Water Traffic Rules
Speed
All vessels must travel at a safe speed at all times.
A safe speed cannot be expressed as a maximum or minimum number of knots because it varies with circumstances and conditions. The master (driver) must continually assess the safety of the vessel’s speed.
A safe speed is one at which the vessel can be stopped in time to avoid any danger which arises suddenly. In judging a safe speed the master must consider a number of issues including:
Visibility – drive slowly in rain, fog, mist, smoke or glare. At night, special caution is required because many potential hazards may not be lit or may not be easily seen. Background shore lighting may confuse you.
Other vessels – slow down on busy waterways and when near moored or anchored vessels, working vessels showing special signals and large vessels which have difficulties in manoeuvring.
Navigation hazards – slow down in shallow areas, or in unfamiliar waterways. Water depth can vary and change frequently. Not all hazards may be marked or lit, and signs, buoys, marks or lights may have shifted or been vandalised.
Wind, waves and currents – may adversely affect the manoeuvrability of a vessel.
Manoeuvrability of the vessel – Stopping and turning ability depends on the speed travelled, wind and current and the boat’s design (such as hull shape, engine and propeller type and number.)
If your vessel does not have a speedometer, you must be able to determine if you are exceeding a local speed limit. For example, if your boat is planing in a restricted speed zone it is likely that you are exceeding the speed limit, so slow down.
Avoiding Collisions
All masters (drivers) must be aware of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. A summary of these rules is given in this section.
Lookout
A good lookout must be kept by sight and hearing. The master must be fully aware of the boating environment, especially in bad weather, restricted visibility or darkness. Don’t forget to look all around – even behind you.
Don’t confuse the lookout duties of the master with those of the observer when the boat is towing a person on skis, tubes, etc.
The master is responsible at all times for keeping a lookout for dangers.
Giving Way
The master must continuously assess the risk of collision with other vessels and power vessels must give way to:
- sailing vessels
- vessels approaching head on (by altering course to starboard)
- vessels approaching from the right (starboard) hand side (ie, crossing)
- vessels displaying the special lights and signals shown in this chapter
- large vessels restricted in their manoeuvrability
- any vessel being overtaken and
- vessels engaged in fishing activities and showing appropriate signals.
A vessel drifting is deemed to be underway and has no special right of way. It is required to comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Note: In a collision, all masters involved can be held responsible even if the give-way vessel does not give way, because all masters are required to exercise caution and take avoiding action if the other vessel does not.
Always keep a safe distance off other vessels so the vessel can be stopped or manoeuvred to avoid any sudden danger. The faster the speed, the greater the safe distance must be. When altering course make your intentions clear to others as early as possible.
Sound Signals
Special sound signals exist for vessels to indicate their manoeuvring intentions when they are in sight of one another.
1 short blast … I am altering course to starboard (the right).
2 short blasts … I am altering course to port (the left).
3 short blasts … I am operating engines astern (stopping/slowing).
5 short blasts … I am unsure of your intentions and I doubt whether you are taking sufficient action to avoid collision.
Power Gives Way to Sail
A power driven vessel must give way to a sailing vessel unless the sailing vessel is in the process of overtaking it.
Power Driven Vessels Meeting Head on
When two power driven vessels are meeting head on, each must alter course to starboard (to the right) and pass at a safe distance.
Power Driven Vessels Crossing
In crossing situations, give way to the right.
Action to Avoid Collision
The give-way vessel must avoid a collision by changing course substantially, by slowing down, or stopping and allowing he vessel which has right of way to pass clear ahead. This must be done as early as possible.
Note: The master of the vessel which has right of way must maintain a lookout, maintain course and speed, and be prepared to take action to avoid a collision if necessary.
Vessels Overtaking
Any vessel (including a sailing boat) which is overtaking another vessel must keep well clear of the vessel being overtaken. You can overtake another vessel on either side but only when it is safe, and you must stay well clear. In narrow channels you must be particularly careful when overtaking. In all instances, make sure you do not cut in front of the vessel you have overtaken.
