Hire and Drive System For NSW

The NSW Maritime Authority has prepared a new system for licensing hire and drive activities in NSW which applies to powered hire vessels which are under 6m in length and human powered and ‘off the beach’ sailing vessels of any length.

The Authority has developed a series of ‘Information Packages’ to describe the new system. Each package deals with a different type of hire operation. The seven packages cover hire and drive operations involving the following:

1. Small powered vessels (ie those which are capable of less than 10 knots)
2. High performance powered vessels (ie those which are capable of 10 knots or more and for which the hirer requires a boat driver’s licence)
3. Personal watercraft hire to licensed riders
4. Personal watercraft hire to unlicensed riders
5. Small sailing vessels
6. Human powered vessels (ie rowboats, aquabikes, canoes, kayaks and the like)
7. Canoe/kayak tours (ie accompanied by a tour leader).

Fees

Fees are payable to the NSW Maritime Authority in connection with hire and drive activities. All owners/operators must pay annual licence fees however the other fees will be payable only if the service is required due to the nature of the operation/vessel(s).

Licensed Hire and Drive Operators

A list of Hire and Drive operators which are licensed by NSW Maritime Authority to conduct hire boat operations on NSW waters is updated on a monthly basis.

Hire and Drive Packages

The Hire and Drive packages can be viewed below as pdf files or copies can be obtained from any NSW Maritime Authority office.

• Application Form for Hire and Drive;
• Additional Vessel Information Sheet (to accompany Hire and Drive application);
• Applying for a Hire and Drive Licence (High Performance Power Driven Vessels);
• Applying for a Hire and Drive Licence (Human Powered Vessels);
• Applying for a Hire and Drive Licence for Kayak/Canoe Tours (Accompanied by a Tour Leader);
• Applying for a Hire and Drive Licence (PWC to Licensed Riders);
• Applying for a Hire and Drive Licence (Small Sailing Vessels;
• Applying for a Hire and Drive Licence (Small Power Driven Vessels);
• Checklist for Emergency Management Plan;
• Checklist for Hire and Drive Licence Application;
• FAQ for Hire and Drive;
• (PWC Hire to Unlicensed Riders) Information for Existing Hire and Drive Operators;
• Is Assessment by Commercial Operations Branch Required?
• On-water Education Plan for PWC Hire;
• Register of Hirers;
• Smooth Waters Limits for Hire and Drive.
• Statutory Declaration Hire And Drive – Kayaks And Canoes

If you do not have a copy of Adobe Acrobat, please link to the site to download the Portable Document Format (.pdf) Reader.