1. Queensland Boatsafe Course
Maritime Skills Centre Tel :
Queensland Boatsafe Course

2. Table of Contents Section 1- Safety & Regulations
Section 2- Seamanship and Regulations
Section 3- Charts & Navigation
Section 4=- Practical Seamanship
Section 5- PWC

3. Useful Web addresses Dept of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au
Marine Safety Qld
Environment Protection Agency
Department of Primary Industries

4. Introduction and Aims
The course aims to give applicants the required competencies to obtain a Qld boat licence. It covers the units of competency required by Qld Transport to issue a boat licence. The course can be conducted in house with a qualified Boatsafe Instructor or offsite as an Online Training Package. Either way the Assessment process is the same.

5. Statement of Attainment
MEM30905 – Certificate 111 in Boating Services.

6. Statement of Attainment Codes
Title
MEM50008B
Carry out trip planning and preparation
MEM50009B
Safely operate a mechanically powered recreational boat
MEM50010B
Respond to boating emergencies and incidents

7. Boatsafe Units of Competency
1. Prepare a recreational vessel for operation.
2. Apply international and state regulations. relevant to the operation of a recreational vessel.
3. Assess weather conditions and forecasts.
4. Operate mechanical and electrical appliances of a recreational vessel.
5 Manoeuvre a recreational vessel.
6. Apply safety management in a recreational vessel.

8. Common Boating Terms Port side- the left hand side of the vessel.
Starboard side – the right hand side of the vessel.
Bow – the front of the boat.
Stern – the after end or rear end of the boat.
Nautical mile- 1 NM is equals 1.85 klm.
Knot – 1 knot equals 1 NM per hour.

9. Power of Shipping Inspectors
The Qld Water Police
Qld Boating & Fisheries
Maritime Safety Qld
They enforce the Act, the Regulations & Standards.
Monitor fish catches.
Monitor and enforce EPA regulations.
Manage pollution emergencies.

10. Shipping Inspectors Check for overloading
Check for all Safety Equipment
Check Registration
Check Licence
Check Fish catch
Check for blood alcohol level of driver
Check crews blood alcohol level

11. Masters General Safety Obligation
Under the Act, the Master and/or the Owner have total responsibility for the equipment and the Safe operation of the vessel.
The four main areas comprising the GSO.
Is the ship safe
Is the ship operated properly
Is the ship properly crewed
Is the ship properly equipped
It is always the Master’s responsibility.

12. Qld License and Registration
What vessels require a licensed driver. vessels with greater than 6 hp
What age can you get the RMDL license, 16 yrs old
Can an unlicensed driver drive a boat, only under the control of a licensed person
What vessels require registration, greater than 4hp
Where should the rego numbers be placed, both sides of the hull
What height should the rego numbers be, 150 mm on a planing hull
Where should the rego label be placed, port side adjacent to the numbers
How many people are allowed in your boat, as many as the manufactures plate states
What is it and what should you do in the event of a Marine Incident, damage to property and injury to people, report it within 48 hrs

13. Safety Equipment Regulations
There are three types of waters in Qld.
Smooth Water
Partially Smooth Water
Open Water
Refer to the Qld Boating and Fishing Guide for the maps of the various waters or Qld Tide Tables.

14. Safety Equipment to be carried by Regulation
Smooth Water
Partially Smooth Water
Open Water
Epirb
All boats when more than 2 miles from land
Signaling devices
All boats at night
All boats at night
Life Jackets / PFD’s
PFD types 1,2,3
PFD types 1,2
PFD type 1
Fire Fighting Equipment
All boats over 5m
V-Sheet
All boats
Flares
2 red hand flares
2 orange smoke flares

15. Equipment to be carried as a Safety Obligation
Smooth Water
Partially Smooth Water
Open Water
Navigation
Chart, map, compass or GPS
All Boats
Pumping/Bailing
Anchors
Drinking Water
Manual Propulsion
Under 6 m
Under 6m

16. Marine Radio There are 3 types of Marine Radio’s. VHF HF UHF
Contact your Trainer for details.
We do the Radio Licence’s, Enquire to the trainer.

17. Seamanship & Regulations
Keep a good Lookout at all times.
Give way to all vessels on your right.
Always travel on the right of the channel or River.
If you are on a collision course with another vessel, both vessels veer to the right.
Overtake on any side as long as it is safe.
Power boats always give way to all sail boats.
Keep clear of all Commercial vessels.

