Marine Vessel Safety and Regulations

Some areas of work at the University require the use of marine vessels.  The following points are to ascertain what is required of you before you take a vessel out on University business.  It is based on information from the Marine Act 1982 and the Marine Regulations 1983.

The definition of a vessel being:
"Ship or Vessel":
means any kind of vessel used or capable of being used in navigation by water, however propelled or moved, and includes -
1. a barge, lighter, floating restaurant, or other floating vessel; and
2. an air-cushion vehicle, or other similar craft, used wholly primarily in navigation by water,
but does not include pontoons or floating jetties used only for the purposes of walkways or storage and similar platforms situated adjacent to river banks or any other shore in circumstances in which they are not being towed or moored away from the shore;

• Vessels used for research by university staff and students need to either be a commercial vessel (chartered), be registered as Survey Exempt or be inspected and have a Permit to Operate or a Certificate of Survey.
• Vessels belonging to the University of Western Australia that are under 8 metres in length and that are used for teaching and research within 5 nautical miles of the mainland coast should, as a minimum, be registered as Survey Exempt vessels and have the appropriate safety equipment.
• Students and staff operating or working on board vessels registered as Survey Exempt within 5 nautical miles of the mainland coast must have Certificate of Proficiency (TL3) or equivalent qualification.
• Survey Exempt vessels operating more than 5 nautical miles from the mainland coast infrequently must have a Permit to Operate, have the appropriate safety equipment and be operated by a suitably qualified person.  For boats less than 8 metres in length the appropriate qualification will be a minimum of a coxswain’s ticket.
• If the University staff or students are going to be regularly operating in areas outside the 5 nautical mile limit, the vessel they are using will need to be a surveyed commercial vessel.
• Vessels 8 metres in length and over will need to be Certified as a commercial vessel and operated by an appropriately qualified person.
• Where a University staff member is hiring or being given access to a commercial fishing vessel (which are not the property of the University) the owner needs to obtain a Permit to Operate and have the appropriate safety equipment on board.  Owners of the vessel must also produce evidence of insurance, as they are not covered by the University Insurance policies.
• No vessel on University business can carry any persons other than those on board for the purpose of the vessel operation or undertaking the business of the University.

A Permit to Operate can be received by contacting the Department of Transport, Marine Information.  Phone 9216 8999 or from the following link:
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/19590.asp
This permit allows you to operate for a limited time only and needs to be completed for each project required.

To register your vessel as Survey Exempt, an application must be completed. The application form can be obtained from the Department of Transport, Marine Information.  Phone 9216 8999 or from the following link http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/19590.asp
 
For any questions relating to insurance issues, please contact the Insurance and Risk Management Officer at insurance@admin.uwa.edu.au 

Further information about the regulations relating to commercial vessels and survey exempt vessels is available at the following site:
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/19085.asp

For information on boating rules:
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/19087.asp

For information on safety equipment required:
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/19089.asp

For boat handling education (including Small boat Handlers Proficiency), and where to attend the courses:
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/19091.asp