Recreational marine driver licence
In Queensland, a marine licence is required to operate a recreational boat which is powered by a motor greater than 4.5 kW (over 6 hp) and you must have a personal watercraft (PWC) licence to operate a personal watercraft.
Valid marine licences
Licences are issued by Maritime Safety Queensland in accordance with the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 and include:
- recreational marine driver licence
- recreational ship master's licence
- speed boat driver's licence
- current commercial marine licence as master – for example, coxswain.
Equivalent licences
Licences issued by other safety authorities within the Commonwealth of Australia or other entities recognised by Maritime Safety Queensland include current boating licences issued in other states (excludes junior licences).
Maritime Safety Queensland also recognises overseas licences in some situations. Find out more about overseas licences.
Obtaining a licence
To obtain a Queensland recreational marine driver licence you must:
- be aged 16 years or older
- demonstrate you are competent to navigate and manage a recreational boat by successfully completing an approved BoatSafe licence training course
- complete the Medical Fitness Disclosure Statement (PDF, 25 KB) and present it to the BoatSafe training provider at enrolment for the BoatSafe course – if you are unable to complete the Medical Fitness Disclosure Statement due to concern about your medical fitness, you should contact Maritime Safety Queensland on +61 7 3120 7354z
- provide satisfactory evidence of identity.
After you have successfully completed an approved BoatSafe training course, you must present the statement of competency (copies are not accepted), a licence application form and acceptable evidence of identity in person at a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre. If your original statement of competency is lost, you must get a replacement from your training provider.
Queensland's boat licensing application fee for a lifetime recreational marine driver licence is:
- A$68.50 if you apply at a customer service centre that issues the new licence cards
- A$42.55 at a customer service centre where new cards are not available yet.
Find out which customer service centres have the new cards and more information about the new Queensland driver licence.
Training courses
Licence applicants must successfully complete a BoatSafe approved training course.
Recognition of other qualifications, training or experience
The Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 and its subordinate legislation provides an alternative to the completion of the full BoatSafe competency-based training and assessment course. The recognition of prior learning process caters for those who can provide evidence of other relevant qualifications, training or experience in vessel operations. If this relates to your situation please contact an approved BoatSafe training provider for consideration and assessment under the recognition of prior learning process.
Assessment in remote locations
BoatSafe provides for assessment by approved Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol assessors in remote locations within Queensland. This service is only available where the location is not and cannot be serviced by an approved BoatSafe training provider and the person seeking assessment is a bona fide resident in the remote location. Maritime Safety Queensland cannot guarantee the delivery of this service to those who do not meet these criteria – visitors to remote areas who require a recreational marine driver licence should ensure they acquire one in advance.
Interstate licence
Current and valid recreational boat licences (excluding junior licences) issued by an interstate marine authority may be used in Queensland while they remain current. Maritime Safety Queensland recommends if you move to Queensland that you obtain a Queensland recreational marine driver licence.
You can obtain a Queensland recreational marine driver licence by going to a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre with:
- your current interstate recreational boat licence
- a completed licence application form
- the fee of:
- A$68.50 if you apply at a customer service centre that issues the new licence cards
- A$42.55 at a customer service centre where new cards are not available yet.
You will then be issued with a confirmation report stating that you are the holder of a Queensland recreational marine driver licence.
Expired interstate licences will not be accepted for conversion to a Queensland licence. If your interstate licence has expired, you will need to either renew your licence with the relevant interstate marine authority or meet Queensland's recreational marine driver licence requirements stated above.
Unlicensed drivers
Unlicensed drivers may drive a boat provided a licensed driver is onboard supervising and is able to take immediate control of the boat. Unlicensed drivers must not operate boats while towing someone else by a line attached to the ship for example, someone waterskiing or riding a toboggan or tube.
Queensland's virtual licence
In 2000, Maritime Safety Queensland changed from a paper-based boat licence to a virtual licence. Licence details are recorded in a computerised database which is accessible by on-water enforcement officers such as Water Police and Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol.
New licences will only be issued with a printed confirmation statement verifying they hold a recreational marine driver licence if requested. The virtual licence is valid for life. All current Queensland recreational marine driver licences, including the old speed boat driver licence and recreational ship master licence automatically become life-time licences.
If you are going boating interstate, you should carry a confirmation statement as proof that you hold a Queensland licence.
Recreational marine driver licence holders are advised that proof of their licence may be required when hiring a vessel and the confirmation report serves this purpose.
