New life jacket regulations in Queensland

December 1, 2024 was the start of new life jacket regulations that took effect to increase maritime safety.

You must understand and abide by these changes to stay safe and compliant on the water.

Maritime Safety Queensland will be focusing on education, with enforcement delayed until July 1, 2025 to ensure all boaties are aware of the change.

Further communication and on-water education will be provided to support the roll out.

Mandatory wearing of life jackets

What’s changing?

To increase water safety, new regulations will make wearing a life jacket mandatory when:

• Boating alone or only with children under 12 years on an open boat less than 4.8m in length while underway
• Crossing designated coastal bars on an open ship and on an open area of a boat of any length and on certain craft
• Children one year or more and under 12 years are on an open boat or an open area of a boat of any length while underway
• Nighttime boating, between sunset and sunrise on an open boat less than 4.8m in length while underway.

 

These rules apply to a wide range of boats and craft and you must wear a life jacket when crossing a designated coastal bar in the following types of craft:

• Small sail boats (funboats, lasers, herons)
• Pedal boats
• Rafts (including inflatable rafts)
• Rowboats (excluding those operated by Surf Life Saving Australia clubs)
• Sea and surf kayaks.

Note that this requirement does not apply to users of:

• Body or boogie boards
• Surf boards
• Wind surfers
• Kite surfers
• Stand-up paddle boards.

The lifejacket rules for riding a jet ski (personal watercraft) remain the same.

Why the change?

The law is changing in the interest of public safety, to ensure you, your passengers and loved ones get home safely.

In the past five years, there were 64 boating fatalities in Queensland, and only five were known to be wearing their life jacket at the time of the incident.

Data shows that the people who are at the highest risk of drowning at sea include children and those boating alone or at night, or when crossing coastal bars.

This law change will also bring Queensland in line with the safety standards of other states.

Life jackets

A life jacket is a vital piece of safety equipment that could save your life.

The best idea is to make sure you wear it.

Put the life jacket on as part of your pre-trip preparation.

It is a lot harder to put a life jacket on in the water during an emergency.

All life jackets must be marked with the appropriate label indicating the life jacket level.

This label is marked by the manufacturer and should be on the life jacket at the time of purchase.

For use in open waters

‘Level 100’, ‘Level 150’ or ‘Level 275’ for life jackets. You can wear this type of life jacket in smooth and partially smooth waters as well.

For use in partially smooth waters

‘Level 50’ for life jackets.

This type of life jacket:

• Helps keep you afloat but does not have a collar to keep the head above water
• Can be worn in smooth waters as well
• Can be used by skiers or people being towed in smooth or partially smooth waters
• Can be used by personal watercraft riders in smooth and partially smooth waters or beyond those waters.

For use in smooth waters

‘Level 50 special purpose’ or ‘Level 50S’ for life jackets.

This type of life jacket:

• May be a specified buoyancy wet suit
• Is for use in smooth water and only where the user is likely to be in the water for a short time
• Can be used by skiers or people being towed in smooth waters
• Can be used by PWC riders in smooth waters.

 

Coastal and SOLAS life jackets

These life jackets have more flotation than a Level 100 life jacket.

They are bulky life jackets designed to keep the body afloat for long periods.

They have reflective tape and a whistle to attract attention.

These life jackets are mostly carried by commercial boats and recommended to be carried by boats operating long distances offshore.

 

Inflatable life jackets

Inflatable life jackets must comply with the same standards as foam life jackets.

They must be gas inflated and not rely on oral inflation only.

Inflatable life jackets are also required to have markings that show the level of buoyancy that the life jacket will provide.

Inflatable life jackets used on a recreational boat must show an expiry date and be serviced by the manufacturer or authorised service agent before the expiry date.

Servicing inflatable life jackets

The emergence of affordable, comfortable and stylish life jackets is a major step forward in boating safety.

Inflatable life jackets are rapidly gaining popularity because of their convenience and increasing affordability.

As life jackets spend so much time in a harsh marine environment where they are often exposed to heat, sun and salt, they are subject to damage.

One aspect of inflatables that boaters are often unaware of is that Queensland regulations require inflatable life jackets to be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.

Manufacturer’s servicing

Some manufacturers require you to have your life jacket serviced by them or by an authorised agent.

This will ensure it remains in good working order and functions properly.

When the life jacket is serviced, checks will be carried out to ensure the bladder, reflective tapes, buckles and straps are in working order and that the inflation system and oral inflation tube are operating correctly.

Contact the manufacturer or the place of purchase for further details.

Self-servicing

Some manufacturers allow you to ‘self-service’ your life jacket, provided you do so in accordance with their instructions.

If the manufacturer allows self-servicing and you feel competent to do so, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

If there is a service record on the inside of the jacket, sign and date the service record with a permanent marker.

Otherwise, you should ensure that the date of service is marked on the life jacket in line with the manufacturer’s requirements.

If you do not feel competent to self-service your life jacket, you should get it serviced professionally.

This is a higher level of inspection and replacement of parts than ‘self-service’.

Keep all servicing receipts and certificates of servicing as documentary evidence of the service occurring.

You do not need to keep this on the boat.

Keeping a safety equipment log for your vessel is a good way to record service or replacement dates.

Guidance on how to self-check your inflatable life jacket

Self-checking a life jacket can be done at any time to ensure the jacket is functioning properly.

If you want to self-service your life jacket, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific life jacket model.

Generally, these will follow the below steps.

Step 1:

• Check for visible signs of wear and damage
• Ensure all fastenings and buckles are in good working order.

Step 2:

• Following the manufacturer’s instructions, reveal the inflation system and oral inflation tube
• Inflate the bladder using the oral tube and leave overnight in a room with a constant temperature
• If the bladder loses pressure, immediately take the life jacket to an accredited service agent for further tests
• Do not attempt to repair your life jacket yourself.

Step 3:

• Use the cap attached to the oral inflation tube to deflate the bladder
• Invert the cap and press down on the valve at the top of the oral tube
• Do not insert other objects into the top of the tube as they may damage the valve
• Roll or press the life jacket to deflate fully.

Step 4:

• Remove the CO2 cylinder and inspect it
• The cylinder should be intact, with no rust or corrosion
• Weigh the cylinder on kitchen or letter scales and ensure its weight corresponds to the minimum gross weight engraved on the cylinder +/– 2g
• If the cylinder is rusted, corroded, has been pierced or is not the correct weight it should be replaced immediately
• On auto inflation life jackets also ensure that auto components are armed and in date
• Refit the cylinder to the inflation system, tightening it by hand until firm
• Do not over tighten.

Step 5:

• Repack the lifejacket as per its manufacturer’s instructions
• Ensure the manual inflation toggle is accessible and unlikely to be caught when being worn in general activities.

MSQ Qld – Lifejackets

MSQ Qld – Changes