NSW Maritime is putting the safety spotlight on the next wave of boaties and riders this weekend with its Ride Smart, Boat Safe campaign.
With the 2026 boating season in NSW ending this month, NSW Maritime is hitting the water to educate young people about the important safety measures that will set them up for a smart, safe and enjoyable future using the state’s waterways.
New data shows NSW Maritime Boating Safety Officers are engaging with young boaters and jetski riders more than ever, with nearly a quarter of all repeat offenders since July 2025 under 18 years old. This is compared to 13 per cent for the full 12-month period of 2024-25, while under 18-year-olds represent just 2 per cent of boat licence holders in NSW.
This boating season around 3,000 of the 39,000 boating safety engagements by NSW Maritime have involved younger boaters and jet ski riders.
As engagement with next-gen water users increases, Maritime officers are reminding youths of some of the usual culprits when it comes to safety incidents on the water.
For the year-to-date (1 July 2025 to 30 March 2026) offences related to lifejackets represented 26 per cent of all formal outcomes from 39,000 inspections by NSW Maritime Boating Safety Officers.
Meanwhile, instances of speeding, and irregular riding on jetskis (PWCs) have increased considerably in the latest reporting period. The Ride Smart, Boat Safe campaign will focus on engaging with next-gen water users regarding:
- Lifejackets: type, wear and maintenance
- Safe and acceptable boating behaviour including those established by local waterway regulations such as speed, wash and vessel specific exclusion or restriction zones.
- Licensing and registration:
- Age specific conditions dependant on the vessel type (eg: jet ski), and how it is being operated (eg: speed, locations)
- conditions applicable to the master and owner of a vessel such a supervision, time of day and/or speed requirements
- If you let a young person use your boat you are culpable. Condition of registration.
Acting Executive Director, NSW Maritime, Darren Wood says the campaign isn’t about coming down hard on compliance, but about education and building relationships with young boaties.
“Ride Smart, Boat Safe is about reinforcing safety measures to younger waterway users so they adopt smart practices on the water that last a lifetime”, said Mr Wood.
“This campaign is about sharing critical safety messages about lifejackets, speeding and irregular riding, with a particular focus on teenage boys who are overrepresented in our data.
“We are blessed with incredible waterways in NSW and while it’s important people enjoy their time on the water, it’s critical that they arrive home safely.
“This weekend we’ll have our patrol boats out in force throughout the state, speaking to young people about boating behaviour and zeroing in on the safety measures that can saves lives,” said Mr Wood.
For more information, visit www.nsw.gov.au
