This marine notice aims to raise awareness of the risks involved with getting on and off vessels.

Our SAR observer program trains SES volunteers to look for signs of people in distress from the air.

Your compliance requirements will be affected by the service category of your vessel.

Our search and rescue incidents from 2016–17.

Lifejackets save lives

A 2C rescue vessel was preparing to depart a river entrance bar with 11 people onboard. The observed sea state was a wave height (breaking) of 1.4 to 1.8 metres. The entrance bar had a moderate to high level of congestion of jet skis and surfboard riders positioned within the aids to navigation departure leads. The vessel came within very close proximity to surfers on 3 occasions whilst negotiating the breaking sea conditions. The vessel then broached upon a wave resulting in the vessel heeling to port and becoming unable to be controlled due to the force of the wave.

Maritime discharges of oil and noxious liquid substances during emergencies and pollution response situations.

On 6 February 1988 the Hong Kong registered bulk carrier Sir Alexander Glen lost approximately 450 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the waters off Port Walcott, Western Australia when a bunker tank was holed by the ship's anchor.

On 21 May 1990 an extensive oil slick was sighted approximately four nautical miles south-east of Cape Otway by the pilot of a light aircraft. The Australian-flagged tanker Arthur Phillip was later established as the source of the spill.

Find out about the search and rescue incidents we attended between July 2019 and June 2020

Follow these steps if you wish to operate your vessel commercially outside of the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ).

A 7.5m punt (flat bottomed vessel) used for aquaculture operations contacted a marina at speed, injuring 4 people onboard.

A hire vessel capsized after it was beached on a sandbank in a designated no-go area. The incident shows why hirers and participants must follow safety briefings and emergency plans.

In the early afternoon of 30 May 2022, a hire and drive sailing catamaran began to take on water before sinking shortly after departing the marina. Onboard was the charterer, their family and a briefer who was in control of the vessel. The investigation established that following recent maintenance, an inspection plate had not been replaced, allowing water ingress. It was further identified that the charter company’s maintenance procedures did not suitably document handing over and/or tagging of removed items during maintenance work.

Our search and rescue incidents from 2018–19.

We have read and answered your questions about the new requirements for domestic commercial vessels that carry passengers.