Safety Equipment

[sturgeon]

Hi everyone,

I was at the website looking at safety equipment. I will be having a 4.85 m fiberglass which I will be using in Port Philip Bay. Am I required by law to have the whole lot even if I am just in the bay like registered EPIRB, orange smoke signals x 2, handheld distress flares x 2, and res star parachute distress rocket? I will remain in port philip bay but I am sure if I am crossing the bay, I will at times be more than 2 nm from coast. Thank you in advance for the clarification. Or is there like an official hotline or email I can go to check on the requirements?

http://transportsafety.vic.gov.au/marit ... -equipment

[smile0784]

I believe that made an exemption for port phillip bay and westenport that you dont need a epird or rocket flare.

[repspec]

http://transportsafety.vic.gov.au/marit ... y-handbook

read page 4 of the hand book in regards to a defination of a waterway.

PPB and WP fall under "enclosed waters" and para and ebirb are not required...

[sturgeon]

Looks like I still need 2 smoke and 2 flares right?

[Yota]

My understanding is port Phillip and western port are classified as enclosed waters or inshore so you need to be compliant for that. No Epirb or parachute flare required. They are for offshore ie more than 2 nautical miles off the coast.
Yes you need smoke flares for daylight and flame flares for night.
And all the other stuff, bailing bucket with rope, lifejackets, oars for that size boat, vhf or 27meg radio ( pretty sure most people use vhf now days ) etc etc I may have left other thing off the list. That's the main stuff I can think of right now. If you go to any marine supplier they will sort you out for inshore safety gear.

[Yota]

Have a look at this for details.
https://transportsafety.vic.gov.au/mari ... y-handbook

[crumpet_avenger]

Fire extinguisher and a waterproof torch are also a must...
Years ago i thought a dolphin torch would be adequate but the water police told me otherwise. Didnt get a fine, just a warning. They said it must be waterproof. I also have a fire blanket just incase

[smile0784]

Isnt a dolphin torch water proof?

[sturgeon]

The list says orange smoke x 2 and red flares x 2. But most dealers do not give smoke as part of safety gear.

[Hydroman]

The list says orange smoke x 2 and red flares x 2. But most dealers do not give smoke as part of safety gear.

I buy the enclosed water pack from either Whitworths or BCF. If you are only fishing in PPB then the enclosed pack is what you need