Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When do I need to wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD)?
Q. What type of PFD must I wear?
Q. Is your PFD legal?
Q. What is considered heightened risk?
Q. Why 4.8 m, why not all boats?
Q. How do I know how long my vessel is?
Q. What does under way mean?
Q. What is meant by an open area?
Q. What is meant by a recreational tender?
Q. Do I have to wear a PFD in my tender?
Q. Do I have to wear a PFD below deck or in the galley of my boat?
Q. If I am operating a kite board or sail board do I have to wear a PFD?
Q. Do the new changes apply to commercial vessels?
Q. What if I hire a boat?
Q. What if I am visiting from interstate?
Q. What changes apply to off-the-beach sailing yachts?
Q. Where can I get a copy of the new Regulations?

Stormy Products

Q. Once I have inflated my Stormy can it be re-used?
Q. Am I required to have my Stormy serviced?
Q. What do I need to do to properly care for my Stormy?
Q. What happens if I damage the jacket?
Q. Can I take my Stormy on an aircraft?
Q. How long will my Stormy keep me afloat?
Q. What level of buoyancy?
 

Q. When do I need to wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD)?

Wearing of PFDs on recreational vessels

Victoria has new requirements for the wearing of PFDs at certain times on recreational vessels. Under the new regulations, you may be required to wear a specified type of PFD when in an open area of a recreational vessel when the vessel is under way.

Wearing of PFDs on recreational vessels at all times

All occupants of the following vessels are required to wear a specified PFD when under way and when in an open area of the vessel:

- Power driven vessels up to and including 4.8 metres (m) in length
- Off-the-beach sailing yachts
- Personal watercraft
- Canoes, kayaks and rowing boats
- Pedal boats and fun boats
- Kite boards and sail boards
- Recreational tenders.

Wearing of PFDs on recreational vessels during times of heightened risk

All occupants of the following vessels are required to wear a specified PFD (see table for PFD types) at times of heightened risk when under way and when in an open area of the vessel:

- Yachts (including monohull, trailerable and multihull yachts, excluding off the beach sailing yachts)
- Power driven vessels greater than 4.8 m and less than 12 m

PFDs on children

Children under the age of 10 must wear a specified PFD at all times on any vessel when the vessel is under way and they are in an open area of the vessel. When choosing a PFD for a child, care must be taken to ensure that the garment fits the child and that small children do not slip out when placed in the water.

Q. What type of PFD must I wear?

When occupants of a vessel are required to wear a PFD (refer above), the following specified PFDs must be worn.

A PFD Type 1 is a recognised lifejacket. A PFD Type 1 will provide a high level of buoyancy and keep the wearer in a safe floating position. They are made in high visibility colours with retro-reflective patches.

A PFD Type 2 is a buoyancy vest – not a lifejacket. It will provide less buoyancy than a PFD Type 1 but sufficient to keep your head above water. Like a PFD Type 1 they are manufactured in high visibility colours.

A PFD Type 3 is a buoyancy garment – not a lifejacket. They have similar buoyancy to a PFD Type 2 and are manufactured in a wide variety of colours.

Q. Is your PFD legal?

A PFD Type 1 must comply with:

• Australian Standard AS 1512 – 1996 – Personal Flotation Devices – Type 1, or
• Australian Maritime Safety Authority Marine Orders Part 25,

Appendix 1, Section 2 SOLAS Life-jackets, or

• Uniform Shipping Laws Code, Section 10, Appendix R, or
• European Standard EN399 – 1993 Lifejackets – 275N, or
• European Standard EN396 – 1993 Lifejackets – 150N, or
• European Standard EN395 – 1993 Lifejackets – 100N, or
• Canadian General Standards CAN/CGSB-65.11-M88 (adults)

CAN/CGSB-65.15-M88 (children), or

• Underwriters Laboratories Standards UL 1180, or
• New Zealand Standards NZ5823:2001 Type 401, or
• any standard or specifications approved by the Director of Marine Safety.

A PFD Type 2 must comply with:

• Australian Standard AS 1499-1996 – Personal Flotation Devices Type 2
• European Standard EN 393 – 1993 Lifejackets – 50N.

A PFD Type 3 must comply with:

• Australian Standard AS 2260-1996 – Personal Flotation Devices Type 3.

It is extremely difficult (and in some circumstances impossible) to put a lifejacket on if you are in the water, so prevent yourself and your crew from being in this situation and wear your lifejacket.

