Hi everyone

We all know the cliche that claims it is unlawful against maritime law for a person to untie another person's mooring lines and cast the vessel adrift.

Is there anyone out there who can verify or clarify this please?

Thanks

lydia said..
Not as simple as that.
Actually was at least in Qld, in the old Criminal Code at s 465 and 466
Life imprisonment with hard labour was the max sentence btw.

Also casting away a vessel historically was not undoing the lines but through say lighting a false lighthouse to cast a vessel ashore was the crime

Thanks for that Lydia.
Perhaps a little context may help.

You may or may not have heard about Compass Marina at Scarborough ceasing operations on 16 March. Long, sorry tale of claims and counter-claims being made by operator and state government.

Should it really close down, the operator has stated the assets (pontoons, gangways, piles etc) will be removed. He also stated their removal may begin imminently.

We have been served our eviction notices.

Some folks are clinging to 'maritime law', indicating they will not be moving their boats out of the berth. Will they be protected? Or are they barking up the wrong tree??

Some folks are clinging to 'maritime law', indicating they will not be moving their boats out of the berth. Will they be protected? Or are they barking up the wrong tree??

Sounds like somebody has been listening to those deranged American "sovereign citizens". Some crap about them having flags in the court room and therefore it's a naval court and...honestly at about that point I can't follow their reasoning any more.

I mean, it was their property, no doubt they're having to sell off assets such as pontoons that you're tied to, so if they're serving you evection notices, then that's it Charlie Brown.

If you don't move along, then presumably the sheriff's department would get involved?

But yeh, interesting that this does actually have a maritime element to it, so it'd be interesting to hear from a lawyer to hear if it's different.

I've been following this on Sailing Aust. Facebook page. I'm sorry for the predicament some of you are facing.
The post on here "The end of the road for mooring minders" might give some idea to your question. I'm sure all these boat would've been legally removed.
To put your question another way - at what point would be be considered trespassing?

Thanks for your responses.