British Man Charged Over Cruise Ship Assault in Sydney

A 71-year-old British man has been arrested and charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) following an alleged assault on a cruise ship. The arrest occurred on Saturday after the vessel returned to port in Sydney.

Incident Details

The alleged assault took place on Wednesday while the ship was at sea. If found guilty of the attack, the man could face a maximum of five years in prison.

Legal Context

According to federal police, the alleged crime occurred at sea outside Australia's "outer adjacent area." Despite this, it is covered by the Crimes at Sea Act.

AFP Detective acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson stated that safety on board international vessels is paramount. He added that the repercussions of alleged criminal behavior remain even when an offense occurs at sea.

Robinson emphasized that where Australian law applies under the Crimes at Sea framework, the AFP will investigate incidents swiftly and bring alleged offenders before the courts. He noted the collaboration with cruise operators and maritime partners to ensure passenger and crew safety and to address unlawful behavior on vessels connected to Australia.