Maritime Safety Queensland, the governing body of boating safety in Queensland, Australia, has published a boat-share information paper that details proposed policy regarding boat-sharing schemes and the safety concerns that have arisen.

Boat-sharing arrangements — usually the shared use of a ship for commercial or recreational use — have become increasingly popular in Queensland, resulting in more crowded waterways and potential safety concerns.


The paper details the definitions of commercial and recreational ships; factors used to determine if a ship used in a boat-sharing scheme is commercial or recreational; and regulatory requirements for both types of boats. It also asks for input from area boaters so  the agency may better craft a new boat share scheme policy, which will be scheduled to take effect in July.