REMEMBER TO PREPARE FOR YOUR TRIP
"YOU'RE THE SKIPPER, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY"
Click the image below to access the live web cam of Kalbarri
The Murchison River Mouth
Local knowledge
Navigation of the sand bar at the Kalbarri river mouth can be dangerous and skippers are advised to consider the safety tips included on the chart above, it may also be downloaded HERE. The Mid West is known for the strong southerly winds that prevail during the summer months. Skippers are advised to check the weather reports before heading out on the water. Winds can blow up quite suddenly and reach speeds of 30 knots, making the return journey hazardous to small vessels.
Recreational Skipper’s Ticket (RST)
The person in charge of a recreational vessel with a motor of 6 horsepower or less is not required to hold a Recreational Skipper’s Ticket (RST).
A skipper in charge of a recreational vessel with a motor greater than 6 horsepower is required to hold an RST and carry it when boating.
Age restrictions
A person under 10 years may not drive a motor boat. RST holders over 14 but under 16 years of age are restricted to operating during daylight hours at a speed less than 8 knots.
Interstate skipper’s tickets
If you hold a valid/current interstate ticket, recognised by DoT and you enter, as a visitor or with the intention of permanently residing in Western Australia, you have three months to have the qualification recognised.
General speed limit restrictions
It is illegal, in any navigable waters to drive a motor boat at a speed exceeding 8 knots, water ski or para-sail,
the speed limit on the Murchison river is 8 knots.
Personal water craft (PWC)
Every skipper of a PWC must hold an RST. A skipper who is older than 14 but under 16 years of age with an RST can only operate a PWC during daylight hours at a maximum speed of 8 knots.
• Every person on board a PWC must wear a lifejacket (minimum 50S) at all times.
• When travelling beyond 400 metres from shore in unprotected waters you need:
– a GPS enabled EPIRB or PLB (must be worn); and – flares or electronic visual distress signal device.
• Beyond 4 nautical miles from shore in unprotected waters a marine radio must also be carried.
Aids to navigation
It is illegal to interfere with, remove or damage any beacon, buoy or other artificial aid to navigation. Without permission in writing from the Department of Transport (DoT), it is illegal to secure any vessel to any beacon, buoy, seamark or other aid to navigation.
Obstruction of navigation aids, channels and lead, cray pots, lines and floats, drop nets, fishing nets, marker buoys or other buoyed objects can not be placed or allowed to remain in any channel or fairway in any port or harbour, or in any channel, fairway or passage in any navigable waters without the permission of DoT.
You also can’t anchor or moor a vessel in any channel or fairway, unless the vessel is in distress.
The Marine Chart of Kalbarri waters can be downloaded HERE
Further Information on Kalbarri can be accessed HERE on the Department of Transport website.
Navigation of the sand bar at the Kalbarri river mouth can be dangerous and skippers are advised to consider the safety tips included on the chart above, it may also be downloaded HERE. The Mid West is known for the strong southerly winds that prevail during the summer months. Skippers are advised to check the weather reports before heading out on the water. Winds can blow up quite suddenly and reach speeds of 30 knots, making the return journey hazardous to small vessels.
Recreational Skipper’s Ticket (RST)
The person in charge of a recreational vessel with a motor of 6 horsepower or less is not required to hold a Recreational Skipper’s Ticket (RST).
A skipper in charge of a recreational vessel with a motor greater than 6 horsepower is required to hold an RST and carry it when boating.
Age restrictions
A person under 10 years may not drive a motor boat. RST holders over 14 but under 16 years of age are restricted to operating during daylight hours at a speed less than 8 knots.
Interstate skipper’s tickets
If you hold a valid/current interstate ticket, recognised by DoT and you enter, as a visitor or with the intention of permanently residing in Western Australia, you have three months to have the qualification recognised.
General speed limit restrictions
It is illegal, in any navigable waters to drive a motor boat at a speed exceeding 8 knots, water ski or para-sail,
the speed limit on the Murchison river is 8 knots.
Personal water craft (PWC)
Every skipper of a PWC must hold an RST. A skipper who is older than 14 but under 16 years of age with an RST can only operate a PWC during daylight hours at a maximum speed of 8 knots.
• Every person on board a PWC must wear a lifejacket (minimum 50S) at all times.
• When travelling beyond 400 metres from shore in unprotected waters you need:
– a GPS enabled EPIRB or PLB (must be worn); and – flares or electronic visual distress signal device.
• Beyond 4 nautical miles from shore in unprotected waters a marine radio must also be carried.
Aids to navigation
It is illegal to interfere with, remove or damage any beacon, buoy or other artificial aid to navigation. Without permission in writing from the Department of Transport (DoT), it is illegal to secure any vessel to any beacon, buoy, seamark or other aid to navigation.
Obstruction of navigation aids, channels and lead, cray pots, lines and floats, drop nets, fishing nets, marker buoys or other buoyed objects can not be placed or allowed to remain in any channel or fairway in any port or harbour, or in any channel, fairway or passage in any navigable waters without the permission of DoT.
You also can’t anchor or moor a vessel in any channel or fairway, unless the vessel is in distress.
The Marine Chart of Kalbarri waters can be downloaded HERE
Further Information on Kalbarri can be accessed HERE on the Department of Transport website.
