Big Ships, Small Boats

Too close ... an 18 footer crosses a bulk carrier in Sydney Harbour. Sailboats, like this, must keep at least 200m clear of the bows of trading vessels underway for safety reasons.

NSW is a maritime state with 2140km of coastline, five ports and a proud history of sea trade. The NSW ports handle $60 billion in trade each year which highlights the importance of these working harbours to the economy, to jobs and to the community.

With hundreds of ship and large commercial vessel movements on these confined waterways, it is important skippers understand their responsibilities to ensure safety afloat for all concerned.

There are long-standing maritime rules for preventing collisions on the water and this site is designed to help promote and improve everyone's understanding.

You are invited to read these pages and to pass the information onto your boating friends and colleagues. Boating clubs and associations, in particular, are welcome to create links from their own websites to these pages.

This website is part of a suite of measures by NSW Maritime to promote improved safety on our waterways.