Boating activity event code of practice
13 August 2018
Maritime Safety Victoria (MSV) has developed a draft Code of Practice (the Code) to help managers of boating activity events (event managers) comply with a new legislated responsibility, or ‘safety duty’, introduced under section 25A of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).
The new safety duty requires event managers to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of everyone involved in an event, in any capacity, including bystanders.
The Code will help MSV deliver outcomes toward its vision for safe boating and safe waterways for the benefit of all Victorians.
What is a boating activity event?
A boating activity event is an event on state waters that directly or indirectly involves vessel operations. The new safety duty applies to persons who manage – organise, facilitate or control -- those events.
It includes any managed event on Victorian waterways involving any vessel type, including powered (such as boats or jet skis), wind-powered (such as sailboats), or human-powered (such as kayaks or stand-up paddle boards) – including those where the vessel is not the main aspect of the event, such as fishing, diving or swimming.
Boating activity event examples include, but are not limited to:
- Boat racing
- Water skiing contests
- School excursions with on-water activities, such as kayaking or dragon boating
- Open water swimming races that have support vessels.
Consultation on the Code
MSV will soon be seeking feedback on the Code from key stakeholders, including waterway managers, and later event managers or organisers of boating activity events, through a consultation process.
Read more and sign up for updates on the consultation process.
The Rip Swim, from Point Nepean to Point Lonsdale, Australia