
Publications
Publications on sale
Beacon to Beacon Directory — edition eight (recommended retail price A$37.65)
This directory provides a comprehensive guide to Queensland waterways between Tweed Heads and Gladstone, and freshwater impoundments west to Charleville. Similar to a street directory, this publication provides easy-to-follow maps of south east Queensland waterways. The maps are based on information provided by Maritime Safety Queensland cartographers and include extra information such as rules and regulations, and boat ramp locations. The directory also includes aerial photos of anchorages, freshwater dam maps, and essential safety information. The coastal chartlets contain latitude and longitude and can be updated by Notices to Mariners.
The directory is available from Australia Post, selected newsagents, marine chandlery stores, tackle shops, specialty bookshops, Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centres, and Maritime Safety Queensland regional offices.
Charts (recommended retail price A$14.05)
Maritime Safety Queensland publishes a series of nautical navigation charts over selected areas of the Queensland coast. These charts are aimed at recreational users and commercial operators in Queensland waters. Further information is available on: - Small Ships Manual (recommended retail price A$35.00)

The Small Ships Manual is a comprehensive onboard operational manual for all boaters and a training aid for commercial skippers. The manual includes information on all aspects of boating including handling, weather, safety equipment, emergency procedures, and engineering. Marine training providers use the manual to assist people studying for their Coxswain and Master Class 5 commercial marine licences. The manual is 400 pages long and ring bound.
You can obtain the Small Ships Manual from Maritime Safety Queensland regional offices, TAFE college bookshops, some marine chandlery stores, and specialist marine bookshops. - Queensland Tide Tables 2009 (recommended retail price A$4.60)

The publication has been reformatted down to A5 size and incorporates five sections: - agency contact data for Maritime Safety Queensland, Water Police, Boating and Fisheries Patrol, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
- tidal predictions for Queensland standard ports as well as instructions for calculating tides at many other intermediate locations, plus the sun and moon rise and set tables and moon phases
- public ramp, jetty and pontoon listings, separated into coastal (tidal) and freshwater impoundment facilities
- boating safety information on licensing and registration, safety equipment table, water limit maps, marine radio communications and volunteer rescue stations listing, ship navigation areas guide, and sewage discharge requirements
- fish and crab guide outlining rules and regulations, fishing permits (SIPS), and size/take/possession limits.
The publication is available from Australia Post, selected newsagents, marine chandlery stores, tackle shops, specialty bookshops, Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centres, and Maritime Safety Queensland regional offices.
Find out more about tides. - BoatSafe Workbook (recommended retail price A$10.30)

BoatSafe is a competency-based training and assessment scheme modelled on national guidelines for the safe operation of recreational boats. The scheme is designed to increase the rigour of training and assessment processes that lead to a recreational marine driver licence. The BoatSafe Workbook contains all the information you need to prepare you for the BoatSafe course plus more. The workbook has exercises at the end of each chapter to test your knowledge.
The workbook is available from Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centres and Maritime Safety Queensland regional offices. Some BoatSafe training providers might provide the BoatSafe Workbook as part of their course; you will need to check with your selected training provider.
Download the BoatSafe Workbook. - Commercial and Fishing Ships Operating Documents and Diary and Log Book

It is a legislative requirement for registerable commercial and fishing ships operating in Queensland waters to carry on board and maintain various manuals and plans. Maritime Safety Queensland has developed manuals and a diary/log to assist owners and masters with developing operating documents.
Commercial and Fishing Ships Operating Documents (recommended retail price A$22.30)
- foreword
- ship profile
- safety management plan
- operations manual
- technical manual
- maintenance manual
- marine occupational health and safety
- passenger verification procedure
- crew records and training
- certificates and other documents.
- Queensland Commercial and Fishing Ships Operational Handbook

