Marine safety
Backing Queensland Maritime Jobs
The $21 million Backing Queensland Maritime Jobs Initiative, undertaken by Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) in partnership with industry, developed grant programs to deliver on the government's commitment to increase skills and employment opportunities for Queensland mariners.
The initiative was a bold approach to create coastal shipping services crewed by Queensland mariners, improving economic and logistical resilience and reducing Queensland's reliance on foreign flagged vessels.
The initiative funded two new Coastal Shipping services for two years creating 12 new full-time maritime jobs. Employment and port cadetship programs funded 14 new jobs, including eight trainees or cadets. Grants were provided to nine maritime organisations, creating 12 newly qualified Masters up to 45 metres (Near Coastal) and five Marine Engine Drivers Grade 1 (Near Coastal), improving opportunities for promotion.
In a Queensland first, the initiative funded TAFE Queensland to develop the Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Integrated Rating). The Great Barrier Reef International Marine College will train up to 14 students, three times a year. The initial two courses commencing in March 2024.
The initiative also developed a new Lifeboat Training Facility located at the MSQ Cairns Operations Base with a lifeboat permanently stored ready to be launched by students. The facility was used successfully during the first two courses to meet an essential crew competency requirement.
For more information: https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/about-us/maritime-jobs
Maritime Stewardship—Queensland's Vessel Traffic Service
MSQ operates an extensive Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) network spanning a 13,000 kilometre section of Queensland's Coastline. The network, comprised of five centres across Queensland, covers 22 trading ports and key areas of the Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef (Reef VTS). VTS enhances maritime safety by improving navigation efficiency and mitigating environmental risk.
Working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and in all weather, VTS operators play a crucial role in managing shipping risks by monitoring the real-time movement of vessels, responding to developing unsafe situations, and coordinating port shipping movements. In the event of a developing unsafe situation the VTS operators raise the ship by marine radio, providing advice to resolve the situation safely and efficiently. This proactive approach ensures the safety of life at sea and minimises the risk of accidents or environmental damage.
In 2024–25, VTS managed 28,794 movements through Queensland ports and 11,512 voyages within the Reef VTS area.
Lifejacket reforms
MSQ has been working to reduce the loss of lives through drowning in marine incidents.
It's well established that lifejackets save lives, but only if they are being worn. Having a lifejacket for each person on a boat has long been required in Queensland. However, new laws that commenced 1 December 2024 require boaters to wear lifejackets during certain heightened risk activities. These include:
- boating alone (or with children)
- boating at night
- children (under 12)
- when crossing coastal bars.
By 1 September 2025, lifejackets carried on recreational boats in Queensland must meet the current Australian standard (AS4758).
New rules also apply to people crossing coastal bars in certain craft, including small sailboats, pedal boats, rafts, rowboats, and sea or surf kayaks.
MSQ, water police, and fisheries patrols have been prioritising education and awareness through the media, online, and on the water. Enforcement will commence from 1 July 2025.
For more information: https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/safety/life-jackets
Maritime Enforcement Team
The Maritime Enforcement Team (MET) undertakes enforcement, engagement, and education activities throughout Queensland waterways, primarily utilising personal watercraft (PWC). MET was formed in 2019 and, following a trial period, became a permanent unit within Waterways Management in 2021. At the end of 2023, MET expanded with a further four officers based in Mooloolaba to increase MSQ's presence throughout Sunshine Coast waterways.
During 2024–25, MET conducted over 5000 on-water vessel intercepts from Townsville to Gold Coast and as far west as Longreach. They also attended a number of safety days at inland dams and education events at boat ramps, shows, and industry events along the Queensland coast.
The PWC community is the fastest growing within the marine sector, not only in Queensland but across Australia. To reach this community, the MET heavily engaged with PWC operators with on-water intercepts, through marine retailers, on social media groups, and through assistance with charity events.
MET co-ordinated and led the inaugural on-water river parade for the Melt festival. Melt festival is an open access festival of Queer Arts and Culture staged across Brisbane. With over 50 vessels in the on-water parade in addition to Brisbane River marine traffic, MET assisted in ensuring the river parade sailed smoothly from West End to the Brisbane Powerhouse.
MET work collaboratively with MSQ regions across the state and compliance partners to patrol high-risk and low-compliance waterways to address unsafe behaviours through targeted marine safety campaigns. An increased on-water presence during 2024–25 in waterways such as Noosa River has reduced complaints and increased compliant behaviours, ensuring our waterways are accessible and safe for the boating public.
Marine fatalities and marine injuries
In 2024–25, reported marine incidents in Queensland resulted in 8 fatalities and 31 serious injuries. The number of reported marine incidents involving at least one Queensland regulated ship has increased from 296 to 326 and the number of fatalities has remained the same from the 2023–24 period.
Figure 3 indicates the number of people who have died during the last ten financial years in a reported marine incident that involved at least one Queensland regulated ship. These people have been classified as masters or passengers of boats, the masters and passengers of PWC, swimmers which includes divers and snorkelers, and water skiers which includes anyone being towed by a vessel of any kind.
| Financial Year | Boat: Master | Boat: Passenger | PWC | Swimmer | Water skier | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 2016–17 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 2017–18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 2018–19 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2019–20 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 2020–21 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2021–22 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2022–23 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2023–24 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 2024–25 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Figure 4 indicates the number of people who have been admitted to a hospital during the last ten financial years for the treatment of injuries sustained in a reported marine incident that involved at least one Queensland regulated ship. MSQ works actively to address the causes of marine incidents through compliance and education activities.
| Financial Year | Boat: Master | Boat: Passenger | PWC | Swimmer | Water skier | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 37 |
| 2016–17 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 33 |
| 2017–18 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 35 |
| 2018–19 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 36 |
| 2019–20 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 35 |
| 2020–21 | 7 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 36 |
| 2021–22 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 40 |
| 2022–23 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 21 |
| 2023–24 | 19 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| 2024–25 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 31 |
For more information: https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/about-us/marine-incident-annual-reports
War on Wrecks
In July 2018, the Queensland Government committed $20 million across four years, to remove derelict and abandoned vessels from Queensland waterways. An additional $15 million was committed to extend the War on Wrecks initiative for another three years, until 30 June 2025.
