Our role and services

The Department of Transport’s Maritime business area is responsible for:

• providing and enabling safe, accessible and sustainable use of navigable waters;
• collaboratively planning, driving and delivering best practice in maritime development;
• providing technical leadership and coordinating coastal management and responding to climate change issues affecting the coast; and
• management of coastal facilities for the economic and social prosperity of Western Australia.

Our overarching vision is for integrated and intelligent marine safety services and coastal and maritime development that deliver optimal economic and social benefits to the Western Australian community.

Our responsibility and services

Our responsibilities and services include:

• marine safety education, 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
• recreational vessel registration and operations
• issuing of recreational skippers tickets
• management of moorings
• licensing of jetties and mooring areas
• aquatic event approvals
• notices to mariners
• removal of wrecks and abandoned vessels
• management and maintenance of public maritime facilities (including dredging)
• planning, design and constructions of maritime projects
• management of grants programs - Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme (RBFS) and the Coastal Adaptation Program (CAP)
• provision of coastal technical and engineering advice.
• coastal protection initiatives
• collection and analysis of coastal data (tides and waves)
• cartography

Marine safety legislation

The Department of Transport administers the following Western Australian Acts, Regulations and Rules related to marine safety:

Acts

• Harbours and Jetties Act 1928 (WA)
• Jetties Act 1926 (WA)
• Lights (Navigation Protection) Act 1938 (WA)
• Western Australian Marine Act 1982 (WA)
• Marine and Harbours Act 1981 (WA)
• Marine Navigational Aids Act 1973 (WA)
• Marine Navigational Aids Regulations 1985 (WA)
• Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel National Law Application) Act 2023 (WA)
• Pilots' Limitation of Liability Act 1962 (WA)
• Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Act 1987 (WA)
• Shipping and Pilotage Act 1967 (WA)
• Transport Co-ordination Act 1966 (WA)

Regulations and rules

• Jetties Regulations 1940 (WA)
• Marine and Harbours (Departmental Areas) Regulations 1998 (WA)
• Marine and Harbours (Fuelling) Regulations 1985 (WA)
• Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Regulations 1993 (WA)
• Shipping and Pilotage (Mooring Control Areas) Regulations 1983 (WA)
• Shipping and Pilotage (Ports and Harbours) Regulations 1966 (WA)
• Transport Co-ordination Regulations 1985 (WA)
• Prevention of Collisions at Sea Regulations 1983 (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 (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)
• Western Australian Marine (Infringements) Regulations 1983 (WA)
• Mooring Regulations 1988 (WA)
• Navigable Waters Regulations 1958 (WA)