WA plans staged introduction for new-look boat safety rules

The biggest change is the introduction of mandatory life jacket use for a wider range of boating activities, with the two-stage rollout focussing first on recreational boaters and jet ski riders, and then other water users.

The new laws are expected to come into effect before the start of the 2023-24 boating season.

The biggest change being rolled out across the state is that the length of a boat will no longer determine where it can go – a big win for common sense. 

Under the proposed changes, the size restriction that spelled out how far a boat could go offshore is removed, and in its place is a new rule that makes it the skipper’s responsibility to work out how far a boat can safely venture.

“Weather conditions, vessel capability and ability of the skipper should be the key considerations, not the length of the vessel,” the WA Department of Transport said.

In another big change that will help to reduce the annual running costs of a boat, the state will no longer require a boat to carry a fire extinguisher, anchor, bilge pump or bailer, with skippers free to choose which they want to carry, and which they want to leave at home.

However, while it is no longer mandatory to have these, the department is urging boaters to carry them.

If a boat is carrying an EPIRB or personal locator beacon, under the new rules it must be able to send a GPS location to rescuers.

As well, anyone venturing more than 4.0 nautical miles offshore will need to have a VHF radio fitted to their boat, and for the first time in any state or territory in Australia, boaters will be able to carry and use one of two approved LED-based distress beacons – either a 547 Orion Electronic SOS beacon locator or an ACR ResQFlare LED electronic distress flare.

Under the changes, boats that venture more than 400 metres from the shoreline in protected waters such as an inland waterway, bay or estuary must carry a Level 100 life jacket for everyone onboard.

However, in unprotected waters, once a boat measuring less than 4.8 metres – so measuring 4.79 metres and less – is 400 metres from shore everyone onboard must wear their life jacket.

The rules also change for the safety gear a boat must have onboard. If more than 400 metres offshore in unprotected waters, the boat will need to carry a GPS-enabled EPIRB or GPS-enabled PLB, at least two handheld red flares and two handheld orange flares – although the LED-based flares can replace them only if the EPIRB or PLB is GPS-enabled.

On boats larger than 4.8 metres, the same rules on life jackets apply if the boat is more than 400 metres offshore.

The same rules as for sub-4.8-metre boats apply when heading offshore in a larger boat, although while a bigger boat must carry a Level 100 life jacket for everyone onboard, children aged 12 years or younger must wear them once the boat is more than 400 metres offshore.

Jet ski riders in protected waters do not need to carry any safety equipment other than ensuring everyone riding the personal watercraft is wearing a Level 50S at all times.

However, if they plan on riding more than 400 metres off the beach, the rules change. Riders will have to carry a GPS-enabled EPIRB or personal locator beacon, two red and two orange distress flares or their electronic equivalents, and if more than 4.0 nautical miles offshore, a marine radio.

The second stage of marine safety changes will apply to paddlecraft, sailboards, tenders, sailing dinghies and other non-registrable vessels.