As a result of the initiative there are now 1746 fewer derelict vessels in Queensland waters. MSQ and its partner agencies have removed 1040 vessels, while 706 were removed or resolved by owners or others.
During 2024–25 the War on Wrecks program resulted in 283 fewer derelict vessels, with MSQ and its partner agencies removing 163 vessels and the other 120 were removed or resolved by owners or others.
MSQ will continue to remove derelict and abandoned vessels from Queensland waterways through the Keeping Our Waterways Safe program.
As at 30 June 2025, MSQ is currently monitoring 589 vessels of interest, 224 derelicts, and 365 potential derelicts. Vessels of interest are regularly added to the list and either more frequently monitored or removed.
For more information: https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/about-us/news-and-stories/taskforce-continues-gaining-ground-in-war-on-wrecks
Cross-border maritime response exercise
Australia's economy and lifestyle depends on the import and export of goods through shipping, which comes with the potential for a low frequency but high-risk on-water incident.
MSQ joined the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Transport for New South Wales (NSW) to practice responding to a ship-sourced pollution incident on the Queensland and NSW border.
Exercise Dumaresq saw over 200 participants from around Australia respond to a fictional incident that caused marine pollution to impact the southern Queensland and northern NSW shorelines and estuaries.
Exercise Dumaresq's fictitious scenario involved the 'MV Atlantic' losing 36 shipping containers overboard while located approximately ten nautical miles east-northeast of the Tweed River. One of the floating containers punctured the portside forward bunker tanker, releasing 100 tonnes of very low sulphur fuel oil into the water. Modelling indicated oil and shipping containers were likely to run ashore in Queensland and NSW coastal waters.
MSQ and Transport for NSW were tasked by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to stand up Incident Management Teams and respond to potential pollution.
The exercise response involved deployment of vessels and marine pollution response equipment including boom, skimmers, and decontamination stations.
The exercise was a controlled, simulated event that provided an opportunity to prepare for a real event and test cross-jurisdictional arrangements associated with the prioritisation of marine pollution response equipment from national stockpiles, biosecurity and transport of animals, and unified media outputs and messaging.
Smartship augmented reality simulator
Smartship Australia's augmented reality ship simulator was commissioned in August 2024 and has now been integrated into several training programs.
Augmented reality mixes the virtual digital world with actual hardware used on ship bridges to provide an enhanced immersive training experience. Mariners wear state-of-the-art headsets that also incorporate video cameras to provide the blended imagery.
The 360-degree “green room” arrangement is the first of its kind for ship simulators and was specially constructed to house the new simulator.
The new simulator utilises the latest ship simulation software, including a new graphics engine for enhanced realism. All Smartship simulators will be migrated to this software platform.
Smartship Australia continues to work with its technology partner to develop and enhance the new platform to deliver high-quality immersive ship simulations that meet, and often exceed, customer expectations.
Torres Strait Marine Safety Program
MSQ is continuing its efforts to improve marine safety in the Torres Strait region and deliver the Torres Strait Marine Safety Program (TSMSP).
The TSMSP began in 2006 in response to the alarming number of search and rescue incidents, some with tragic outcomes, in the region. It is chaired by MSQ, in partnership with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Torres Strait Regional Authority, the QPS Water Police (Thursday Island), and the National Marine Safety Authority of Papua New Guinea.
MSQ is working with partner agencies to deliver essential marine safety education to island communities where the main means of travel is by sea. TSMSP sessions focus on safe boating practices, including demonstrating how to use and maintain safety equipment and how to survive at sea in the event of an emergency.
During June 2024, MSQ visited two island clusters, delivering sessions on Warraber (Sue), Poruma (Coconut), and Iama (Yam).
A second round of TSMSP education sessions were held during September 2024 on Mer (Murray), Masig (Yorke), and Ugar (Stephens) Islands.
MSQ delivered a third round of education sessions during March 2025 on Mabuiag, Kirriri (Hamond), and Ngurupai (Horn) Islands.
Feedback has been universally positive, with communities welcoming MSQ's focus on improving safe boating in the Torres Strait.
Maritime Safety Queensland vessel fleet
MSQ currently operates a fleet of 57 Domestic Commercial Vessels ranging in length from four metre long PWC to a 19.7 metre long hydrographic survey vessel.
MSQ's Vessel Asset Management Strategy ensures safe and efficient vessel operations by ensuring a fleet of safe, fit-for-purpose workboats suitable for MSQ's operations.
MSQ operations are continuing to evolve with the focus on Queensland Regulated Ships, waterways management, and an increase in on-water compliance activities.
To meet increasing demands, in June 2023 MSQ entered into an agreement with a Gold Coast based boatbuilder, Swift Marine, to construct and deliver two six and a half metre long trailerable outboard-powered, rigid hulled inflatable boats. These vessels will be custom built and specially designed for on-water compliance activities. Once completed, MSQ's new operations base at Caloundra will be the home for one of these vessels. The other will be operated by the Marine Enforcement Team and be deployed at various locations along the Queensland Coast.
The two new vessels are on track to be delivered and operational by the end of 2025.
- Last updated
- 29 September 2025