Boat hire rules in Tasmania
13 rules for hire businesses in Tasmania, from 4 official sources — on top of the rules that apply everywhere in Australia.
Rules in Tasmania
Briefing and checklist before each hire
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MAST says a licence-free hire boat (8 knots or less) may only be driven once the hirer has had enough training to operate it safely, so give every hirer a hands-on briefing before they leave.
Show the official wording
“Hire and drive vessels that do not exceed 8 knots can be operated without a boat licence provided adequate training to operate the boat safely is received.”
Does the hirer need a licence?
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Your hirers do not need a motor boat licence if the boat cannot go faster than 8 knots and you, as the hire business, are satisfied the hirer can follow the rules on the boat's safety and operation. If the boat can go faster than 8 knots, this exemption does not apply.
Show the official wording
“A person who is in charge of a hire-and-drive vessel is exempted from the requirements in subclause (1) if – (a) the vessel is not capable of exceeding a speed of 8 knots; and (b) the hirer is satisfied that the person is able to comply with regulations relating to the vessel, and to its safety and operation.”
Age limits
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Young licence holders (provisional licence, ages 12 to 17) must be with a responsible adult, must not be in charge of a motor boat at night, must never go faster than 20 knots and must not tow a skier.
Show the official wording
“A Provisional licence is available for young people aged between 12 and 17 years of age. The Provisional licence is gained the same way as a full licence. The following restrictions apply to provisional licence holders: must be accompanied by a responsible adult must not take charge of a motor boat at night must not at any time exceed a speed of 20 knots must not tow a skier.”
Jet skis (PWC)
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A motor boat licence alone is not enough to drive a jet ski: the licence must carry a PWC endorsement. Check both before you hand over a jet ski. The 8-knot hire exemption covers only vessels that cannot go faster than 8 knots.
Show the official wording
“A licence holder must not drive, or be in charge of, a PWC without a PWC endorsement on the licence or provisional licence.”
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Jet skis may not be used between sunset and sunrise, so all jet ski hires must finish by sunset.
Show the official wording
“A person must not operate a PWC between sunset and sunrise.”
Safety equipment on board
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On a commercial vessel under 6 metres, everyone on board must wear an approved lifejacket while it is under power.
Show the official wording
“A person must wear an approved life jacket if the person is on a commercial vessel that – (a) is proceeding under power; and (b) is less than 6 metres in length or is a motor-propelled auxiliary vessel or tender vessel.”
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The person in charge of a commercial vessel like this must make sure everyone under 16 on board is wearing their lifejacket.
Show the official wording
“The master of a vessel of a kind referred to in subregulation (1) must ensure that each person on the vessel who is under the age of 16 years complies with that subregulation.”
Survey and commercial vessel rules
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MAST says every hire-and-drive vessel should carry a hire and drive certificate.
Show the official wording
“All hire and drive vessels should carry a hire and drive certificate.”
Permits and licences for the business
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Within 14 days of starting commercial operations in Tasmania, you must give MAST your name and address, each vessel's unique identifier and the expiry date of its national commercial vessel authorisation. You must also tell MAST within 7 days if your address changes or you sell the vessel.
Show the official wording
“The owner of one of the following commercial vessels must supply the information specified in subregulation (3) within 14 days after commencing commercial operations in Tasmania”
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If MAST sends you an annual infrastructure administration fee notice for a vessel, that vessel may not operate in Tasmanian waters that financial year unless it has a current MAST label, displayed as MAST directs.
Show the official wording
“The owner of a commercial vessel to whom a notice under subregulation (3) has been issued must not operate the vessel, or allow the vessel to be operated, in State waters in a financial year, unless – (a) a label has been issued under subregulation (5), and is in force, in respect of the vessel for that financial year; and (b) that label is displayed in accordance with the requirements specified in relation to that financial year in a notice issued under subregulation (5) in relation to the vessel.”
Local rules and by-laws
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Speed limit of 5 knots within 60 metres of any shoreline, river bank, diving platform, marine facility, boat or MAST buoy, and within 120 metres of anyone swimming or a dive flag. Make this part of your hire briefing.
