Boaties warned of safety crackdown

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has launched a three-month crackdown in Pumicestone Passage, responding to community concerns about safety and pollution in the waterway.

The concerns amplify MSQ’s own data from patrols, which found 40 per cent of vessels intercepted between July 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025 were non-compliant with safety legislation.

The extra patrols began this week and will continue until October 2025.

MSQ patrols will specifically target speeding, lifejacket laws, “hooning” and “distance off” rules between watercraft and shorelines, infrastructure and people in the water.

The patrols are targeting the northern and southern ends of the passage, particularly on weekends, when recreational boating activity peaks.

LIDAR, otherwise known as “speed gun”, operations are part of the crackdown and there will be zero tolerance to speeding, hooning and other anti-social behaviour, including excess wash.

MSQ is also auditing vessels moored in Pumicestone Passage for compliance with marine pollution and “live aboard” regulations, and to identify vessels in poor condition that may become derelict and require removal under the State Government’s Keeping Our Waterways Safe Program.

There are new rules relating to lifejackets, with on-the-spot fines starting at $333 for non-compliance.

The new laws mandate that lifejackets must be worn when:

• boating alone, (or only with children under 12 years) on an open boat that is less than 4.8m in length, whilst underway

• crossing a designated coastal bar on an open boat, and on an open area of a boat, of any length

• boating at night, that is between sunset and sunrise, on an open boat that is less than 4.8m in length, whilst underway

• if you are under 12 years (aged one year or more but less than 12 years) in an open boat, or open area of a boat, of any length, while underway.

Wearing a lifejacket is compulsory when crossing a coastal bar on:

• Small sailing boats (such as lasers, herons)

• Pedal boats

• Rafts, including inflatable rafts

• Rowboats (excluding Surf Life Saving Australia Club Surfboats)

• Sea and surf kayaks.