Queensland marine licence indicator
From 10 July 2006, if you have either a recreational marine driver licence or a personal watercraft licence you can have a marine licence indicator included on your Queensland driver licence.
You do not need to take any action to have the indicator added to your licence. The marine licence indicator will be automatically added to your driver licence when you renew or obtain a new licence at a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre or licence issuing agency.
If you choose to renew your driver licence online, you are issued with a renewal label. The marine licence indicator is not included on the renewal label. If you hold a recreational marine driver licence or personal watercraft licence and would like it included on your driver licence, you should renew your licence in person at a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre or licence issuing agency.
The recreational marine driver licence is still considered a virtual licence and valid for life. Paper licences and confirmation reports are adequate proof that you have a recreational marine driver licence.
If you do not want to wait for your next driver licence renewal and would like the indicator added to your licence now, you will have to apply in person at a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre or licence issuing agency for a replacement licence. You will need to pay a fee and a replacement licence will be issued.
New Queensland driver licence
The Queensland Government is introducing more secure, more durable and more credible licences, authorities and proof of age cards to replace the laminated cards and marine licence confirmation reports that have been used for the past 20 years.
The new cards use smartcard technology and are extremely hard to tamper with or duplicate. The Department of Transport and Main Roads began transitioning to the new cards in late 2010. It is expected that all customer service centres will have the new cards by the end of 2011.
When the cards are introduced, a marine licence indicator will be put on the back of your driver licence if you hold one. A blue marine licence indicator will be given to applicants who do not hold a vehicle driver licence.
The cards will be introduced in a rolling program, with cardholders transitioning to the new cards when their existing licence or authority expires. Queensland driver licences are issued for a period of up to five years, so it will take approximately five years for all cardholders to replace their laminated licences or authorities with the new cards. During that time, both laminated cards and the new cards will be recognised licences, authorities and proof of age cards (provided they are current).
Find out more information about the new marine licence indicator card.
Changing licence information
Licence details can be changed at any time. You can do this by:
- Writing to:
Customer Service Direct
Department of Transport and Main Roads
GPO Box 2451
Brisbane Queensland 4001
- Going to a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre.
- Calling the Department of Transport and Main Roads customer information telephone service.
Queensland residents – 13 23 80b
- Going to the Department of Transport and Main Roads home page www.tmr.qld.gov.au and selecting 'change your address' from the services online section.
Replacing a licence
Now that Maritime Safety Queensland has a virtual boating licence, there is no need to replace your existing licence. Licence holders can however request a confirmation report outlining licence particulars. There is a fee for obtaining a confirmation report.
Suspension of licence
If the holder of a marine licence accrues three or more safety infringements or a drink driving offence, their marine licence may be cancelled or suspended.
Hire and drive ships
The user of a hire and drive ship (includes hire boats that are six metres or less and personal watercraft, or jet skis) must hold a recreational marine driver licence in the following circumstances:
- When operating at night, between sunset and sunrise.
- When operating at speeds in excess of 10 knots when beyond the direct sight and supervision of the hire and drive ship provider or designated tour guide.
- When operating outside smooth waters when beyond the direct sight and supervision of the hire and drive ship provider or designated tour guide.
A person under the age of 16 operating a hire vessel must be under the direct supervision of a person who is 18 years of age or older.
Briefing requirements for providers have been expanded, and require:
- the person conducting the briefing holds at least a recreational marine driver licence, and a personal watercraft licence in the case of personal watercraft
- the first 99 briefings be overseen by a coxswain or an experienced recreational marine driver licence holder
- the person overseeing briefings does not need to be present at each briefing.
The user of a hire and drive ship must operate in accordance with the conditions of the provider or tour guide. This includes confirming their medical fitness to operate the vessel safely, stating the number of intended passengers and supplying any other information requested to verify the user's age and level of competency.
Further information about hire and drive ships can be found in the Transport Operations (Marine Safety-Hire and Drive Ships) Standard 2007 (PDF, 250 KB).
bOperates Monday to Friday 8am-5pm EST (GMT +10) excluding public holidays. Local call charge in Australia. Higher rates apply from mobile phones and payphones. For international callers phone +61 7 3834 2011 this service operates Monday to Friday 8.30 am–5 pm EST (GMT +10) excluding public holidays.
zLocal call – higher rates may apply outside local area or from mobile phones.
