Safety equipment and operational changes
Lifejackets
Everyone onboard to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) when in an open boat under 4.8 metres in length when crossing coastal bars. This applies to recreational boats and commercial and fishing ships.
Designated coastal bars which when crossing everyone must wear a PFD.
Currumbin Bar
Tallebudgera Bar
Jumpinpin Bar
South Passage Bar
Caloundra Bar
Maroochy Bar
Noosa Bar
Wide Bay Bar
Mooloolah River mouth
Gold Coast Seaway
Round Hill Creek
Personal watercraft operations
To improve marine safety and reduce injuries from collisions involving personal watercraft the following changes have occurred:
Personal watercraft driver to maintain a distance of 30 metres from other moving vessels when travelling at more than 10 knots, unless the personal watercraft is involved in an approved aquatic event.
Personal watercraft licence holder is to wear the ‘kill switch’ safety lanyard when the personal watercraft is being driven by a learner driver.
A learner personal watercraft driver can not carry passengers other than the supervising personal watercraft licence holder.
Additional compulsory safety equipment required when riding a PWC outside smooth waters
V sheet
Flares
EPIRB (if more than 2 miles from land)
Other changes
- The owner of a boat must verify that a person who is to be the master of the boat holds a boat licence.
- EPIRB’s must be registered with AMSA (free service) and the sticker is attached to the EPIRB.
New open recreational marine driver licence for boats of any length
From January 2013, if you are a new boat licence applicant wanting to operate recreational boats of any length (that is not limited to recreational boats under 12 metres), you will need to meet the following requirements:
Holding a limited recreational marine driver licence (limited to less than 12 metres) or equivalent from another Australian state or territory for at least one year.
Minimum age of 18 years.
The completion under the supervision of an open recreational marine licence holder or equivalent of a range of boating tasks required in an advanced BoatSafe workbook.
The completion of an advanced BoatSafe training course focussing on specific knowledge required to operate larger recreational boats.
Holders of a recreational marine driver licence issued prior to 1 January 2013 and those with a master’s certificate for a commercial or fishing ship will continue to be able to operate recreational vessels of any size without further requirements.