This manual is a learning aid and reference for those starting a career in the maritime industry. It can be downloaded below, and is also available free from Maritime Safety Queensland regional offices.
This handbook has also been divided into sections due to file size:- Introduction (PDF**, 498KB)
- Chapter 1 — Regulations and your obligations (PDF**, 333KB)
- Chapter 2 — Ship knowledge (PDF**, 361KB)
- Chapter 3 — Emergency and safety
Chapter 3 pages 47 to 57 (PDF**, 409KB)
Chapter 3 pages 58 to 68 (PDF**, 362KB) - Chapter 4 — Weather systems
Chapter 4 pages 69 to 75 (PDF**, 208KB)
Chapter 4 pages 76 to 82 (PDF**, 457KB) - Chapter 5 — Seamanship
Chapter 5 pages 83 to 93 (PDF**, 299KB)
Chapter 5 pages 94 to 104 (PDF**, 321KB) - Chapter 6 — Watchkeeping (PDF**, 416KB)
- Chapter 7 — Introduction to chartwork
Chapter 7 pages 123 to 129 (PDF**, 456KB)
Chapter 7 pages 130 to 134 (PDF**, 481KB) - Chapter 8 — Special requirements (PDF**, 437KB)
- Conclusion (PDF**, 117KB)
This manual consists of 10 parts including:
Download the Commercial and Fishing Ships Operating Documents — MS Word version (DOC***, 1.4MB).
Commercial and Fishing Ships Diary and Log Book (recommended retail price A$22.30)
With a page for each day of the year, the diary and log book gives owners or masters the opportunity to maintain a daily record of all the ship's operations at a glance.
The diary and log book is available from Maritime Safety Queensland regional offices.
Find out more about about commercial and fishing ship operating documents.
Free marine safety publications
- Guide to Recreational Boating and Fishing in Queensland
This is a comprehensive guide to maritime safety rules relevant to recreational boat users providing information needed for people wanting to attain a recreational marine driver licence. - Bar crossings can be dangerous brochure
This brochure provides information about crossing coastal bars. Download a copy of the bar crossing brochure (PDF**, 96KB). - when crossing a coastal bar in an open boat that is less than 4.8 metres (m) in length
- if you are under the age of 12 in an open boat that is less than 4.8 m in length, while it is underway.
- Radio communications
This document provides information about radio licence and certificates, equipment, operating procedures, and contact details for volunteer rescue stations. - Ride Smart brochure
This brochure is specifically designed for personal watercraft (jetski) users. It outlines rules and responsibilities of operators and owners. Download the Ride Smart book (PDF**, 636KB) or download the Ride Smart book — text only version (PDF**, 285KB). - Freshwater Boating brochure
This brochure provides rules and safety tips for boaters operating in freshwater. - Waterskiing brochure
This brochure provides rules and safety tips for waterskiiers and other boats used for towing. - Licensing, Registration and Safety Equipment brochure
This brochure outlines requirements of the marine safety legislation for recreational boaters. - Non-motorised boats fact sheet
This fact sheet provides tips to improve your safety while using non-motorised boats. Download the Non-motorised boats — sailing, sailboards, canoes, kayaks, surf skis, rowing and kitesurfers (PDF**, 54KB).
It is compulsory to wear a lifejacket:
Find out more about lifejackets.
- Marine pollution — What kind of waterways do we want? This brochure outlines boat owners and operators marine pollution responsibilities and provides tips on how to prevent oil and chemical pollution, garbage pollution and the management of sewage.
- REEFVTS User Manual (PDF**, 980KB)
Due to the file size this document has been split for easy download.
To order or enquire about any of the free publications, contact:
Maritime Safety Queensland
Executive Services and Compliance Branch
GPO Box 2595
Brisbane Queensland 4001
Phone: +61 7 3120 7489z
Facsimile: +61 7 3120 7494w
**While this department has taken every possible precaution with the creation of these files, they are downloaded and used at your own risk. Adobe Reader is needed to open and print Portable Document Format (PDF) files and is free to download from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Various tools to enable access to these files for people using a screen reader can be found at http://access.adobe.com. Further information is available from the"Help with downloading, reading and printing PDF".
*The content found by using this link is not created, controlled or approved by this department. No responsibility is taken for the consequences of viewing content on this site. This link will load into a new window.
***While this department has taken every possible precaution with the creation of these files they are downloaded and used at your own risk.
zLocal call — Higher rates may apply outside local area or from mobile phones.
wLocal call — Higher rates may apply outside local area.
Last updated 01 July 2009

