Recreational Skippers Tickets

Safety Guidelines - Recreational Skipper’s Ticket – Rules at a glance:

What is it and who needs an RST?

An RST is a nationally-recognised certificate of competency that demonstrates the holder has the minimum knowledge and practical skills needed to safely operate a powerboat.

Only the skipper (person in charge of the vessel) needs to have an RST. The skipper is responsible for what happens on the boat during the voyage.

You need a Recreational Skipper's Ticket to operate a recreational vessel with a motor that exceeds 6 horsepower (4.5kW) in Western Australia.

The skipper must carry their RST with them at all times when operating a vessel.

You are not required to renew your RST or pay ongoing fees.

You do not need an RST to:

• own a boat that is docked or on land

• operate a vessel that does not have a motor

• operate a vessel with a motor with a power of 6 hp (4.5 kW) or less.

Age restrictions:

You must be at least 14 years old to get an RST.

RST holders under 16 years old are restricted to operating a vessel:

• during daylight hours, and

• at a speed less than 8 knots.

RST Skills recognition and equivalents:

If you hold a qualification from another state or country that is equivalent to the RST, or have a commercial certificate of competency, you may be eligible for exemption from the RST assessment and can receive an RST through skills recognition.

RST for hire and drive vessels:

The Department of Transport strongly recommends that a driver of a hire and drive vessel with engine power greater than 4.5kW (6HP) hold an RST, even if it is a domestic commercial vessel. A hire and drive vessel is a vessel that is let for hire or reward which the driver uses only for recreation. It includes a vessel that an accommodation provider makes available for guests or tenants to use.

A RST is not necessary for a hire and drive vessel if:

1.    The vessel is part of a tour led by a suitably experienced and competent guide.

2.    The area of the hire and drive operation is entirely within a well-defined area and within the line of sight of the hire and drive vessel owner, and the owner ensures:

i. the area of operation is communicated to the driver; 

ii. appropriate safety measures such as rescue vessels are in place to respond in a timely manner to incidents; 

iii. an appropriate safety briefing is given, covering factors such as local navigational hazards, and specific handling characteristics and limitations of the vessel being hired; and 

iv. if the vessel is a PWC, it has both a kill switch lanyard and a remotely-operated cut-out switch which is effective over the entire area of operation.

3.    The area of the hire and drive operation is entirely within a well-defined area in an inland waterway (e.g. river, lake, dam etc) but not always within the line of sight of the owner, and the owner ensures: 

i. the area of operation is communicated to the driver;

4.    appropriate safety measures such as rescue vessels are in place to respond in a timely manner to incidents;

5.    an appropriate safety briefing is given, covering factors such as local navigational hazards, and specific handling characteristics and limitations of the vessel being hired; and 

6.    appropriate communication devices are available and plans are established to enable calls for assistance.

Source:  Department of Transport – Safety Guidelines Rules at a Glance – Maritime.