Q. What is considered heightened risk?

• When the vessel is crossing or attempting to cross an ocean bar or designated hazardous area

• When the vessel is being operated by a person who is alone when being operated at night (commencing one hour after sunset and ending one hour before sunrise) or in periods of restricted visibility

• When there is significant likelihood that the vessel may capsize or be swamped by waves or the occupants of the vessel may fall overboard or be forced to enter the water

• When the vessel is operating in an area where: a gale warning, storm warning, severe thunderstorm warning or severe weather warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology is current

• When the vessel is a yacht where there are no safety barriers, lifelines, rails, safety harnesses or jacklines in use.

Q. Why 4.8 m, why not all boats?

The 4.8 m cut-off length has been determined on the basis that it is used in international standards for vessel buoyancy and stability criteria. Boats under 4.8 m in length are more susceptible to swamping and capsize.

Q. How do I know how long my vessel is?

Length of vessel – means length of hull (LH). This includes all structural and integral parts of the craft, such as wooden, plastic or metal stem or sterns, bulwarks and hull/deck joints. This length excludes removable parts that can be detached in a nondestructive manner and without affecting the structural integrity of the craft, e.g. outboard motors, swimming platforms, bowsprits, fittings or attachments.

This measure is consistent with the International Standard, Small Craft – Principal Data Standard.

This is also the measure to be used when calculating vessel carrying capacity and when registering the vessel with VicRoads.

Q. What does under way mean?

Under way means not at anchor, made fast to the shore, or aground. If you are drifting you are under way.

Vessels travelling at any speed are at risk of being involved in an incident where the occupants suddenly and unexpectedly enter the water. Nationally, 17% of all fatalities occurred whilst the vessel was drifting, which is typically at slow speed.

Q. What is meant by an open area?

An open area, in the case of a recreational vessel, means:

• All deck areas, including coach roofs, superstructures, open flying bridges, trampolines and nets, excluding areas within a rigid deck house, a rigid cabin, a rigid half cabin or a securely enclosed under deck space; or

• In the case of vessels without a deck, means the whole vessel excluding areas within a rigid cabin or a securely enclosed space; or

• In the case of kayaks or canoes, means the whole vessel.

Q. What is meant by a recreational tender?

Recreational tender means a vessel, other than a personal watercraft that:

(a) does not exceed 4.8 m in length

(b) is used, or that is intended to be used, as a means of transportation but not for towing

(c) conspicuously displays the name of its mother vessel or the registration number of that vessel and the letter ‘T’

(d) operates or is intended to operate:

   (i) between the shore and another recreational vessel that is no more than 300 m from the shore and no more than 300 m from the point of its entry to the water

   (ii)  between recreational vessels that are no more than 300 m apart.

Q. Do I have to wear a PFD in my tender?

Occupants of tenders will be required to wear a PFD at all times while the tender is under way.

Q. Do the new changes apply to commercial vessels?

No. Commercial vessels have differing and more stringent requirements for buoyancy and stability characteristics, crewing determinations and safety equipment.

Q. What if I hire a boat?

The regulations do not extend to the operation of hire and drive vessels as these vessels are covered by commercial vessel arrangements. Separate regulations are being prepared to extend the PFD requirements to operators of hire and drive vessels.

Currently hire and drive boats are required to carry coastal lifejackets, which are more stringent than PFD Type 1s and owners of these vessels will be able to choose more appropriate PFDs to be used with their vessels.

Q. What if I am visiting from interstate?

While operating on Victorian State waters visitors from interstate must adhere to the requirements for wearing of PFDs. Vessels normally domiciled outside Victoria are exempt from the Victorian safety equipment carriage requirements providing they comply with the equipment requirements of the State or Territory of origin for a period of up to three months.

Q. What changes apply to off-the-beach sailing yachts?

The new Regulations recognise the difficulty in stowing safety equipment during normal operation on an off-the-beach sailing yacht. Additional requirements for heading offshore do apply to this type of craft.

Q. Where can I get a copy of the new Regulations?

Copies of Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary documents can be accessed at: http://www.dms.dpc.vic.gov.au

Hard copies can be ordered from Information Victoria on 1300 366 356.

For further information

A new copy of the Victorian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook is available from MSV.

Visit: www.marinesafety.vic.gov.au  or call 1800 223 022.