business.gov.au

Hire and Drive Vessel Operator Licence - Victoria

Description

You will require this licence if you operate a boat hire business where you allow one or more hire and drive vessels to be hired to people for use on regulated waterways. A hire and drive vessel is a watercraft vessel that is intended to be let, leased, or hired to people, including vessels provided at a holiday establishment for the use of tenants or guests.

Vessels are usually boats with an enclosed engine able to be driven by a person without a boat licence. They may be used for day trips or in the case of houseboats, hired for days or weeks at a time.

Generally, licensing arrangements apply to hire operators of:

  • personal water craft (also known as PWCs or jet skis)
  • mechanically powered hire and drive vessels capable of ten knots or more.

Please consult the responsible agency for more information and to ascertain the level of compliance (if any) that may be required.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for this licence you must:

  • be aged sixteen years or over
  • submit an application that contains all the required information
  • be willing to abide by any conditions imposed on your licence
  • possess a relevant and current boat licence
  • have a current certificate of survey for each vessel
  • pay the prescribed fee.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

You will need to abide by any conditions placed on your licence by the Agency, including the requirement to display notice of this licence on your vessel. You will also need to:

  • maintain all vessels in a seaworthy state
  • make your vessels available for inspection when required by the agency
  • develop safety management plans for each hire and drive fleet
  • offer pre-trip safety briefing and sign a safety checklist before you hire any vessel (whether mechanically powered or not)
  • display safety information on vessels.

Duration

Up to five years.

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Description
Apply Application All

Please consult the responsible agency for information on fees to be submitted.

Forms

Act(s) name

Marine Safety Act 2010 Victoria

Regulation(s) name

Marine Safety Regulations 2012 Victoria

Application process

Apply

Your written application must provide all the required information, including:

  • your name and address
  • the number of vessels to be hired under the permit with details of dimensions of each vessel, the identifying number or mark on each vessel and, if applicable, the name of each vessel
  • a copy of a current certificate of survey for each vessel.

Administering agency

Department of Transport

Transport Safety Victoria

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.