Department for Planning and Infrastructure Regional Manager Peter Kiely said the vessel would see increased patrols of popular boating destinations including Geographe Bay, the Blackwood and Collie Rivers, Koombana Bay  and the Leschenault Estuary.

Mr Kiely said the opening of the new highway between Perth and Bunbury later this year was expected to increase the number of vessels visiting the region.

"The concern is that skippers will not be familiar with the waterways and that will increase demand for both the marine education and compliance services undertaken throughout the region by the Department," Mr Kiely said.

Known as PV12, the vessel was previously used to monitor marine safety compliance  in the metropolitan area and in other regional areas of Western Australia.

Mr Kiely said PV12 would be based at Busselton because of its central location to other popular boating destinations in the South West  and the high demand for local patrols in Geographe Bay.

"Geographe Bay is an increasingly busy waterway and officers are constantly reinforcing the need for boat owners in the area to ensure they have the required  safety equipment for where they are operating," Mr Kiely said.

"It is compulsory for people in charge of a recreational vessel with a motor of more than 4.5 kilowatts (6HP) to hold a Recreational Skipper's Ticket or face a fine of $200.

"Additionally, people operating a personal water craft, commonly called a jet ski, more than 400 metres from the shore need to carry additional safety gear including an anchor, flares and a personal flotation device Type 1.

"Officers will also be checking that skippers operating more than two nautical miles from shore have updated to a digital 406 MHz EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon)."

People wanting more information about safe boating can collect the South West Boating Guide, local area guides and safety requirement brochures from most marine dealers or the Department's South West Regional Office in Bunbury or visit the website at www.dpi.wa.gov.au/imarine

MEDIA CONTACT: Bronwyn Hillman 0408 098 220

Read more news