Safety Equipment


The following table details the minimum safety requirements for recreational vessels operating in the State of Victoria, Australia. Details courtesy of Marine Safety, Victoria


Minimum safety equipment
requirements for mechanically
powered vessels
Powerboat
COASTAL
OFFSHORE
(>2nm
from coast)
COASTAL
INSHORE
(<2nm
from coast)
ENCLOSED

(Bays and
estuaries)
INLAND
(Rivers,
Lakes and
Dams)
PFD (per person on board/towed) Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1,
2 or 3
Approved fire extinguisher Yes Yes Yes Yes
Waterproof buoyant torch 1 1 1 1
Anchor and chain or line or both 1 1 1
Bailer(if no electric or manual bilge pumping system) 1 1 1 1
Bucket with lanyard(can also double as a bailer) 1 1 1 1
Electric or manual bilge pumping system
(if vessel has covered bilge or closed underfloor compartments)
1 1 1 1
Pair of oars with rowlocks or pair of paddles
(if vessel is up to and including 4.8m)
1 1 1 1
Hand held orange smoke signals 2 2 2
Hand held red distress flares 2 2 2
Lifebuoy (if vessel is more than 8 m but less than 12 m in length) 1 1 1 1
Lifebuoy (if vessel is more than 12 m in length) 2 2 2 2
One dinghy or life raft (if vessel is more than 12 m in length) 1 1
Compass 1
Marine radio 1
Red star parachute distress rocket 1
Approved EPIRB 1


Minimum safety equipment
requirements for sail and
human powered vessels
Off-the-beach sailing yacht
COASTAL
OFFSHORE
(>2nm
from coast)
COASTAL
INSHORE
(<2nm
from coast)
ENCLOSED

(Bays and
estuaries)
INLAND
(Rivers,
Lakes and
Dams)
PFD (per person on board/towed) Type 1 Type 1
or 2
Type 1
or 2
Type 1
or 2
Approved fire extinguisher
Waterproof buoyant torch
Anchor and chain or line or both
Bailer(if no electric or manual bilge pumping system) 1* 1* 1* 1*
Bucket with lanyard(can also double as a bailer)
Electric or manual bilge pumping system
(if vessel has covered bilge or closed underfloor compartments)
1 1 1 1
Hand held orange smoke signals 2
Hand held red distress flares 2
Lifebuoy (if vessel is more than 8 m but less than 12 m in length)
Lifebuoy (if vessel is more than 12 m in length)
One dinghy or life raft (if vessel is more than 12 m in length)
Compass 1
Marine radio 1
Red star parachute distress rocket 1
Spare oar with rowlock or spare paddle
Approved EPIRB 1
*If vessel is not self-draining without intervention from the crew


Minimum safety equipment
requirements for sail and
human powered vessels
Yacht
COASTAL
OFFSHORE
(>2nm
from coast)
COASTAL
INSHORE
(<2nm
from coast)
ENCLOSED

(Bays and
estuaries)
INLAND
(Rivers,
Lakes and
Dams)
PFD (per person on board/towed) Type 1 Type 1 Type 1
or 2
Type 1
or 2
Approved fire extinguisher Yes Yes Yes Yes
Waterproof buoyant torch 1 1 1 1
Anchor and chain or line or both 1 1 1
Bailer(if no electric or manual bilge pumping system) 1 1 1 1
Bucket with lanyard(can also double as a bailer) 1 1 1 1
Electric or manual bilge pumping system
(if vessel has covered bilge or closed underfloor compartments)
1 1 1 1
Hand held orange smoke signals 2 2 2
Hand held red distress flares 2 2 2
Lifebuoy (if vessel is more than 8 m but less than 12 m in length) 1 1 1 1
Lifebuoy (if vessel is more than 12 m in length) 2 2 2 2
One dinghy or life raft (if vessel is more than 12 m in length) 1 1
Compass 1
Marine radio 1
Red star parachute distress rocket 1
Spare oar with rowlock or spare paddle
Approved EPIRB 1


Minimum safety equipment
requirements for sail and
human powered vessels
Kayak, canoe, raft
and rowing boat
COASTAL
OFFSHORE
(>2nm
from coast)
COASTAL
INSHORE
(<2nm
from coast)
ENCLOSED

(Bays and
estuaries)
INLAND
(Rivers,
Lakes and
Dams)
PFD (per person on board/towed) Type 1
2 or 3
Type 1
2 or 3
Type 1
2 or 3
Type 1
2 or 3
Approved fire extinguisher
Waterproof buoyant torch 1
Anchor and chain or line or both
Bailer(if no electric or manual bilge pumping system) 1 1 1 1
Bucket with lanyard(can also double as a bailer)
Electric or manual bilge pumping system
(if vessel has covered bilge or closed underfloor compartments)
1 1 1 1
Hand held orange smoke signals 2
Hand held red distress flares 2
Lifebuoy (if vessel is more than 8 m but less than 12 m in length)
Lifebuoy (if vessel is more than 12 m in length)
One dinghy or life raft (if vessel is more than 12 m in length)
Compass 1
Marine radio
Red star parachute distress rocket
Spare oar with rowlock or spare paddle 1
Approved EPIRB 1
Further information can be seen at Marine Safety Victoria


In addition to the Minimum Safety Requirements by regulation, there are some additional Survival Aids that may be of interest.


Back to Top

Return to Home Page


| Licences | History | Safety Requirements | Immersion Hypothermia | Survival Aids | Life-jackets |
| Contact |