What is a Boat code……

NSW MARINE AREA COMMAND
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Organized vessel
theft/rebirthing on the East
Coast of Australia
Operation TINGCHOW
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Operation TINGCHOW
Operation Tingchow is an on going
operation undertaken by the NSW Marine
Area Command since 2001.
The primary focus of Operation Tingchow is
the identification of stolen then rebirthed
vessels and the prosecution of persons
associated with the activity.
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Presentation Overview

Vessel identification

Vessel Registration Systems in NSW

Vessel Registration Systems in QLD

Vessel Registration Systems in VIC

Identified vessel rebirthing methods.

How can we curb the trends
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Vessel Identification
Hull Identification Number’s
* Vessel Manufacturers and importers are
required to place a hull identification number
(HIN) on watercraft built after 1994.
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Hull Identification Number
HIN
(
 14-character
)
identifier that are:
– burned, etched, embossed, stamped,
engraved, raised, onto a metal plate that
is riveted or welded to the hull, or a
plastic plate that is riveted or glued to
the hull, or
– otherwise securely fastened
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HIN vs. VIN
 HIN
= 14 characters without a
check digit
 VIN
= 17 characters with check
digit
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Hull Identification Number
 Location
– On the Transom
 within
two inches of the transom’s top
 on the starboard outboard side
(The back right hand side)
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Location of a
HIN on a
standard vessel
Location of a
HIN on a PWC
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Hidden HIN

Hidden HIN
– Manufacturers and importers now affix a
duplicate HIN in a hidden or unexposed
location on the interior of the boat

beneath a fitting or item of hardware
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Hull Identification Number Format

Four Parts
- Manufacturers Country code
– Manufacturer’s Identification Code
– Hull serial number
– Date of manufacturer / year model
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HIN
The first two digits represent the country
code for the manufacturer.
e.g
AU – Australian manufacturer

US – American manufacturer.
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HIN

Next three digits
– Manufacturers’ Identification Code
– Assigned by the NSW Maritime Authority to
all manufacturers and importers of
recreational boats.
– Normally letters, but can be combinations of
numbers and letters.
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Manufacturers’ Identification
Code
For example:‘TRX’ – Telwater enterprises
( Quintrex, Bermuda, Stacer)
‘HSB’ – Haines Signature Boats
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HIN

The next five characters are the hull serial
number. This number is unique to a
particular vessel regardless of year model
or design.
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HIN
The next four characters are the date of
manufacturer and year model of the vessel.
 These digits are in an alpha numeric code.
 The first letter represents the month of
manufacturer for the vessel, and the
subsequent three numbers represent the
year of manufacturer and the year model of
the vessel

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Example
Vessel
manufactured
in 8th month
2005
January – A
February – B
March – C
April
–D
May
–E
June
- F
2005 model vessel
H505
July
–G
August
–H
September - I
October – J
November –K
December - L
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Hull Identification Number
AU – SAV 12345 D 595
Country
Code
Serial No.
Production
Year
Manufacturers Code
Model Year
Month Code
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OUTBOARD MOTOR
IDENTIFICATION
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Outboard Motor Identification

All outboard engines are fitted with
manufacturers serial number.
These serial numbers are in the form of a
decal that is defaced when removed or a
metal plate that is pop riveted to the
transom mounting bracket of the engine.
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Manufacturers engine serial number
decal
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Manufacturers engine
serial number plate.
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Secondary engine serial
numbers.

In addition to the engine serial number
decals and plates some manufacturers fit
out board engines with a secondary engine
number.
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Secondary serial numbers are often stamped into the ‘welsh plug’
of an outboard motor
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Vessel Registration in NSW

The NSW Maritime Authority is the
governing body that regulates vessel
registration in NSW.
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NSW

Before a vessel can be registered or
ownership of a vessel can be transferred by
the Authority the new owners must
provide 4 things.
* Proof of Identity
* Proof of ownership
* A Boat Code certificate
* A completed registration
application
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Water Traffic Regulations - NSW

Section 11B of the Water Traffic
Regulations NSW provides that
“A vessel is not to be registered following
the recording of a transfer of control of the
vessel unless a hull identification
number has been affixed to its hull”
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Water Traffic Regulations - NSW

A Hull Identification number is defined by the Water
Traffic Regulations as:“ A number, in a form and of a size, specified in
International Standard No ISO 10087-1995 (E) published
by the International Organization for Standardization
entitled “ Small craft-Hull identification-Coding system
”, permanently affixed to, and located in the positions on,
the hull of a vessel specified by that Standard,
or
any other number, approved by the Minister, that is
permanently affixed to the hull of a vessel in a form and
manner approved by the Minister”.
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Boat Code’s ???


