Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety Legislation

Independent Review of Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety Legislation and Costs and Charging Arrangements

The outdoor industry is invited to make comments and provide feedback on the current Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) requirement of registration of Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV’s) in Australia.

Why should you care?

This affects you if:

• You use canoes or kayaks at your outdoor centre.
• You have a pontoon in your dam or pond.
• You teach kayaking or sailing.
• Your club budget depends on hire fees from non-members.

Under current legislation, there are specific compliance standards and safety rules ALL operators using DCV’s must follow. These include fee-based registration of individual vessels, certificates of operation and a safety management system. The rules and fees that apply to you will depend on your vessel type, your type of operation, where you operate, and your role.

So, what is a DCV?

Under the national law, a vessel is described as a craft for use, or that is capable of being used, in navigation by water, no matter how it is propelled or moved. Examples include:

• a boat, canoe or kayak
• a dragon boat, tinny or dinghy
• a jet ski or sailing boat
• a floating pontoon or barge

Note: Clarification is being sought on what category applies to a sit on top kayak!

and do not include:

• a boogie board, surfboard, surf ski, or waterski.
• an unpowered inflatable raft or inner tube
• a kiteboard, sailboard, or paddleboard
• a pontoon connected to the mainland or floating structure permanently connected to shore.

Vessels used for recreational activities (ie non-commercial) are not considered DCV’s. Some exemptions may apply – for instance, vessels owned by school and not hired out, and vessels owned and operated by a ‘prescribed community group’ and not hired out to non-group members.

Read more about the Review here or to understand more about your requirements when registering DCV’s go to the AMSA Website 

Outdoors NSW&ACT ran the following webinar on this topic last week presented by Anita Markovski, a representative of AMSA which was very informative.

Outdoors NSW & ACT and the other state peaks want your feedback to consolidate in a submission that will be made via the Outdoor Council of Australia to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Outdoors NSW & ACT has created feedback website which you are encouraged to use – click button below!

Feedback must be provided by 28th February 2023

Please forward to colleagues and other providers