18. Qld Distance and Speed Regulations
Always travel at a safe speed.
Maximum and Minimum speeds apply.
If you are within 30 m of anything in the water reduce speed to 6 knots no wake or wash.
Maximum speed on Smooth Water is 40 knots.
No Maximum speed limits on Partially Smooth and Open Water.
Keep 30 m away from the divers flag.

19. Vessel Lights
Sailboats less than 7m and boats under oars must have a torch or lantern to display.
All vessels at anchor must display a white all round white light.
All sailboats over 7m and all motor vessels must show a white stern light at night, whilst underway.
All vessels underway (not at anchor) must display red and green navigation lights.

20. Navigation Lights
The arc of visibility of these lights is determined by peripheral vision of the helmsman.
When you are at the helm facing the bow you can turn your head and eyes fully to the left or right and see from the bow to 22.5 deg.aft of the beam of either side.
Any vessel approaching you from aft of your peripheral vision will see your white stern light and must keep clear.
In effect, at night, this turns every vessel into a set of traffic lights.

21. Peripheral Vision
All vessels in your port peripheral vision see your Red navigation light.
Red tells them to give way.
All vessels in your starboard peripheral vision see your Green navigation light.
Green tells them to proceed (with caution).

22. Lights
What lights are displayed by a travelling power boat between sunset and sunrise ? All round white light and red and green navigation lights
If you are at anchor at night what lights should you display ? All round white light
What lights are displayed by a row boat and sailboat under 7m ? Torch or lantern
What lights are displayed by a sailing boat greater than 7m ? White stern light, port & stbd lights
You are out at night and see a red non-blinking light 400m off your port bow, what is it ? Port light of a sailing vessel

23. Simple Give way Rule for night time is
If you are operating a power boat and approaching lights of any colour or combination other than constant white over green (which are the starboard light and white light of another power boat approaching on our Port side then YOU MUST GIVE WAY to the boat displaying those lights.

24. Day Shapes
Commercial vessels also use our waters. All of the day shapes and lights they show are telling a story, i.e., black ball over a black diamond over a black ball is telling everyone that he is R.A.M, restricted in his ability to manoeuvre and at night he will display a red light over a white light over a red light, stay clear as he could have steering problems, towing someone, involved in under water operations.

25. Sound Signals Sound signal remembrance hint: SPA
S = Starboard = 1 short blast
P = Port = 2 short blasts
A = Astern = 3 short blasts
What are your intentions? = 5 short blasts

26. Water Ski Regulations
Only licensed drivers can drive for water skiing.
All boats must have an observer minimum age of 13 years, facing backwards.
All skiers and everyone out the back of the boat are included in the carrying capacity label.
Skiers cannot wear a PFD Type 1.
You can only water ski in areas that are not prohibited.

27. Anchoring Danforth Anchors are for sand and mud.
Reef Anchors are for rocks and reefs.
Plough/CQR anchors are for larger boats.
Drogue Anchors are for drift fishing and keeping your vessel positioned safely.
Do not anchor within 30 meters of anything.
Use 3-4 times the depth of water for the meters of anchor rope out.
Always attach a chain to the anchor and your rope to the chain.

28. Overnight Anchoring
Always check that you will be safe in a tide change situation.
Remember, the more anchors you use the more anchors you need to get back into your boat at some stage.
Always have a spare anchor on your boat for night time use.

29. IALA Buoyage System A There are 5 types of marks in the IALA system A
Each type has variations in size and configuration, e.g., floating buoy, pole, tower etc.
IALA marks have 3 means of identification
Colour pattern
The Light colour
Day shape, on top of the mark.

30. Lateral Marks Starboard Marks The colour is green Triangle top shape
Flashing green light at night
Port Marks
The colour is red
Can shape top shape
Flashing red light at night

31. Special Mark The colour is yellow X top mark may be present
Flashing a yellow light at night
Used to indicate that a feature such as a channel change in direction or intersection, spoil ground, cable or pipe line
You must consult your chart for more information.

