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OVERVIEW
Options Paper for Marine Licensing in Victoria
Overview and Feedback Questions
Introduction
For the past several years the Department of
Transport (DOT) has been modernising and
strengthening Victoria’s marine safety laws.
In 2010 the Marine Safety Act was introduced the most significant reform in the regulation of
recreational and commercial boating in 20 years.
As part of this process, DOT has been examining the
effectiveness of marine licensing in the overall marine
safety regulatory framework.
Marine licensing issues
DOT will carefully consider the feedback, together
with the analysis presented in this paper, to determine
if any change to the present licensing scheme is
warranted. The objective is to strengthen the licensing
scheme so that it improves the safety of recreational
boating and meets the expectations of Government,
the marine industry and the boating community.
Submitting feedback
This document contains feedback questions on the
issues discussed in the Options Paper. It is available
for download from:
ff transport.vic.gov.au/legislation
Feedback obtained from stakeholders has suggested
that the current means of obtaining a recreational
boat operator licence may not meet the objective of
ensuring licensed operators are competent to drive
boats safely.
or hard copies can posted to:
In addition, analysis has identified that certain marine
activities or particular vessel types are of themselves
hazardous and that an improved licensing scheme
could be an effective means of improving safety
outcomes for those activities or vessel types.
Marine Safety Regulations
DOT Legal
GPO Box 2797
Melbourne VIC 3001
Australia
Options Paper for Marine
Licensing in Victoria
For the purposes of in-depth analysis and facilitating
discussion, DOT has prepared an Options Paper for
Marine Licensing in Victoria. This paper is available
at:
ff transport.vic.gov.au/legislation
The Options Paper outlines how marine licensing
is currently managed in Victoria, and how it could
be improved. It aims to promote discussion and
debate, to provide valuable information to the DOT
in developing a licensing scheme which is directly
focussed on improving safety outcomes.
This paper presents a range of options for
development of a licensing scheme. No decision on
which option, if any, to adopt has yet been made. This
is because DOT is keen to receive feedback from
people directly involved in the marine sector before
proposing any changes to the licensing scheme,
including any proposed decision about the timing of
such changes.
The questions can be filled out electronically and
emailed to:
ff [email protected]
Submissions are open until 11 October 2011.
Telephone enquiries (03) 9655 6601.
Please note that all submissions will be treated as public information
unless you request otherwise.
Submissions will be published on the Department of Transport website
unless you clearly indicate that you would like all or part of your
submission not to be published.
Any content considered to be defamatory, vilifying or otherwise
inappropriate will not be published.
You should be aware that all submissions are subject to the Freedom
of Information Act 1982.
Personal information may be used to contact you regarding your
submission and/or the outcomes of the consultation. Please
clearly state in your submission if you do not wish for
this to occur.
General questions
1. Do you believe that the current knowledge-based licence scheme assures the community that new entrant
boating operators are competent?
2. Do you believe that licensing can reduce boating incidents? Particularly incidents with a human cause?
What about incidents caused by material or environmental factors?
Questions on licence information
3. Does the current Recreational Vessel Safety Handbook provide sufficient information for a new entrant to
boating to be able to operate their vessel safely?
4. Should the materials provided to support licensing be in the form of a workbook which informs the
applicant of the hazards of the marine envionrment and the importance of managing risks?
5. Can you suggest an alternative method to the Recreational Safety Hand Book as information for new
entrants on the hazards of the marine environment and the tools which could be used to address these
risks?
Questions on the basic marine licence
6. Do you agree that there is sufficient evidence that a practical licence test will help reduce the number of
injuries caused during general boating activities?
Analysis indicates that a change to a practical licence test is not supported on economic grounds.
7. Do you believe that this is sufficient reason not to introduce a practical assessment?
8. Do you believe that competency and safety should outweigh economic considerations when determining
which licensing or endorsement option should be chosen?
The options listed below illustrate a number of alternatives under consideration should the current licensing
arrangement be altered.
9. Which of the following alternatives do you believe proides the most efficient means of assuring that a
licence applicant is competent to operate a recreational vessel?
–– A - The current knowledge test, with no practical element (ie no change).
–– B - An enhanced knowledge test, for example with a greater focus on operational and emergency
management, with no practical element.
–– C - A practical training or log book requirement, with a knowledge test.
–– D - A practical assessment, with a knowledge test.
–– E - Practical training or log book, practical assessment, and a knowledge test.
Questions on endorsements
PWC
10. Which of the options listed would you favour for a PWC endorsement?
–– A - The current model (ie no change)
–– B - Improved knowledge test?
–– C - Improved knowledge test and practical assessment?
11. Do you agree that there is sufficient evidence that a practical assessment for a PWC endorsement will
help reduce the number of PWC-related injuries?
12. Do you think a particular model of PWC endorsement could have any particular effect on
behaviour of PWC operators?
Towed watersports
13. Which of the options listed would you favour for a towed watersports endorsement?
–– A - The current model (ie no change)
–– B - Improved knowledge test?
–– C - Improved knowledge test and practical assessment?
14. Do you agree that there is sufficient evidence that a practical assessment for a towed watersports
endorsement will help reduce the number of towed watersports-related injuries?
15. For towed watersports, what do you consider to be the proportion of decision-making responsibility
between the vessel operator and the person being towed?
16. If you favour an endorsement requirement for towed watersports, should it be required for the vessel
operator, or the person being towed, or both?
Other potential endorsement activities
17. Do you agree that there is insufficient evidence to support an endorsement requirement for:
–– High speed operations
–– Offshore operations
–– Vessels capable of carrying more than 12 people
18. Are there any other boating activities or vessel types which you consider pose a safety risk to the extent
they should require a licence endorsement?
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process
except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
© State of Victoria 2011
Authorised by the Victiorian Government,
121 Exhibition St, Melbourne Victoria 3000
If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print
or audio please telephone Public Affairs Branch, Department of Transport on (03) 9655 6000.
www.transport.vic.gov.au