You must carry a lifejacket on all vessels unless exempted. The information below outlines what type of lifejacket you are required to wear at different times.
What type of lifejacket do I need to wear?
For your safety, always wear a lifejacket when out on the water.
Knowing when and where to wear a lifejacket won’t just save you a fine – it could save your life.
The type of lifejacket you must carry, and wear depends on the type of waterway you are operating on:
- Enclosed waters
- Inland waters
- Coastal waters
Lifejackets should be worn as intended by the manufacturer and must conform to safety standards.
Make sure you carry the right type of lifejacket for vessel passengers for the type of waterway you head out on. Learn more about the three categories of waterway in Victoria.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Inland waters | Rivers (inside the seaward entrance), creeks, canals, lakes, reservoirs and any similar waters either naturally formed or man-made and which are either publicly or privately owned but does not include any navigable rivers, creeks or streams within declared port waters. |
| Enclosed waters |
|
| Coastal waters | All waters other than inland waters or enclosed waters. |
Lifejacket standards in different vessels and waterways
Please note: Level 100+ is also known as a Type 1 lifejacket, Level 50 is also known as a Type 2 lifejacket and Level 50S is also known as a Type 3 lifejacket.
| VESSEL TYPE | COASTAL WATERS | ENCLOSED WATERS | INLAND WATERS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerboat up to and including 4.8m in length | Level 100 | Level 100 | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s |
| Powerboat more than 4.8m but not more than 12m in length (at times of heightened risk) | Level 100 | Level 100 | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s |
| Personal watercraft | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s |
| Towed sport | A person who is being towed by a vessel must wear a lifejacket at all times. | A person who is being towed by a vessel must wear a lifejacket at all times. | A person who is being towed by a vessel must wear a lifejacket at all times. |
| Recreational tender | Level 100 | Level 100 or Level 50 | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s |
| Off-the-beach sailing yacht | Level 100 if >2nm from coast, Level 100 or Level 50 if <2nm from coast | Level 100 or Level 50 | Level 100 , Level 50 or Level 50s |
| Yacht (at times of heightened risk) | Level 100 | Level 100 or Level 50 | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s |
| Kiteboard or sailboard | Level 100, or Level 50 | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s |
| Canoe, kayak, rowing boat, raft, stand-up paddleboard, pedal boat or fun boat | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s | Level 100, Level 50 or Level 50s |
| Canoe, kayak, rowing boat, raft, stand-up paddleboard, pedal boat or fun boat (note) | Please note: A person operating a stand-up paddleboard, kiteboard or sailboard no more than 400m from the shore, is not required to wear a lifejacket. | Please note: A person operating a stand-up paddleboard, kiteboard or sailboard no more than 400m from the shore, is not required to wear a lifejacket. | Please note: A person operating a stand-up paddleboard, kiteboard or sailboard no more than 400m from the shore, is not required to wear a lifejacket. |
| Scuba or hookah diving equipment (underwater breathing apparatus of a kind that is self-contained (scuba) or is surface supplied) | A person who is wearing, or in the process of donning or removing, diving equipment is not required to wear a lifejacket. | A person who is wearing, or in the process of donning or removing, diving equipment is not required to wear a lifejacket. | A person who is wearing, or in the process of donning or removing, diving equipment is not required to wear a lifejacket. |
Please note: On powerboats over 12 metres in length, it is not compulsory to wear a lifejacket. However, an appropriate lifejacket must still be carried for every passenger onboard.
Types of lifejackets
Modern lifejackets cater for just about every boating situation, from kayaking or kite surfing in sheltered waters to fishing or sailing on the open sea.
With a wide range of styles and colours available, there’s a lifejacket to suit your specific needs. So be safe and wear yours.
This category includes lifejackets where the nominal buoyancy level exceeds 100 Newtons. Many coastal jackets have levels of 150N or above.
Level 100 Plus lifejackets provide a high level of buoyancy and are designed to turn the wearer onto their back and keep them in a safe floating position. They usually have a collar to support the back of the head. They are highly visible, with bright colouring and retro-reflective patches. They often have additional safety features such as lights and whistles.
These lifejackets may provide buoyancy by an inflatable bladder, or by foam filled panels.
Activities
The Level 100 Plus lifejackets are not usually considered suitable for activities where the wearer may hit the water at speed. Wearers should be aware that a lifejacket will suddenly try to ‘ride up’ when the person enters the water.
For this reason, it is important for a lifejacket to be a good fit and crotch straps are strongly recommended. A badly fitted lifejacket may become dislodged by going over the wearer’s head. All straps should be secure to ensure the optimum performance of your lifejacket.
Level 50 lifejackets provide less buoyancy than the Level 100 Plus jackets. They are not designed to turn the wearer onto their back, but they will keep the person afloat and have high visibility features.
Activities
The Level 50 lifejackets are generally designed for specialised activities such as water skiing and operating personal watercraft, where there is a high probability that the wearer may impact with the water at speed.
They also allow for a greater degree of activity and flexibility than foam-filled Level 100 Plus jackets and so are used in kayaking and canoeing.
