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Marine and Safety Tasmania
  • Recreational boating and personal water craft
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Marine and Safety Tasmania
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Navigation
  • Recreational boating and personal water craft
    • Licence and registration for motor boats and personal water craft
    • How to register a motor boat or personal water craft
    • Personal water craft rules and safety
    • Required safety equipment for recreational boats
    • Safe boating rules and information
    • Marine communications
    • Handling and operating a boat
    • Trip checklists and tips
    • Motor boat and personal water craft registration check
    • Incidents on the water
  • Facilities and moorings
    • Facilities across Tasmania
    • Infrastructure funding
    • Tasmanian mooring rules
    • Applying for a new mooring
    • Buying an existing mooring
    • Change of vessel details on a mooring
    • Mooring maintenance
    • Repair and maintenance of vessels on moorings
    • MAST public cruising moorings
    • MAST GIS – Moorings and Aids to Navigation (AtoNs)
  • Paddle, rowing and novel craft
    • Paddle craft
    • Rowing
    • Novel craft
    • Operating in Port Areas
  • Using Tasmanian waterways
    • Navigation rules
    • Prohibited zones
    • Speed limits
    • Bridge transits
    • Aquatic events and designated ski areas
    • Lake Barrington
    • Cruising Tasmania
    • Marine farming
  • Commercial vessels and ports
    • Commercial vessels in Tasmanian waters
    • Operational Areas – Commercial Vessels
    • Commercial vessel and operations fees and forms
    • 5-knot zone Sullivans Cove
    • Incident Reporting – Commercial
    • Regulation of marine farm leases
    • MAST Commercial Bulletin
  • Policies and legislation
    • MAST legislation
    • MAST reports and strategic documents
    • Right to Information
    • Personal Information Protection
    • MAST Misconduct Complaints Handling Policy
    • Complaints Handling Policy
    • Public Interest Disclosure Act
  • Notices and resources
  • GIS
  • Mast Portal
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  1. Home
  2. Recreational boating and personal water craft
  3. Safe boating rules and information

Safe navigation

Understanding navigation aids, waterway rules and local operating requirements is essential for safe boating.

 

This section provides practical information to help you navigate Tasmania’s waterways. Whether you’re boating in a busy port, travelling through unfamiliar waters, or operating near marine farms and other hazards, understanding local requirements can help you boat safely and avoid unnecessary risks.

Included in this section:

 

  • IALA buoyage system and navigation aids
  • Local boating information for ports, navigational hazards and specific waterways
  • 5-knot zones and other speed restrictions.

Safe navigation information

From navigation markers and speed restrictions to ports, and local boating information, the resources below help you plan your trip and stay safe on the water.

Operational areas

Operational areas determine the safety equipment you must carry on your vessel.

Operating in Port Areas

There are several commercial working ports within Tasmania. The limits of these ports often cover large areas, which involve a full spectrum of on-water activities including recreational boating, charter operators, sailing races, as well as commercial shipping.

Whales

The whale migration season offers a chance for a good close-up look at these spectacular creatures but it is important that boat operators are aware of guidelines in place to protect public safety as well as the welfare of the animals.

Denison Canal

What you need to know about travelling through the Denison Canal, Dunalley.
Marine and Safety Tasmania
Marine and Safety Tasmania
Social media
Navigation
  • Recreational boating and personal water craft
  • Facilities and moorings
  • Paddle, rowing and novel craft
  • Using Tasmanian waterways
  • Commercial vessels and ports
  • Policies and legislation
Quick links
  • Forms and fees
  • Check the status of your boating services
  • Find a facility
  • Notices to Mariners and latest MAST news
  • How do I obtain a motor boat licence
  • Access myServiceTas
Marine and Safety Tasmania acknowledges the traditional owners of this Country and recognises Aboriginal people’s continuing connection to Land, Sea, Waterways, Sky and Culture.