In 1996 the NSW Maritime Authority (Known
at that time as NSW Waterways) introduced the
Boat Code System for vessel registration.
The Boat code system regulated vessel
registration by providing that, before a vessel
can be registered or the registration of a vessel
can be transferred from one owner to another the
NSW Maritime require that the vessel be fitted
with either a manufacturers HIN, or a NSW
Maritime Authority Boat Code in its absence.
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Boatcode Format.

Boat Codes are in a similar format to that used in HIN’s.
– The first two letters represent the country code . All Boat codes
start with the letters AU.
– The next three letters ‘WWA’ represent Waterways Authority.
This appears on all Boat codes.
– The following 5 numbers are the unique hull serial number.
– The next two ‘alpha numeric’ digits represent the boat code
examiners code eg. G5 is the agent code for ‘Autoquatic’
– The last digit represents the year the vessel was fitted with the
boat code.
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What is a Boat code……
Country of
registration
Boat Code agency identifier
Waterways Authority
2 digit
Year Boat
Code was fitted
Six digit serial number
A boat code is a unique identification number issued by The NSW Maritime
Authority. Boat Codes are fitted in the absence of a manufacturers HIN.
The Boat Code System started in 1996. It is now a requirement that all
vessels have either a Manufacturers HIN or Maritime Authority Boat Code
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before Vessel Registration can be transferred.
How does the Boat Code System
Work ?
Upon Registration or transfer of a vessel
the new owner must provide the NSW
Maritime Authority with a “Boat Code
Certificate”.
 To obtain a certificate the vessel owner has
to attend a registered boat code agent and
present the vessel for inspection, providing
proof of identity, proof of ownership of the
vessel and a boatcode application form.

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The Boat Code System
A boat code agent is a business or
individual who is authorized by NSW
Maritime to conduct vessel inspections on
behalf of the authority.
 To become an authorized Boat code
examiner, an individual has to undertake
a training course conducted by NSW
Maritime, and agree to a criminal history
background check.

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Vessel examination

Upon presentation of a vessel for inspection, an
authorized examiner is required to
- Measure the length and Beam of the vessel
- Inspect the vessel for signs of a
previous registration.
- Inspect the vessel to locate any existing
HIN or evidence of tampering with or
removal of a HIN
- In the absence of a manufacturers HIN, issue
and affix a NSW Maritime Boat Code.
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Police Referral

If upon inspection of a vessel by an authorized
examiner, the examiner is not satisfied with the
identity of the person producing the vessel for
inspection, the proof of ownership provided or
identifies that a previous HIN has been
tampered with or removed, the examiner is
required to complete a “Police referral” outlining
the details of the vessel and their concerns. This
referral is then forwarded to the Marine Area
Command for follow-up by investigators.
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Boat Code System
The integrity of the Boat Code System is
entirely dependant upon the proper
application of the system and adherence to
the “Boat Code Examiners Code of
Conduct” by authorized examiners.
 There are almost 900 authorized
examiners in NSW.

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Vessel Registration in QLD

Queensland Transport is the regulatory
authority for vessel registration in
Queensland.
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QLD vessel registration.

In Queensland, all ships with a motor or
auxiliary of more than 3 kW (over 4 hp)
must be registered when on the water. A
completed recreational ship registration
application form must be lodged at a
Queensland Transport customer service
centre.
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QLD vessel registration.

Before a new vessel registration is issued
by Queensland Transport the applicant
must provide:* Proof of Identity
* Proof own ownership
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QLD vessel registration.

It is a requirement by QLD Transport
that a vessel is registered with a Hull
Identification Number (HIN).
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However ?????

There is no requirement for the vessel to
be inspected and, if the registration
applicant does not provide a HIN, one is
generated by Queensland Transport and
issued to the applicant over the counter. It
is then the applicants responsibility to affix
this newly generated HIN to the vessel.
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???????
Any person may at any time attend a
customer service centre of Queensland
Transport and be issued with a
Queensland Transport HIN.
 There is no record kept by Queensland
Transport as to who HIN’s are supplied to,
how many were supplied to individuals or
when they were supplied.