These have similar characteristics to the Level 50 Lifejackets, except they do not have the high visibility features. They are often black or dark in colour.
Activities
The Level 50S lifejackets are generally only suitable if assistance is close at hand and there is unlikely to be a need to search for the wearer.
Lifejackets for children
Children under 12 must wear a lifejacket at all times. Lifejackets offer reliable buoyancy and protection in water activities.
It is the responsibility of the master onboard to make sure every child under 12 wears a lifejacket. This includes when on hire and drive vessels.
Lifejackets with crotch straps are crucial for children as they prevent the lifejacket from slipping off ensuring it stays securely in place.
Safe Transport Victoria does not recommend taking infants on board a recreational boat.
Children must wear a Level 100 lifejacket on enclosed and coastal waters, which includes Port Phillip Bay, Westernport, Gippsland Lakes and Mallacoota.
Heightened risk
Lifejackets are required to be worn on vessels up to and including 4.8 metres in length and in circumstances of heightened risk.
The Marine Safety Regulations 2012 (Vic) specify that a vessel is at heightened risk, in these circumstances:
- crossing or attempting to cross an ocean bar or operating within a designated hazardous area
- being operated by a person who is the only person on board the vessel
- being operated one hour after sunset and ending one hour before sunrise
- disabled vessel
- where no safety barriers lifelines, rails, safety harnesses or jacklines are in use on a yacht
- being operated during a period of restricted visibility
- in an area where a warning, that is current, of the following kind has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology:
- gale warning
- storm force wind warning
- hurricane force wind warning
- severe thunderstorm warning
- severe weather warning.
Heightened risk can also be when there is significant likelihood that the vessel may capsize or be swamped by waves or the occupants of the vessel may fall overboard or be forced to enter the water.
It also occurs when there is a restriction on the ability to anticipate such an event, such as when a hazard cannot be seen.
Solo adults are considered to be boating alone and must comply with the heightened risk provisions which apply on powered boats up to 12m in length.
Sole adults boating with children aged less than 12 years old are considered to be boating alone and must comply with the heightened risk provisions that apply on powered boats up to 12m in length.
Port Phillip Heads (the waters within a radius of three nautical miles from Point Lonsdale) is a designated hazardous area and comes within the definition of heightened risk. Lifejackets must be worn on all vessels under 12 metres.
Penalties
In Australia, lifejacket laws differ from state to state. Since Victoria’s laws were introduced, there have been many lives saved as a result. While we also have one of the lowest rates of boating-related drownings, sadly, every year many boaters drown not wearing a lifejacket.
Lifejacket laws are enforced by marine authorities. Penalties apply if occupants are not wearing lifejackets when required. Penalties can also apply to the owner and masters of vessels. There must be enough lifejackets for everyone on board, and they must be correctly maintained.
The maximum penalty that may be ordered by a court for failing to carry or wear the legally required lifejackets is 20 penalty units. The on-the-spot fine issued by either a Safe Transport Officer or Victoria Police is two penalty units.
The current value of a penalty unit can be found on the Department of Justice and Community Safety website. Details of all offences can be found in the Marine Safety Regulations 2012 (Vic).
Inflatable lifejackets
It’s essential that you check your inflatable lifejackets regularly and always follow manufacturer service instructions.
Remember, inflatable lifejackets are not lifejackets until they are inflated, and all it takes is a fishhook, or a loose or damaged CO2 cylinder to prevent them from inflating.
How to check your inflatable lifejacket
- Check for visible signs of wear and damage.
Ensure all fastenings and buckles are in good working order. - Follow manufacturer instructions.
Check the oral inflation tube for cracks. Check the one-way valve moves freely ensuring air can be blown into the chamber and once inflated, prevents air from escaping. - Use cap attached to the oral inflation tube to deflate bladder.
Invert cap and press down on valve at the top of the oral tube. Do not insert other objects into top of tube as they may damage the valve. Roll or press jacket to deflate fully. - Remove CO2 cylinder and inspect.
The cylinder should be intact with no rust or corrosion. Weigh cylinder on kitchen or letter scales, ensure weight corresponds to the minimum gross weight engraved on cylinder +/- 2g. If cylinder is rusted, corroded, has been pierced or is not the correct weight it should be replaced immediately. On auto inflation jackets also ensure auto components are armed and in date. Refit cylinder to inflation system, tightening it by hand until firm. Do not over tighten. - Repack jacket as per manufacturer instructions.
Ensure manual inflation toggle is accessible and unlikely to be caught when being worn. - Set a reminder.
Put a reminder in your mobile phone, computer or calendar to alert you when it’s time to have your inflatable lifejacket serviced. - Register your lifejacket.
Register your inflatable lifejacket online to receive servicing tips and reminders. Learn more at www.lifejackets.org.au
Foam lifejackets
Foam lifejackets need to be checked regularly for signs of deterioration.
The way foam lifejackets are stored has a direct impact on their longevity. Be aware of conditions that may contribute to the presence of mould, or deterioration of the jacket’s foam and fabric.
Regularly check the condition of the fastenings and always wash down after use.