Show the official wording
“A person, in speed limited waters, must not – (a) drive, or be in charge of, a motor boat, except when it is being propelled wholly by sail, at a speed exceeding 5 knots”
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Sullivans Cove (Hobart waterfront, west of a line from the Port Control Tower to the eastern end of Princes Wharf No. 3) has a 5-knot speed limit for all boats.
Show the official wording
“Boaters operating within Sullivans Cove must travel at a speed no greater than 5 knots and remain mindful of other vessels and activities in the area.”
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Some waters, mostly near hydro dams, intakes and canals (for example around the Gordon Dam, Lake Pedder and Bronte Canal), are listed as prohibited areas. You may not operate a commercial vessel or a kayak, canoe or SUP there without MAST approval.
Show the official wording
“A person, in any area specified in Schedule 5, must not – (a) drive or be in charge of a lightweight craft or a commercial vessel, unless approved by MAST or an authorised person”
The national rules still apply
Everything on the Australia page applies here too: 31 rules · checked 18 October 2026
All national rules for AustraliaIn an emergency
Triple Zero (000) or VHF channel 16. VesselSOS is not a rescue service — teach your hirers to call for help the official way.
VHF channel 16
Tasmania Police (inshore search and rescue); Tas Maritime Radio (volunteer coast station) relays distress calls
Not confirmed yet
What we looked for and could not confirm from an official source. Ask the authority before you assume anything here.
What MAST requires for the 'hire and drive certificate' that its website says hire boats should carry, and who issues it (MAST does not explain this online).
Whether MAST's lifejacket, leash and light rules for kayaks, canoes and SUPs ('lightweight craft') apply to hire paddle craft. The regulations define lightweight craft as craft that are not commercial vessels, so hire paddle craft may fall under the national commercial vessel rules instead.
Whether the motor boat speed limits and PWC rules in the Motor Boats and Licences By-laws apply to boats operated as domestic commercial vessels. The by-laws define a 'motor boat' as one that is not a commercial vessel, but they also contain the hire-and-drive licence exemption.
Any minimum age for hirers of licence-free hire boats (8 knots or less). We found no Tasmanian rule setting one.
Official bodies
Who makes and enforces these rules.
- Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST)motor boat licences, PWC endorsements, registration, speed limits, state duties for commercial vesselsmast.tas.gov.au ↗
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)national regulator for domestic commercial vessels (survey, certificates, incident reports)amsa.gov.au ↗
Questions operators ask
Does a hirer need a boat licence in Tasmania?
Your hirers do not need a motor boat licence if the boat cannot go faster than 8 knots and you, as the hire business, are satisfied the hirer can follow the rules on the boat's safety and operation. If the boat can go faster than 8 knots, this exemption does not apply. Source: mast.tas.gov.au, checked 18 October 2026.
Do I have to brief hirers before a hire in Tasmania?
MAST says a licence-free hire boat (8 knots or less) may only be driven once the hirer has had enough training to operate it safely, so give every hirer a hands-on briefing before they leave. Source: mast.tas.gov.au, checked 18 October 2026.
What are the rules for jet ski hire in Tasmania?
A motor boat licence alone is not enough to drive a jet ski: the licence must carry a PWC endorsement. Check both before you hand over a jet ski. The 8-knot hire exemption covers only vessels that cannot go faster than 8 knots. Source: mast.tas.gov.au, checked 18 October 2026.
Is a hire boat a commercial vessel in Tasmania?
MAST says every hire-and-drive vessel should carry a hire and drive certificate. Source: mast.tas.gov.au, checked 18 October 2026.
Do I need a permit to hire out boats in Tasmania?
Within 14 days of starting commercial operations in Tasmania, you must give MAST your name and address, each vessel's unique identifier and the expiry date of its national commercial vessel authorisation. You must also tell MAST within 7 days if your address changes or you sell the vessel. Source: legislation.tas.gov.au, checked 18 October 2026.
For your hirers
Free safety pages on VesselSOS for the people who take your craft out — link them from your booking confirmation.
Boating rules in Tasmania (for your hirers) Boat licence rules by stateJet ski licence by stateLifejacket rules by stateHow to call for help at seaTrip planFree tools for hire operators
Print a safety briefing card, a hire agreement template or a dock poster. Free, in your browser.
Safety briefing cardHire agreement & waiver templateDock poster All free toolsRun the hire day on one screen.
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