Boating Brush Up

BOATERS are being reminded to brush up on recent changes to safety regulations as Operation Boatsafe is underway until December 4.

Roads and Maritime Services Boating Safety Officers and NSW Police Officers will join forces to randomly stop boaters to check for compliance and promote safe boating behaviour.

Michael Drake, acting maritime director for Roads and Maritime Services said they want to promote safer boating.

“The aim is to encourage people to refresh their knowledge on the safe navigation rules, particularly if they obtained a boat licence a while ago,” Mr Drake said.

“The new Marine Safety Regulation 2016 came into effect on 1 July and includes new streamlined and simplified requirements for wearing lifejackets and some changes to penalties and disqualification periods,” he said.

“The new legislation also includes reforms to boat driver licensing, including streamlining licence classes and application requirements, simplifying fee structure and the introduction of a 10-year boat licence,” he said.

“The maximum speed for travelling when near other vessels, the shoreline or people in the water has dropped from 10 to 6 knots (18.5 km/h to 11 km/h),” Michael Drake said.

For more information on boating safety, visit http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime.