Our partners in boating safety

Marine safety is a partnership and a shared responsibility.

Improved boating safety depends on a strong partnership between:

• The boating community
• NSW Government
• NSW Roads and Maritime Services
• NSW Police Force Marine Area Command
• Boating Industry Association (BIA)
• Boat Owners Association (BOA)
• The Australian Maritime Safety Authority
• NSW State Emergency Service
• NSW Rural Fire Service
• Fire and Rescue NSW
• Ambulance Service of NSW
• Emergency Management Australia

The boating community provides funds to MRNSW to help improve boating safety via boat licensing and registration. Individual boaters work with MRNSW by logging on and off, carrying the right safety equipment and following good boating safety practice.

The NSW Government via NSW Roads and Maritime Services– issues boat licences, registers boats and sets policy and regulations, particularly for safety on the water.  Improved boating safety is one of the Government’s policy objectives, with NSW Roads and Maritime working in partnership with the NSW Police Force Marine Area Command (NSWPF MAC), other emergency services and Marine Rescue NSW to help achieve this goal.

The NSW Police Force Marine Area Command is responsible for coordinating marine search and rescue, tasking Marine Rescue NSW units to respond to emergencies and other incidents on the water. MAC’s responsibility also includes crime prevention and detection, with vessels and personnel strategically located at important commercial and leisure ports.

Marine Rescue NSW Units provide vital emergency services to the NSW boating community: search and rescue response, continuous marine radio communications and education and training.  Our units work in partnership with NSWPF MAC and other emergency services at the local level.

Marine Rescue NSW Headquarters works in partnership with our units and regions to co-ordinate, support and add value to their efforts by liaising with Government agencies and the NSW Police Force at a strategic level, obtaining funding and providing centralised procurement, management systems and services and protocols for common services.

The State Rescue Board of NSW ensures effective and co-ordinated rescue services throughout the State, advises the Government on search and rescue legislation, policy and funding, liaises with Federal and other State organisations and conducts joint training exercises.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority co-ordinates Australian safety regulation and services to ensure consistency with international standards and controls safety in national waters.