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Victorian Vessel Registration.

Vic Roads is the regulatory authority
responsible for vessel registration in
Victoria.
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VIC Vessel Registration

All vessels with an engine used (or capable
of being used) for propulsion in Victorian
waters must be registered and in a
seaworthy condition. Registration is
required to be renewed every 12 months.
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VIC vessel registration.

Before vessel registration is issued by VIC Roads the
applicant must complete an Application for registration
and provide:






Name and address of the registered operator
Boat type and colour
Hull manufacturer's name and construction material
Overall length and breadth
Engine number, make and type (inboard or outboard)
Engine fuel type and power units
Previous registration number (if any)
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However !!!!!!

A boat inspection is not required
and

There is no requirement to provide a HIN
upon registration of a vessel.
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Identified Vessel rebirthing
Methods

Case Study 1 - Autoquatic

Case Study 2 - Cloning

Case Study 3 – Transport interstate
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Autoquatic
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Autoquatic

Autoquatic was a marine retail business
formerly operating out of the central
coast of NSW. Its proprietor was a
‘Boatcode examiner’ authorized by the
NSW Maritme Authority to conduct
vessel inspection’s on behalf of the
authority.
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Autoquatic

As a result of a review of vessel
registrations Police attached to the Marine
area Command had cause to delve a little
deeper into the business practises of
Autoquatic, and the issuing of Boatcodes
and HIN validations by it’s authorized
examiner.
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What we found was !
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Autoquatic
In total 16 boats and 4 PWC were
recovered by Police and identified as
stolen rebirthed vessels.
 The proprietor of Autoquatic Brett
HOWE was charged with offences
relating to the rebirthing of all these
vessels.

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HOWE ! He did it.

As an authorized boat code agent HOWE
was able to use a system put in place to
prevent the rebirthing of vessels to do
exactly that!
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HOWE he did it !

By receiving stolen
vessels, removing the
existing HIN’s and
issuing the stolen
vessels with NSW
Maritime Boat code's
HOWE turned his
authorization to conduct
vessel examinations and
issue HIN’s into a
thriving rebirthing
operation.
G5 - Autoquatic
Agent identifier
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HOWE he did it

By copying a
legitimate
manufacturers
engine serial number
decal and defacing
the secondary engine
number identifier,
HOWE also changed
the engine number
of rebirthed vessels.
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HOWE he did it

To prevent detection, on
later model vessels that
should have a
manufacturers HIN, the
legitimate HIN was
removed by grinding it
away, and replaced with
a new number in a
similar format to that
used by the
manufacturer.
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HOWE he did it !

Upon completion of the rebirthing, the
vessels were then registered by HOWE
and on sold, or sold unregistered via
e-bay!. The majority of the vessels sold
via e-bay were recovered in Queensland
and Victoria.
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Cloning
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Cloning.

In April of 2004 a
2000 model 6 meter
Quintrex aluminum
runabout with a
130hp outboard
engine was registered
by the NSW
Maritime Authority
to Ahmad
ALAMEDDINE.
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Cloning

The vessel was
registered with NSW
Maritime Authority
Boat Code, which
alerted investigators
from the Marine
Investigative Group.
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Cloning

Police attended the address of the
registered owner of the vessel and by
chance found the boat parked on the street
in front of the premises. A discrete
inspection of the vessel revealed a HIN
stamped into the gunwale of the boat in
the area ordinarily used by the
manufacturer of Quintrex boats, and an
engine number decal fixed to the mounting
bracket of the outboard engine.
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Cloning
The only irregularity noted by police was the spacing
between the characters in the stamped HIN.
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Cloning
A check of the engine number with the
manufacturer showed it to be a legitimate
manufacturers engine number.
 Similarly an enquiry with the vessels
manufacturer revealed the HIN to also be a
legitimate manufacturers HIN.

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Cloning
Record’s held by the engine and vessel
manufacturer showed that they were sold
as a unit through a marine dealer in QLD,
the owner details were provided to
police.
 Upon contacting the owner provided by
the manufacturers we were surprised to
find out that !!!!!

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It’s TWINS !!
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Twins!