Distance Off (Vessels Other Than PWC)
When travelling at a speed of 10 knots or more you must keep well away from people and objects in the water. There are minimum distances you must keep from obstacles. If you cannot keep these distances you must slow down to under 10 knots. The closer you get, the slower you must go.
You must keep:
- 30 metres from any person or anything in the water when you are travelling at 10 knots or more
- 60 metres from a person in the water, if you are towing a water skier or aquaplaner
- 100 metres from a dredge or work barge, if you are travelling faster than 4 knots.
There are also special requirements if you are using aerial equipment, such as when para-gliding and kitesurfing. Before using this type of equipment you should contact your local NSW Maritime office for advice.
Sailing Vessels and Sailboards
When two sailing vessels have wind on different sides, the vessel with wind on the port side gives way.
When both craft have wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward.
Note: If a collision appears inevitable, the skipper of each vessel must take proper action to avert the collision.
Mooring Areas
On many waterways in NSW, areas are set aside for the mooring of vessels. These vessels are not required to be lit at night and the masters of other vessels must be aware of the location of such moorings.
Contact your local NSW Maritime operations centre for details of mooring areas.
When navigating near, in or through a mooring area:
- drive slowly and keep wash to a minimum
- keep a lookout for people in the water, small dinghies, and trailing ropes and
- when travelling at 10 knots or more you must stay at least 30m from any moored vessel.
Dredges
Slow down to under 4 knots when passing within 100m of a dredge and keep well clear.
Diving Activities
The diver’s flag must be shown when people are engaged in diving activities from a vessel. It is recommended that this flag be shown when diving/snorkelling from shore. As divers may not always be in close proximity, it is important that as soon as you see a dive flag you slow down, keep well clear and keep a good lookout. If you are within speaking distance of the dive master get their instructions as to a safe direction to travel to avoid any possible encounters. If there is no dive master about then it’s your responsibility to keep a good lookout, at all times, for any divers above and below the surface and then determine a safe distance.
If you see a snorkeller in the water, remember to remain a distance of at least 30 metres from them in the water (60 metres if you are towing a water skier or aquaplaner).
When you see this signal slow down, keep well clear and keep a lookout.
Vehicular Ferries
In some areas vehicular ferries drag themselves across channels using wires or chains. Because these wires/chains are often below the water you may not see the danger. You must slow down to 4 knots or less when within 100 metres of a ferry and sound a long blast before passing astern. Preferably wait until it has reached the shore to avoid becoming entangled in the wires.
Commercial Fishing Vessels
Licensed fishing vessels (LFB) display special shapes and lights when their manoeuvrability is restricted by their fishing apparatus. You should keep clear of these vessels when you see such shapes or lights or notice they are working with nets and lines. (Contact your local Fisheries office for more details about the rights of commercial fishing vessels).
Priority Over Sail
Some commercial ferries on Sydney Harbour display an orange diamond shape which grants priority of way over sailing vessels. Do not attempt to cross the path of an approaching ferry displaying this signal.
Jetcats or Rivercats (on Sydney Harbour)
These craft carry the normal lights for a power driven vessel underway and, in addition, they exhibit an all-round flashing yellow light when they are travelling at a planing speed.
Channel Blocked/Closed
These signals mean vessels should NOT attempt to navigate in that part of the channel.
- bridge span blocked
- channel is blocked
- port closed.
Big Ships and Small Boats
The main safety tips for small boats around shipping and ferry channels are:
- recreational boats, both power and sail should keep well clear of large vessels and ferries
- do not cross ahead of large vessels or ferries unless well clear.
Even when hundreds of metres away, your boat may disappear from the ship master’s view from the bridge
- do not cross close astern of a large vessel or ferry
- always keep to the starboard side of a channel and
- do not cross a channel if you are going to impede a vessel which has to use the channel.
Sydney Harbour Control VHF 16/13 (24 hrs). Nav warnings / Met broadcast VHF Ch13 (3 min. past hour). Unless otherwise directed, sailing vessels and motor vessels are not to impede the passage of commercial shipping/naval vessels inside the shipping channels. Navigation (collision) Regulation 1983 apply.