2:21 AM Mon 12 Jan 2009 GMT
More than 26,000 people annually will find it harder than before to obtain their NSW general boating licence under new guidelines announced last week by Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi.
Those seeking to obtain their licence will now have to prove they have practical experience at powerboat handling prior to being accepted to sit for a licence test.
Applicants must travel a minimum of three times aboard a boat with an experienced skipper and be able to demonstrate they have acquired certain standards.
The skipper involved must have held a licence for at least three years and will 'sign off' on each section, including mooring, berthing, general boat handling, navigation, anchoring and selected on-board emergencies.
NSW Maritime will randomly audit these logbooks and those caught rorting the system will face loss of licence and fines up to $5500.00.
The new regulations apply also to personal water craft licences.
Mr Tripodi said the new regulations would come into force on June 1.
He said the new system was all about improving safety on the waterways and ensuring people were fully aware of the needs to handle a vessel efficiently.
'When one applies for a car driving licence one must prove they have the practical skill to drive a motor vehicle; the same principle should apply to boating,' he said.
Boat Owners Association of NSW president, Michael Chapman said the initiative would improve recreational boating safety.
'It means that people will be better placed to handle situation that arise with confidence,' he said.
'After all, a paper licence obtained via a theoretical examination does not provide practical seamanship.'
Mr Tripodi, who has won quite a legion of fans within the boating industry for his handling of the portfolio, said the logbook for licence applicants would be available at all NSW Maritime Service Centres, RTA Registries and can also be downloaded from the NSW Maritime website.
He said the State Government had been 'toughening' licence standards in recent years, with some reforms in 2006 altering the tests and increasing the degree of difficulty.
Sydney-based Sea School Australia, which teaches basic boat handling and seamanship courses, was among those to welcome the changes.
Sea School Australia's Jenny Nugent said half the company's clients did not own powerboats and obtaining practical experience was essential.
'Novices really do need a chance to operate a vessel,' she said.
'It's far more difficult to learn when only theory is applied.
by Bob Wonders
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Cape Leeuwin, WA