32. Safe Water Mark Coloured white with red vertical stripes
Single red sphere top mark
Iso/Occ/LFl10s white light at night
Indicates there is safe and navigable water all around the mark or to mark the centre of a channel

33. Isolated Danger Mark
Coloured Black with one or more red horizontal bands
Two vertical black spheres top mark
Flashing White light at night in groups of 2
Indicates and isolated danger of limited extent which has navigable water all around it

34. Cardinal Marks North Cardinal Mark
Two black triangles pointing up top mark
Black paint will follow the triangles, ie, black up and yellow down
Indicates safe water to the North
South Cardinal Mark
Two black triangles pointing down top mark
Black paint will follow the triangles, ie, black down and yellow up
Indicates Safe water to the South

35. Cardinal Marks East Cardinal Mark
Two black triangles, one pointing up and one pointing down.
Black paint will follow the triangles, black yellow black
Indicates Safe water to the East
West Cardinal Mark
Two black triangles both pointing to the middle. yellow black yellow
Indicates safe water to the West

36. IALA Buoyage System by night
Not all marks have lights and those that are lit have a description beside the symbol.
FL R 4s = flashing red every 4 seconds
QY= quick yellow (approx 1 flash per second)
FL G(3)4s= flashing green in groups of 3 every 4 seconds
FL Y 4s 25m 3M= flashing yellow every 4 seconds and the light is 25 meters above the high water line and can be seen for 3 nautical miles

37. Common Light Sequences
Fixed (constant light) F
Occulting (light on more than off)
Single occulting OC
Group occulting OC (2)
Isophase (time on and off equal) Iso
Flashing ((light is on less time than off)
Single flash Fl
Group Flashing Fl(2)
Long Flashing (2s or longer) L Fl
Quick (1 per sec)
Very Quick (2 per sec)

38. CHARTS Charts have several important features:
They tell you the lowest astronomical tide water height
Bouyage direction
Degree’s and minutes
Compass Rose
Distances between any two points
Magnetic variation from True North

39. The Weather White caps appear at 15 knots
Always easier to travel with the wind
You will use at least 30% more fuel in rough weather
Strong wind warnings at knots
Usually no insurance when strong wind warnings are issued
Always know what the weather is going to do

40. Sources of Weather Updates
Television
Newspapers (inside back page of Cairns Post)
All of Qld
Marine Warnings
South East Qld

41. Coastal Bars
There are no Coastal Bars in North Qld, however there are 11 in Qld from the NSW border to the Sunshine Coast.
Very Dangerous and you must consult with local organisations before attempting to cross.

42. Tides Mostly we have 2 highs and 2 lows every day
Spring tides occur on the New and Full moons and the effect is higher highs and lower lows.
Neap tides occur when the sun, moon and earth are at right angles, first and last quarters and the effect is higher lows and lower highs.
Spring-Neap-Spring-Neap is New Moon-1st qtr-Full moon- last qtr.
Every 28 days.

43. Vessel Handling Man overboard drill Crossing another boats wash
Berthing against a pontoon or similar
Picking up a mooring
Nosing onto a beach
Reversing away
Know marine electronics
Know gears and throttle
Trimming an engine
Manage crew and passengers
Manage an emergency, mechanical or medical

44. Launching and Retrieving
Remember, all boat ramps are slippery
Do not wear thongs
Always have a painter rope tied to the boat
Make sure your vehicle is in gear with your handbrake on
Usually, your back wheels about a 500mm from the water will launch most boats.

45. Ramp Etiquette
Always prepare your boat for the water in the rigging lane, never on the ramp
Once back on the trailer take your rig to the rigging lane once more and do your tie downs, lower your aerials, hook your lights up etc away from the ramp.

46. Mooring When approaching a mooring
Always approach into the wind or tide, whatever is the stronger
Stop at the mooring
Retrieve line by hand or boat hook
Turn off your engine

47. Mooring When departing a mooring Start engine
Move forward to remove tension on line
Untie from the cleat
Throw the line clear
Reverse away or move away at angle to avoid mooring line

48. Berthing Always approach slowly
Wing and currents play a big part in how you will berth your boat
If possible, with the wind blowing you onto the berth is the better option, but you sometimes do not have the luxury of choice
Remember to allow for tides as you could be left hanging in the air
Try to come into the wind or current if possible
Always be ready to use reverse
Have someone ready to fend you off

49. Finish Thanks for looking.
You should be well prepared now for your course.