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Boating safety
30 Second Challenge
In an emergency you might have as little as 30 seconds to gather all your safety equipment. Find out more by visiting the What safety equipment do I need? page. Take the challenge now!
What safety equipment do I need?
What you need to know about safety equipment before hitting the water, including what you must have on board, how to use it, how to stow it and how to keep it maintained. Print out the safety equipment checklist to display on your vessel.
Go to What safety equipment do I need?Maintaining your boat
A well-maintained vessel is basic to safety at sea. Poor motor maintenance alone is responsible for thousands of calls for assistance each year.
Go to Maintaining your boatAnchors
Find out about anchors including how to choose the right anchor, selecting a site to anchor and retrieving the anchor. Anchor rules and regulations are also provided here.
Go to AnchorsBailer or bilge pump
What you need to know about bailer or bilge pumps. All vessels must carry some form of bilge pump or bailing equipment.
Go to Bailer or bilge pumpBoating behaviours and initiatives
Find out about important safe recreational boating behaviours ensuring a safe day on the water.
Go to Boating behaviours and initiativesDistress beacons
Distress beacons are devices that when activated in a life threatening situation assists rescue authorities by providing the approximate location of the beacon. Lives are saved each year because responsible skippers carry distress beacons.
Go to Distress beaconsDisturbing marine animals and habitat
Find out how you can protect our marine animals and their Western Australian habitats.
Go to Disturbing marine animals and habitatFire extinguishers
Find out if you are required to carry a fire extinguisher, the different types available and inspection and servicing information.
Go to Fire extinguishersFlares
All vessels operating outside protected waters must carry flares. The type you need depends on how far offshore you travel.
Go to FlaresGPS validation markers
Find out what Western Australia's GPS validation markers look like, how to use them and where they are located via coordinates list and interactive map.
Go to GPS validation markersLifejackets
Find out about lifejackets including the types available, who must carry them, when to wear them and how to choose and maintain them. This section also contains a list of other approved lifejackets.
Go to LifejacketsLights required on boats
Find out about navigation lights including range of visibility, placement and optional lights. You can also determine what lighting is needed for power vessels and sailing vessels.
Go to Lights required on boatsLoading, stability and buoyancy
Find out about loading and buoyancy here, including the types of flotation, Australian Builders Plate, overloading and tips to ensure stability.
Go to Loading, stability and buoyancyMarine radios
Find out about the types of marine radios, who must carry one, licensing requirements, rules and operating hints and making distress calls.
Go to Marine radiosNavigation markers and buoys
Find out about navigation aids including the types of marks, Cardinal marks, leads, lights and the Coming in, Going out rule. You can also read about upgrades to the Swan Rivers navigational aids.
Go to Navigation markers and buoysRecreational rules and regulations
Find out about general rules and regulations, rules of the road and specific rules relating to sewage, diving, personal watercraft, tow-in surfing and water skiing.
Select from the following:
Go to Recreational rules and regulationsSafety equipment review
The Department has progressed its comprehensive review of the safety equipment required for recreational vessels in WA. Here you will find details of the review.
Go to Safety equipment reviewSafety lanyards
Skippers need to be aware of the lifesaving benefits of using a safety lanyard, especially when boating alone.
Go to Safety lanyards
