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Our role and services
Find out about the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Transport's marine business units, the legislation we administer, and the associated fees and charges.
Our responsibilities and stakeholders
The Department of Transport's marine units are responsible for:
- Marine safety.
- Provision of coastal facilities.
- Sustainable use of the Western Australian coastline.
Stakeholders
The Department of Transport serves the following stakeholders:
- General public.
- Internal clients.
- Local government.
- Private sector.
- State Government agencies.
Marine Safety recognises the importance of stakeholder engagement in achieving its role of ensuring the safe and sustainable use of Western Australian waters and meets with a multiplicity of Government, industry, interest groups, and community stakeholders as part of a formal stakeholder engagement framework.
The list of stakeholders below are recognised by Marine Safety as key stakeholders representing the different groups making up the marine industry in Western Australia. Marine Safety regularly meets with these stakeholders to discuss issues affecting recreational and commercial boaters, the marine industry and Government.
Marine business units
There are 3 business units in the Department of Transport that deal with maritime issues:
- Marine Safety.
- Coastal Infrastructure.
- Transport Policy and Systems.
Marine Safety
Vision: To have the best integrated and intelligent marine safety services and solutions for the state.
The purpose of the Marine Safety Business Unit (MSBU) is to provide and enable safe, accessible and sustainable use of navigable waters for the economic and social prosperity of Western Australia.
MSBU responsibilities are:
- To provide and enable the safe, accessible and sustainable use of navigable waters through the provision of an integrated policy and waterways safety management approach to promote the safe and sustainable use of navigable waters, including those activities related to education, navigational safety, compliance and investigation.
- Management of maritime operations and performance of Harbour Master functions within Shipping and Pilotage ports.
- Hazard management of marine transport emergencies and marine oil pollution incidents.
- Placement and asset management of aids to navigation.
- Provision of a wide range of services, including those related to recreational vessel registration and operations, recreational skippers tickets, moorings, aquatic event approvals, notice to mariners and wreck removals.
- Provision of expert marine safety advice.
Coastal Infrastructure
The Coastal Infrastructure business unit is responsible for the planning, development and management of coastal and maritime facilities in Western Australia. This includes:
- Managing public and private maritime facilities.
- Licensing jetties and mooring areas.
- Administering maritime property.
We provide a range of services, such as:
- Investigating opportunities for developing new or existing facilities.
- Planning and design of maritime projects.
- Regulating and licensing maritime facilities.
- Managing the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme.
- Developing concept plans, feasibility studies and business cases.
- Managing facility development projects.
- Providing expert coastal technical and engineering advice.
- Conducting coastal protection works.
- Collecting and analysing coastal data.
- Undertaking maintenance dredging.
Sub units within the Coastal Infrastructure business unit include:
- Coastal Facilities.
- Metropolitan boat harbours.
- Regional facilities.
- Jetty licensing.
- New Coastal Assets.
- Maritime facility planning.
- Maritime infrastructure development.
- Coastal management.
| Coastal Facilities Management: Coastal Infrastructure Business Unit | Kb | |
| Coastal Information: Coastal Infrastructure Business Unit | Kb | |
| Maritime Planning: Coastal Infrastructure Business Unit | Kb | |
The Transport Policy and Systems business unit reports to the Deputy Director General for Policy, Planning and Investment.
Its role includes:
- Oversight of port authorities and maritime policy issues.
- Facilitating port development to meet the increasing export trade demand.
- Provision of a consolidated State position on transport and infrastructure issues to the Federal Government.
Marine safety legislation
The Department of Transport administers the following Western Australian Acts, Regulations and Rules related to marine safety:
- Harbours and Jetties Act 1928 (WA).
- Jetties Act 1926 (WA).
- Jetties Regulations 1940 (WA).
- Lights (Navigation Protection) Act 1938 (WA).
- Marine and Harbours Act 1981 (WA).
- Marine Navigational Aids Act 1973 (WA).
- Marine Navigational Aids Regulations 1985 (WA).
- Pilots' Limitation of Liability Act 1962 (WA).
- Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Act 1987 (WA).
- Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Regulations 1993 (WA).
- Shipping and Pilotage Act 1967 (WA).
- Shipping and Pilotage (Mooring Control Areas) Regulations 1983 (WA).
- Shipping and Pilotage (Ports and Harbours) Regulations 1966 (WA).
- Transport Co-ordination Act 1966 (WA).
- Western Australian Marine Act 1982 (WA).
- WA Marine (Adjustment of Compasses) Regulations 1983 (WA).
- WA Marine (Certificates of Competency and Safety Manning) Regulations 1983 (WA).
- WA Marine (Construction Stability and Engineering) Regulations 1983 (WA).
- WA Marine (Court of Marine Inquiry) Rules (WA).
- WA Marine (Emergency Procedures and Safety of Navigation) Regulations 1983 (WA).
- WA Marine (Hire and Drive Vessels) Regulations 1983 (WA).
- WA Marine (Infringements) Regulations 1983 (WA).
- WA Marine (Life Saving Appliances, Fire Appliances and Miscellaneous Equipment) Regulations 1983 (WA).
- WA Marine (Load Lines) Regulations 1983 (WA).
- WA Marine (Radiotelephony) Regulations 1981 (WA).
- WA Marine (Surveys and Certificates of Survey) Regulations 1983 (WA).
- Prevention of Collisions at Sea Regulations 1983 (WA).
- Mooring Regulations 1988 (WA).
- Navigable Waters Regulations 1958 (WA).