What is the fastest legal speed you may operate your vessel when passing within 200 ft of a dock or marina?

All vessels must travel at a safe speed at all times. A safe speed gives you enough time to stop or turn your vessel to avoid any sudden danger, such as a collision, injury to people, or damage to things.

Most NSW waterways have no speed limit. However, you must always travel at a safe speed.

A safe speed depends on many variables. These include the conditions, time of day, type of vessel, and your experience driving it. As the skipper, a safe speed is something you must constantly judge and adjust as you travel.

When judging your vessel's speed, you must always consider these circumstances and conditions:

• visibility – for example, rain, fog, mist, smoke or glare
• other vessels – on busy waterways and near moored or anchored vessels, commercial vessels displaying special signals, and large vessels that are restricted in their manoeuvrability
• manoeuvrability of your vessel – in particular the distance it takes to stop or turn. Your manoeuvrability is affected by your speed, the wind and current, and the vessel's design.
• at night (between sunset and sunrise) – potential hazards may not be lit or easily seen. Background lights on the shore – or even lights on your own vessel – can make it hard to see other vessels.
• navigation hazards – such as unmarked or unlit hazards, and signs, buoys, marks or lights that have moved or been damaged.
• shallow water – water depth can vary and change frequently.

In these circumstances or conditions you may need to slow down to travel at a safe speed.

If you drive at a speed that's not safe for the conditions, your licence can be cancelled and your vessel can be taken away.

Speed limits

Some areas do have speed limits. Where there's a speed sign, you must not travel faster than the speed shown on the sign.

Even when there's a speed limit, you must travel at a safe speed at all times. This may mean going slower than the speed limit.

Speed limits are in knots, in the direction shown by arrows on the sign. They are usually 4 or 8 knots, but can also be 6, 10 or 15 knots.

There are also speed limits when towing.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Transit Zone has a 15 knot speed limit.

1. How can I Request a “Slow Speed, No Wake” barrel?

   A1: The Marine Services Bureau determines whether requests for Slow Speed/No Wake Buoys are necessary. If a request is approved, the Marine Services Bureau will coordinate with the agency in charge of placing Slow Speed/No Wake Buoys. 

   To make a request for a Slow Speed/No Wake Buoy, you must contact the Marine Services Bureau Station that is closest to the location of the requested Slow Speed/No Wake Buoy. To locate a Marine Services Bureau Station, please click HERE. 

2. I found an abandoned boat, can I use it as my own?

   A2: There are steps that one is required to take prior to using a vessel as their own. Follow the steps listed in the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s “Application for Title to an Abandoned Vessel” at: https://www.state.nj.us/mvcbiz/Abandoned/Abandoned_vessels.htm

3. What is “Slow Speed, No-Wake?”

   A3: Speed or No-wake is regulated by both, Title 12:7-45 Speed of Power Vessels and Title 13:82-1.7 Speed. It states that the speed of a power vessel should be regulated to avoid injury or damage to property.  Additionally, if you are within 200ft  of any marina, pier, dock or waft; work floats or barges engaged in work; through bridge openings less than 400ft wide; through waterways less than 200ft wide; vessels not under command; any vessel with flashing emergency lights activated. What does this mean? Within 200ft of any of the above listed conditions you are required to operate your vessel at minimum headway speed, regardless of the presence of a sign or buoy. If you are causing a wake, you are going to fast!

   

Who has the right-of-way?

A2: The right-of-way is determined by International and Inland Navigation Rules, as well as, New Jersey State Rules. A copy of the United States Coast Guard’s Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook can be downloaded in PDF format at: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRuleChanges

New Jersey rules can be found by clicking on the following links: Title 12 Chapter 7 [pdf] and Title 13 Chapter 82 [pdf]

Also, see the below diagrams for more common meeting situations.

Rule 15: Crossing Situation:

What is the appropriate action of each vessel operator?

• In a crossing situation, the vessel which has the other on its starboard side shall keep out of the way

Rule 14: Head-on Situation

What is the appropriate action of each vessel operator?

• Each shall alter their course to starboard
• When a vessel is in any doubt if the condition exists, assume the condition does exist and act accordingly

Useful Links

Find out about speed limits, speed restrictions and restricted zones when out on the water.

Speed limits

Speed limits apply where high-speed boats may be a hazard to other water users. Various harbours, areas of the Port Adelaide River, metropolitan beaches and some country beaches, and sections of the River Murray are subject to speed limits.

If you intend boating, waterskiing, or using a personal watercraft in unfamiliar areas, make sure you find out about any speed restrictions by contacting Marine Safety.

Always drive slowly when visibility is low. For example, at night, and in rain, fog, mist, smoke, or glare.

Speed restrictions

Four-knot speed restriction

A four-knot speed restriction applies:

• within 50 metres of
  • a person in the water
  • a vessel or buoy displaying a flag indicating that there is a diver below (international code flag A)
  • a person in or on a canoe, kayak, surf-ski, surfboard, sailboard, or similar small unpowered recreational vessel
• within 30 metres of any other vessel, whether stationary or underway, that may be adversely affected by your wash
• within 100 metres of a ferry crossing on the River Murray
• within a mooring area or boat haven
• to waters within a number of marinas and restricted areas throughout South Australia - limits in such areas should be clearly signposted, but it is your responsibility to know the restrictions that apply wherever you go boating
• within 30 metres of a jetty, wharf, or other places at which a boat is being launched or retrieved.

A four-knot speed restriction also applies to all personal watercraft, (jet-ski or wave runner), within 200 metres of the metropolitan shoreline. This includes restrictions between Outer Harbor southern breakwater, the southern end of Sellicks Beach, and the backwaters of the River Murray - unless zoned otherwise.

Similar restrictions apply to beachfront areas on many popular swimming and tourist beaches. These areas are generally well signposted but check with the local council about speed restrictions that may apply wherever you intend to operate a personal watercraft.

Seven-knot speed restriction

A seven-knot speed limit applies in some aquatic reserves, harbours, and boat havens and will be indicated by signs ashore or on the water.

A seven-knot speed restriction also applies to some parts of the Barker Inlet and North Arm of the Port River for the safety of all water users and marine life.

Port River speed limit map

Ten-knot speed restriction

A 10-knot speed restriction applies while a boat, not a personal watercraft, is being operated by an unlicensed person - minimum age 12 years with a licensed person in charge. Personal watercraft may only be operated by an unlicensed person as part of a small vessel hire and drive business that has been licensed by the Department for Planning, Transport, and Infrastructure.

Similar speed restrictions also apply to many local areas. These restrictions are often detailed on signs located along the shoreline or near boat ramps.

Restricted areas

There are many areas along the South Australian coastline and inland waterways that have restrictions on the type of boating activities that can be carried out. Signs are in place to advise about restrictions. There are penalties if you do not observe the controls or speed restrictions provided on these signs.