The Maritime Safety Plan 2026 is working towards zero fatalities and serious injuries on navigable waterways in NSW by 2056.
It continues the long-term maritime safety vision, set out the previous Maritime Safety Plan 2021 by adopting the internationally recognised Safe System approach to the maritime environment aimed at preventing and managing potential harm.
We know that a significant share of boating fatalities is the result of drownings. Many of them could have been prevented had people been wearing lifejackets. Our data also shows that other areas require focus such as older boaters, open runabouts, trauma related incidents and awareness around weather conditions. As a result, the new plan has highlighted four priority action areas:
Priority Area 1: Safer lifejacket wear and equipment
Priority Area 2: Safer boating through technology
Priority Area 3: Safer waterway access and infrastructure
Priority Area 4: Growing our safety culture together
Some of the key initiatives in Maritime Safety Plan 2026 include:
- Building on the feedback from consultation, we will investigate options so that lifejacket law is easier to understand, and more lives can be saved.
- Simplifying boating safety information to make it more accessible and easier to understand.
- Continuing to deliver the significant program of funded projects under the Boating Now and Maritime Infrastructure Stimulus Program.
- Continuing to work with industry and the community to enhance understanding of risks associated with boating— and how to safety manage them.
- Leveraging new technologies by building on existing programs and delivering new programs of work to utilise the potential benefits new and existing technologies offer.
This plan outlines how the NSW Government and safety partner organisations will work towards reducing fatalities and serious injuries on waterways throughout NSW.
Early work has commenced on several actions contained in the plan, including two separate opportunities for public consultation on a remake of the Marine Safety Regulation 2016 and the development of polices to manage end of life vessels.
Consultation with key stakeholders, industry partners and our community is now open on these significant pieces of work and we encourage you to read through both discussion papers and provide your feedback through this consultation process which concludes on 20 January 2023.
For more information and to register your attendance at a livestream session click the links below:
