Boating safety improvements – changes ahead MSQ

/in /by

Maritime Safety Queensland will introduce changes to improve boating safety from 1 January 2012.

 

Safety equipment improvements include:

  • Extending the list of designated coastal bars requiring everyone on board to wear a personal flotation device when in an open boat under 4.8 metres in length. This applies to recreational, commercial and fishing ships.

 

Current designated coastal bars Additional designated coastal bars
Currumbin Bar

Tallebudgera Bar

Jumpinpin Bar

South Passage Bar

 Caloundra Bar

Maroochy Bar

Noosa Bar

Wide Bay Bar

 Gold Coast Seaway

MooloolahRivermouth

Round Hill Creek
     

 

To improve marine safety and reduce injuries from collisions involving personal watercraft (PWC) the following changes will be made:

 

  • PWC driver to maintain a distance of 30 metres from other moving boats when travelling at more than 10 knots unless the PWC is involved in an official aquatic event.
  • PWC licence holder to wear the kill switch safety lanyard when the PWC is being driven by a learner driver.
  • A learner PWC driver can not carry passengers other than the supervising PWC licence holder.
  • Additional safety equipment requirements for PWCs similar to that required for other recreational boats. Refer Maritime Safety Queensland website at www.msq.qld.gov.au for full details.

 

Other changes include:

  • Introducing enhanced night and electronic navigation training in the existing BoatSafe course.

 

  • The owner of a recreational boat must verify that a person who is to be the master of the boat holds an appropriate licence to operate that boat.

 

  • Recognition of particular types of international boating licences (a list to be published on the Maritime Safety Queensland website).
  • The Australian Maritime Safety Authority issued registration sticker for an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) must be affixed to the EPIRB.
  • A recreational boat registered in another state or territory that is on an interstate voyage does not require Queenslandregistration while in Queenslandwaters.
  • New stowage requirements for safety equipment to enable immediate access in the event of an emergency.

From January 2013, if you are a new boat licence applicant wanting to operate a boat 12 metres or over, you will need to obtain an advanced marine driver licence endorsement. Requirements to obtain an advanced licence will be:

  • holding a recreational marine driver licence 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 advanced recreational marine licence holder or equivalent of a range or 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 be able to operate recreational vessels of any size without further requirements.

 

Find more information on the Maritime Safety Queensland website at www.msq.qld.gov.au or by contacting the Gold Coast regional office on 5539 7300.

 

Facebook Comments