"All vessels under 6 metres in length are now required to carry an EPIRB when operating outside sheltered waters. Sheltered waters are best described as within 2 nautical miles of land on the North and East Coasts as well as the specific areas listed below. This requirement brings smaller vessels, who go offshore, into the same legislative requirements as larger vessels using the same waters who have always been required to carry an EPIRB. Therefore ALL vessels operating outside sheltered waters require an EPIRB. As a reminder to boaters who may be purchasing an EPIRB, from 1st February 2009, the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system will no longer process the 121.5MHz frequency used by most distress beacons. The distress frequency used will be 406MHz" To register your new 406 EPIRB or PLB go to: http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/

Sheltered Waters

Sheltered waters are those listed below (including smooth waters) as well as any waters not exceeding 2 nautical miles to seaward of land on the North and East Coast of Tasmania. This does not include waters between Cape Grim and South East Cape unless specifically mentioned.

All waters within a 5 nautical mile radius of the ports of :
Bicheno, Bridport, Burnie, Devonport, Killiecrankie, Lady Barron, Whitemark, Currie, Grassy Harbour, Naracoopa, Launceston, Port Arthur, Port Latta, Port Sorell, Smithton, Stanley, Ulverstone and Wynyard.

Coles Bay
Within all waters of Great Oyster Bay bounded by an imaginary line drawn at 110 degrees true from Buxton Pt to Schouten Island and another line from Cape Degerando to Cape Baudin.

Hobart
All waters bounded by: an imaginary line from Low Point (Wedge Bay) to Cape Queen Elizabeth; an imaginary line from Point La Billardiere to Southport Bluff; an imaginary line across the narrows at the entrance of Blackman Bay

Port Davey
All waters bounded by an imaginary line from Garden Pt to O’Brien Pt

Strahan
All waters within Macquarie Harbour (and bays and estuaries) not beyond an imaginary line drawn at 000 degrees true for a distance of ¾ of a nautical mile from Watts Hill and thence at 090 degrees true to the shore line.

Triabunna
All waters of Mercury Passage, Spring Bay and Prosser Bay which are bounded by an imaginary line from Lords Bluff to Cape Boullanger and a line from Cape Bernier to Green
Bluff.
Please refer to Marine & Safety Tasmania for all the latest information on "Sheltered Waters" limits.