Marine exam pt. 1

Question 1

Responsibilities

Answer 1

It does not matter whether you are the master of a large ship or skipper of your own trailer boat: you are responsible for the safety of your vessel, crew and passengers. You must not endanger any other vessel; and you must be ready to assist others who need help.

Question 2

Speed limits

Answer 2

You may not drive a powerboat at over eight knots:
– through an arch of a bridge (unless water skiing is specifically permitted for a bridge);
– in or through a mooring area.
– in any water less than three metres deep.
– within 15 metres of a vessel underway; and within 45 metres of a moored vessel, a person in the water, a jetty or wharf; or a riverbank or low water mark.

Question 3

Obstruction

Answer 3

Crab nets, fishing nets, marker buoys – or any other buoyed objects – are not allowed in any channel, fairway or passage without the permission of the Department. Nor may you anchor or moor there unless you are in distress. You must not secure a vessel to a beacon or other navigation aid.
Limits for small boats- Vessels under 3.75 metres in length (including personal watercraft) may not go further to sea than five nautical miles from the mainland.

Question 4

Assisting others

Answer 4

All boaters have a legal obligation to assist people in distress unless: they are unable to, perhaps the call for assistance was from too far away, assistance is not required, If an accident occurs nearby, you must assist where possible, provided it does not seriously endanger you or your passengers.

Question 5

Right of way at jetties

Answer 5

When two power boats approach the same public jetty from different directions, the vessel travelling down river must give way.

Question 6

Diving Regulations

Answer 6

A boat with divers working from it must carry the appropriate day or night signals. The daytime signal for divers is an International Code Flag “A”. The flag must be at least 750mm long and 600mm wide. Divers operating without a vessel, for example from a jetty, must also display the International Code Flag “A” of the same minimum size.
By night the diver’s vessel, as well as appropriate lights such as an anchor light, must show three all-round lights in a vertical line: the top and bottom lights red, the middle one white. People night diving without a vessel must display a yellow-orange flashing light that can be seen from a minimum distance of 200 metres.
All vessels must keep at least 50 metres clear of boats, buoys or areas showing diving signals. Where it is not possible to keep 50 metres clear, the approaching vessel should travel at the slowest possible speed and keep a good lookout for people in the water.

Question 7

Water Skiing

Answer 7

• The driver of a vessel engaged in water skiing must be at least 17 years of age and hold an RST.
• The driver must also be accompanied by an observer who is at least 14 years old
• The observer must be on board and watching the skier at all times.
• The driver must keep a proper lookout at all times and should not be watching the skier.

Question 8

Operational limits

Answer 8

Vessels under 3.75 metres are not permitted more than five nautical miles offshore. Freestyle driving, wake and wave jumping. Freestyle driving and wake jumping is prohibited:
– within any speed restricted area.
– within 30 metres of another PWC; and within 50 metres of another vessel or person in the water.

Question 9

Pollution & environment

Answer 9

The pollution regulations relating to boating state that there is no dumping of:
– Oil or noxious substances or plastic anywhere. Plastics include synthetic ropes and synthetic fishing lines and nets.
– Floating rubbish within 25 nautical miles of the nearest land.
– Garbage including food wastes, paper products, rags, glass or metals within 12 miles from the nearest land, or three miles if the garbage has been passed through an approved grinder.

Question 10

Refuelling

Answer 10

Refuelling is the most common time for spillage of fuel into the environment. Guard against overfilling by: knowing how much fuel you need to take (allowing space in the tank for expansion); not leaving the filling nozzle unattended; and listening for blow back from the tank breathers – you may need to slow the filling rate.

Question 11

Sewage

Answer 11

Zone 1 - No Discharge Zone
Marinas, yacht clubs, boat harbours and ports/maritime export facilities, designated parts of marine parks, marine management areas or fish habitat protection areas within 500 metres of any aquaculture operation, within 100 metres of any recognised swimming area etc..
Zone 2: No discharge except for vessels with approved treatment systems
Parts of estuaries, marine parks and fish habitat protection areas, where the dilution factor is deemed to be satisfactory and waters more than 20 metres from a stationary vessel or person in the water.
Zone 3: Open Zone
Comprises all State Waters except: – those waters which are within Zone 1 or Zone 2; – waters within 500 metres of land; and – waters within 100 metres of a stationary vessel or person in the water.

Question 12

Anchoring

Answer 12

Reefs and sea grass beds are very important to sea life, and you should avoid anchoring on them. You can almost always find a patch of sand among them that your anchor will not hurt. If you have no choice but to anchor on reef, use a specialised reef anchor.