All boats operating in South Australian waters are required to carry certain items of safety equipment.

Minimum safety equipment requirements vary according to the size and type of boat, whether it has an engine and where it is being used. The areas where a boat may be used are defined by the following terms

• protected waters
• semi-protected waters
• unprotected waters

Protected waters are all inland waters, excluding Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert

Semi-protected waters are waters up to 2 nautical miles seaward from the low-water mark of the coast of the mainland or of Kangaroo Island and from the banks of Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert.

Unprotected waters are waters beyond 2 nautical miles seaward from the low mark of the coast of the mainland or of Kangaroo Island and from the banks of Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert.

All personal flotation devices (PFDs) required to be carried on a vessel must comply with one or more of the following approved standards.

For PFD Type 1 the approved standards are:

• Australian Standard AS 4758.1: Personal flotation devices. General requirements in relation to a PFD classified as providing level 100 or level 150 buoyancy (or more);
• Personal flotation devices—Type 1 AS 1512.1996, as in force on 1 January 2008;
• appendix R of section 10 of the Uniform Shipping Laws Code;
• European Standard EN399-1993 Lifejackets-275N;
• European Standard EN396-1993 Lifejackets-150N;
• European Standard EN395-1993 Lifejackets-100N;
• ISO 12402-2, 12402-3, or 12402-4;
• Canadian General Standards Board CAN/CGSB-65.11-M88 (for adults);
• Canadian General Standards Board CAN/CGSB-65.15-M88 (for children);
• Underwriters Laboratories Standards UL1180 Fully inflatable recreational personal flotation devices;
• New Zealand Standard NZ5823:2001 Type 401;
• any other standard or specification approved by the CEO by notice in the South Australian Government Gazette; or
• a personal flotation device that complies with the requirements of Australian Maritime Safety Authority Marine Orders Part 25 related to the type of life-jackets required to be carried on Australian registered ships;

For PFD Type 2 the approved standards are:

• AS 4758.1: Personal flotation devices. General requirements, as that standard relates to a PFD classified as providing level 50 buoyancy;
• Personal Flotation Devices Type—2 AS1499.1996, as in force on 1 January 2008;
• European Standard EN393-1993 Lifejackets-50N, as in force from time to time;
• ISO 12402-5,;
• any other standard or specification approved by the CEO by notice in the South Australian Government Gazette;

For PFD Type 3the approved standards are:

• AS 4758.1: Personal flotation devices. General requirements in relation to a PFD classified as providing level 50 special purpose (50S) buoyancy;
• Personal Flotation Devices Type—3 AS2260.1996, as in force on 1 January 2008;
• any other standard or specification approved by the CEO by notice in the South Australian Government Gazette;

All distress flares and smoke signals required to be carried on a vessel must comply with AS2092 and be stamped indelibly by the manufacturer with its date of expiry and that date must not have passed.

A fire extinguisher is required to be carried on a vessel must comply with the applicable part of AS1841, be of an appropriate size for the vessel, and must be maintained in accordance with AS 1851

• Minimum safety equipment required for recreational boats under 8 metres in length
• Minimum safety equipment required for recreational boats 8 metres to 15 metres in length

Full detail as to safety equipment requirements and the standards that apply to various items of safety equipment are in the Harbors and Navigation Regulations 1994; the current version of all Government Regulations can be viewed at the South Australian Government legislation website www.legislation.sa.gov.au

Exemptions

The safety equipment requirements apply to the majority of boats. However, certain types of boat are either partially or totally exempt from these requirements. Some of the more common exemptions are summarised below.

Canoes, kayaks, sailboards, kiteboards and similar small, unpowered boats must have for each occupant

• a PFD that complies with the appropriate Standards and is worn at all times
• suitable bailer (unless the hull is permanently enclosed)
• waterproof torch or lantern while being operated during the hours of darkness.

Personal watercraft or PWCs (jet skis®, waverunners®, jetboards, etc.)

• All operators and passengers on PWC must at all times wear a PFD Type 2 or 3 that complies with one or more of the approved standards. A PFD Type 1 is not suitable when operating a PWC.

Note: From 1 September 2009, the following vessels may not be operated in unprotected waters, i.e. beyond two nautical miles offshore, without the approval of the CEO.

• Personal Watercraft (PWC)
• Canoes, kayaks or other similar small human powered vessels (other than rowboats)

Further information is available at Personal watercraft safety.

All safety equipment must be readily accessible at all times and kept in good working order.

• Emergency Position Indicating Beacon
• Marine Radio
• Changes to marine radio weather and safety services from July 1 2002
• Distress Call
• Safety Call
• Urgency Call
• Personal Flotation Devices