVE ABANDONED PROPERTY
Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994, section 175A
Date of notice: 3rd April 2024
I, Nicholas Vernalls, am appointed as a Shipping Inspector under part 13 of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 (the Act).
Description of abandoned property:
Vessel 'Open Dinghy 3.7 m in length' (the ship) is an aluminium unpowered motor vessel that was capsized and aground at low tide in Barnes Creek in position, -21.127958˚ S, 149.188539˚ E, near Harbour Road, Mackay. The ship displayed no registration symbols, and no outboard was fitted. The ship contained an oar, a fishing rod, a cast net and bucket The ship was tied to a mangrove and floated into the creek at mid to high tides.
Where and when abandoned property was found:
The ship was reported by the public and inspected by Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) on the 22nd March 2024. MSQ found the vessel in Barnes Creek in position, -21.127958˚ S, 149.188539˚ E.
I reasonably believe that the ship is abandoned property.
When abandoned property may be seized and removed:
The ship was removed from QLD waters on the 25th March 2024 by MSQ as it was a hazard to navigation. It is stored in a secure area at the Mackay Port.
Statement for the purposes of section 175A(5) of the Act:
If no one claims the property described above by the 6th May 2024, I may, having regard to the value and condition of the property and without further notice–
(a) sell the property by public auction; or
(b) destroy it.
If you wish to assert ownership in the property described above, you must attend in person the Mackay MSQ office at Floor 3, 44 Nelson St Mackay in the State of Queensland before 4pm on the 6th May 2024.
Nicholas Vernalls
Shipping Inspector, T306
Maritime Safety Queensland
Mackay 4741
