How do I get my boat licence in the Northern Territory?

No. You can stop reading here if you like.

It’s not advisable, but you can. It pays to study the regulations and act that provide the framework for the territory’s maritime laws before you jump on a boat. You can be pinged for breaking any of the maritime rules, so not knowing what they are is no excuse.

The NT also has some toothy fauna that could prove problematic should you break down a long way from home, so it pays to bone up on how to get rescued.

The NT Government publishes a safety guide for recreational boating.

There’s also a handy online quiz that you can use to see if you have all the information you need before setting a foot on a boat.

That’s right. You don’t even need to register your boat.

Yes. NT Police does not have the authority to use breathalysers out on the water, so in theory you can blow the froth off a few frosty orange whips while you’re out fishing, and then motor back with no consequence. However, if you crash into something on the way, break a rule or set foot back on land and jump behind the wheel of a car, it’s a different story.

Yes. But again, ensure you know the appropriate marine laws because you can still be pinged for not knowing them.

The theory is that you will just need to show proof that you live in the NT and abide by whatever the marine laws are in the state that you’re visiting.