Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine 2019 728x90

NSW boating safety - lifejackets

by Neil Patchett on 26 Aug 2013
Surf Life Saving crew are set to wear lifejackets in IRB Surf Life Saving Australia
Transport for NSW has welcomed a Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) initiative to improve the safety of its members when operating inflatable rescue boats (IRB).

Office of Boating Safety and Maritime Affairs General Manager Howard Glenn said the recent announcement means surf life savers across Australia will be required to wear lifejackets when operating inflatable rescue boats (IRB) on patrol, and when training or in competition.

'Surf Life Saving Australia is to be applauded for this initiative, which will come into effect from 1 October 2014. The surf life saving movement has a strong safety tradition and this initiative will only strengthen that culture which is a role model to so many other people,' Mr Glenn said.

'This will add further support to encouraging the wearing of lifejackets in small craft.'

Mr Glenn said there were about 1.8 million people who go boating each year in NSW.

'Analysis of boating incident data over the past 10 years indicates the people most at risk are those underway in small craft, such as runabouts and paddle craft, when not wearing a lifejacket,' he said.

'Nine out of 10 people who drown when boating in NSW were not wearing a lifejacket.'

Mr Glenn said the wearing of lifejackets in smaller craft was to be encouraged because such vessels were more unstable and susceptible to capsize and swamping when compared with larger vessels.

He said it was important to build partnerships and support in promotion of safe and responsible boating.

Transport for NSW has played a key role in the development of the International Lifejacket Wear Principles which were signed by representatives of boating organisations from across the world earlier this year at the Marine13 conference in Sydney.

Since the launch of the International Lifejacket Wear Principles on 1 May 2013, which is hosted on a website maintained by Transport for NSW, a total of 14 state and national boating organisations from across the world have signed on as Supporting Partners including: NSW, Western Australia, Ireland, USA , United Kingdom, France, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

'This work enhances the ongoing efforts to promote the wearing of lifejackets, especially in smaller craft, to help prevent loss of life when boating.'

For more information visit life jacket wear
Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to ExhibitHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignSwitch One Design

Related Articles

Transat Paprec Day 18
48 Hours to Glory By Friday, the outcome of the Transat Paprec will be known. But who will have the final say? Who will seize the advantage, who will get stuck, who will claim an honorable finish, and who will be left disappointed?
Posted on 7 May
iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games day 2
Heavy Rain Sets the Scene, But Racing Pushes On at Lake Garda Despite relentless rainfall, part of the day's race program went ahead as planned at the iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games, hosted by Circolo Surf Torbole.
Posted on 7 May
XR 41 Dominates Debut at MaiOR 2025
FORMULA X Takes First Place in ORC A&B The northern European offshore racing season launched in spectacular fashion at the Mai Offshore Regatta (MaiOR) from 2 to 4 May 2025, and the spotlight was firmly on X-Yachts' latest high- performance model - the XR 41.
Posted on 7 May
Smeg's 29 years of 18ft Skiff sponsorship success
It all began when a Trevor Barnabas-led team raced a skiff named Omega Smeg-2UE The Smeg Australia 18ft skiff sponsorship with the Australian 18 footers League began in 1996-97 and has continued harmoniously, with many great successes, over the following twenty nine seasons on Sydney Harbour.
Posted on 7 May
Canada Ocean Racing Acquires Foiling IMOCA
For Scott Shawyer's Vendée Globe Campaign Canada Ocean Racing is proud to announce the acquisition of a current generation foiling IMOCA 60 - formerly known as Groupe Dubreuil and originally 11th Hour Racing - Malama.
Posted on 7 May
Bulwarks and Bulldust – new Vodcast Show launches
Join us as we pan for the gold dust, whilst sifting out the bulldust. Bulwarks and Bulldust looks at the serious subjects from inside the world of boating, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. The show covers off everything from Off The Beach to Superyachts, Powerboats to Ocean Racing, and the marine industry itself
Posted on 6 May
iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games day 1
Unexpected breeze delivers a spectacular opening day of racing on Lake Garda The iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games are officially under way in Torbole, Lake Garda, marking the second major event of the 2025 season for the U19/U17/U15 athletes of the iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Class.
Posted on 6 May
Transat Paprec Day 17
"An Atlantic Crossing with the Intensity of La Solitaire" They've proven that persistence pays off—even when faced with serious setbacks. Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau had to make a pit stop in Lisbon during the first week of the race to replace a damaged rudder.
Posted on 6 May
Night sailing, Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup
Night sailing, encountering light airs in the Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup We bundled up as the last of the rays sunlight dipped below the Olympic Mountains and night quietly fell on Puget Sound. We'd been racing for about twelve hours in the Seattle Yacht Club's Protection Island Race (April 26), and we were getting tired.
Posted on 6 May
Triple amputee passes halfway point of challenge
Craid Wood is more determined than ever, despite troubles during Pacific crossing Despite experiencing a number of technical issues with his boat, Craig Wood is now halfway through his sail with well over 4000 nautical miles done. He is feeling positive about reaching the finish line at Osaka in Japan in just over a months' time.
Posted on 6 May