NSCV Section F2: Leisure craft

NSCV Part F: Special vessels

Section F2: Leisure craft

Commenced January 2021: NSCV Section F2: Leisure craft (non-survey domestic commercial vessels) (PDF 1.4 MB)

The National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) section F2 provides safety standards for the design, construction, equipping and operation of a domestic commercial vessel that is a leisure craft.

These vessels are known as class 4 “Hire and Drive”.

This edition 2.6 (1 January 2021) amends Schedule 2 to include alternative arrangements for EPIRBs on small (<7.5m) vessels operating in open waters (offshore operations (B waters) or restricted offshore operations (C waters)). 

The changes implement the results of feedback from, and consultation with, industry regarding the practicality of installing float-free EPIRBs on small vessels.

Operators of vessels less than 7.5m in measured length, that operate in open waters more than 2nm from land, and do not have level flotation, now have the option to choose to carry either:

• A float-free EPIRB, or
• If all persons on board are wearing a lifejacket - any GNSS (GPS) equipped EPIRB that complies with Australian Standard 4280.1:2017.

This edition also introduces several new definitions relation to EPIRBs:

• Float-free EPIRB
• Float-free bracket
• GNSS equipped EPIRB
• Water-activated EPIRB

• AMSA Beacons page
• My Boat
• National Law Act and regulations
• Marine orders 
• Exemptions
• National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV)
• Generic equivalent solutions (GES)
• Guidance notices and factsheets for DCV owners and operators
• Uniform Shipping Laws code 
• Marine VHF radio operators handbook
• Marine radio operators handbook
• GMDSS handbook
• International regulations for preventing collisions at sea, 1972 (COLREGs)
• AMSA Beacons page