The Queensland owner of the vessel
informed police that he had not sold his
boat, that it was in fact in his back yard,
and that he was looking at it as he spoke
to police.
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Ahmad ALAMEDINE
A warrant was subsequently applied for
and the vessel seized.
 After seizure the vessel was positively
identified as stolen.
 Ahmad ALAMDEINE a fourth year
apprentice panel beater was subsequently
charged with matters relating to the
rebirthing of the vessel.

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Investigation
After investigating the matter it was
established that the legitimate vessel sold
through a Queensland dealership was on
the lot for a period of 4 days during pre
delivery.
 Records obtained by police indicated
that ALAMEDINE was in Queensland
and the suburb where the dealership was
located during these 4 days.

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Investigation

Alamedine went to a lot
of trouble to legitimize
the registration of the
vessel, by manufacturing
a fake receipt from a
fictitious person from a
non existent address ,
and went as far as
placing an ad in the
trading post.
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Transport interstate.
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Transport interstate

Between November 2006 and December 2007
the following vessels (among others) were
stolen from the suburbs surroundning Sydney.









7 meter Pacific Sport - Yagoona
Quintrex Freedom Sports - Sylvania
Stejcraft - Paramatta
Allycraft – Georges Hall
Haines Signature – Blakeurst
Southwind – Sylvania
Quintrex Freedom Sport – Carringbah
Allycraft Bowrider - Mortdale
Allycraft Cruisader - Tarren Point.
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Transport Interstate

A joint investigation conducted by the
Marine Area Command and Queensland
CIB locate and recovered all 9 stolen
vessels.
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Investigation.
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Investigation
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Investigation
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Investigation
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Investigation

Upon recovery all
nine boats were
fitted with a plate
that was designed to
appear as though it
were a manufacturers
Plate, however
showed a Queensland
department of
Transport HIN.
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Getting sloppy!

The rebirthers in this
instance were so
complacent that
they made no
attempts to alter or
disguise engine
numbers
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Getting Sloppy

In some instances the
original
manufacturers HIN
were left un altered
and in place, along
with clearly visible
marks from a
previous registration.
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Investigation.
An investigation by water police
Detectives established that 2 offenders
one from Queensland and the other from
NSW collaborated in an ongoing vessel
rebirthing enterprise.
 The pair would meet in Sydney and using
a hire car search the streets of the
suburbs surrounding Sydney for trailerised
vessels, that could be simply towed
away.

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Investigation
After the theft of the vessels they were
stored on a rural property for a short time
where the registration and HIN numbers
were removed.
 The vessels were then fitted with a
manufactured plate showing a Queensland
Transport HIN that had earlier been
obtained by the Queensland resident of the
duo.

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Investigation.

The manufacturer of
the HIN plate’s was
identified as a
Trophy Manufacturer
and Engraver from
Bass Hill
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Investigation

The stolen and now rebirthed vessels were
then transported to Queensland via tow
truck and sold at auction.
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HOW !!!!!
There is no link between the registration
database’s held by Queensland, New
South Wales, or Victoria
 A vessel and engine number reported in
one state will not be recognized as stolen if
presented in another state.

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Of Concern !!!!!

In an open and honest interview
conducted between police and one of the
accused, the accused stated:“There is a loop hole in the system
that lets us take boats from NSW and
register them in Queensland. You need
to know about it”
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Curbing the trend.
The issue of vessel rebirthing is not a new
one, however it is also not likely to go
away.
 The financial impact to the general
community is high.
 The need for a focus on the issue by law
enforcement bodies is obvious.

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Moving Forward.
The establishment of a national ,
uniformed vessel registration System, and
the linking of vessel registration database’s
would significantly reduce the incidents of
vessel rebirthing.
 The use of micro dot technology by vessel
and engine manufacturers would act as a
deterrent to would be rebirthers.

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Baby Steps.
Until such time as a national system can
be or is implemented, local Law
enforcement agencies can detect the
incidence of rebirthed vessels, by
monitoring new vessel registrations in
their state.
 By knowing what to look for when a new
registration is issued a rebirthed vessel can
be easily identified.

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Questions ?
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NSW Marine Area Command
Marine Investigative Group.
If you have any enquires or require any assistance with
Marine Related Crime.
Please do not hesitate to contact my self or any of the
investigators from the Marine Area Command.
Jon Clarke
NSW Marine Area Command
Marine Investigative Group
NSW Police Force
4 Jubilee Place Balmain
(02) 9320-7499
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