{"id":"C1923L00020","name":"Navigation (Boat Drills) Regulations","slug":"navigation-boat-drills-regulations","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"20 of 1923","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":20972,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1923L00020-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Navigation (Boat Drills) Regulations","content":"STATUTORY RULES.\n\n1923\\. No. 20.\n\nREGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVIGATION ACT 1912-1920.\n\nI, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Navigation Act 1912-1920, to come into operation on and from the first day of March, 1923.\n\nDated this twenty-eighth day of February, 1923.\n\nFORSTER,\n\nGovernor-General.\n\nBy His Excellency’s Command,\n\nAUSTIN CHAPMAN,\n\nMinister of State for Trade and Customs.\n\nNavigation (Boat Drills) Regulations.\n\nShort title.\n\n1. These Regulations may be cited as the Navigation (Boat Drills) Regulations.\n\nApplication of regulations.\n\n2. (1) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, these Regulations shall apply to—\n\n(a) Ships registered in Australia;\n\n(b) British ships regularly employed in trading from a Com-monwealth port as head-quarters; and\n\n(c) Ships licensed to engage in the coasting trade.\n\n(2) These Regulations shall not apply to—\n\n(a) River and bay ships;\n\n(b) Sailing vessels under 100 tons net register;\n\n(c) Limited coast-trade steam-ships under 100 tons net register; and\n\n(d) Ships trading exclusively within the limits of a single State.\n\nBoat station muster book.\n\n3. (1) In every ship to which these Regulations apply there shall be kept a Boat Station Muster Book in accordance with Form B.D.—1 of these Regulations.\n\n(2) As soon as practicable after the opening of a new agreement with, the crew, and before the ship first leaves port after the opening of such agreement, the master shall enter or cause to be entered in the Boat Station Muster Book the following particulars in respect of each member of the crew:—\n\n(a) the name and rating of the seaman;\n\n(b) the distinguishing number of the life-boat to which allotted;\n\n(c) the station duty assigned to him; and\n\n(d) the badge number allotted to him in accordance with the next succeeding regulation.\n\nC.2606.—Price 3d.\n\n \n\n(3) On any seaman ceasing to be a member of the crew of the ship his name shall be struck through and a fresh entry made in respect of the seaman engaged in his place, who shall be allotted the badge number of the seaman whose place he fills.\n\nMuster badges.\n\n4. (1) The master shall supply to each seaman, on his joining the ship, a muster badge, in accordance with Form B.D.—2 of these Regulations.\n\n(2) The muster badge shall consist of a stout card, tinted red for port life-boat stations, and tinted green for starboard life-boat stations, held in a metal holder of a type and material approved by the Director and having a pin clasp capable of securely fastening it to the seaman’s tunic or coat when worn.\n\n(3) The badge shall bear, in large and legible characters—\n\n(a) the number of the badge;\n\n(b) the distinguishing number of the life-boat to which the seaman is allotted; and\n\n(c) the seaman’s name and date of issue.\n\n(4) The badge may also bear, at the discretion of the master, a statement of the station duty assigned to the seaman.\n\n(5) A badge and holder shall be issued to the seaman free of charge, but the seaman shall be personally responsible for their safe-keeping and at the end of his engagement shall return them to the master, in default of which the sum of One shilling may, at the discretion of the master, be deducted from his wages.\n\nBoat station list.\n\n5. (1) The master shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, from the Boat Station Muster Book, a Boat Station List, in accordance with Form B.D.—3 of these Regulations.\n\n(2) The Boat Station List shall assign definite duties to the various members of the crew in connexion with—\n\n(a) the launching of the boats attached to davits;\n\n(b) the preparation of the other boats;\n\n(c) the equipment of the boats generally;\n\n(d) the closing of bulkhead doors;\n\n(e) the mustering of the passengers;\n\n(f) fire stations; and\n\n(g) any other matter which special circumstances may require.\n\n(3) Efficient boat-hands shall be assigned to each boat, capable, if necessary, of recovering the falls after the lowering of a boat and of lowering second and subsequent boats from the same davits.\n\n(4) The other duties shall be apportioned amongst the other members of the crew, but so that sufficient members of the steward’s department are told off for the effective mustering of the passengers.\n\nCopy of Boat Station List to be posted up.\n\n(5) The master shall, before the first departure of the ship from port after the opening of a new agreement with the crew, cause a legible copy of the Boat Station List to be posted up in some prominent part or parts of the ship readily accessible to the crew, and shall use all reasonable precautions to keep it so posted during the currency of the agreement.\n\n“Officers in charge” of boats.\n\n(6) The person whose name appears first in the Boat Station List for any boat, and in his absence the person whose name appears second in that List, shall be regarded as the “officer in charge” of that boat.\n\n \n\n(7) In assigning persons to be “officer in charge” of boats it shall be arranged, as far as practicable, that where an engineer, junior deck officer, or petty officer is assigned to be in charge of a boat, one of the senior deck officers shall be assigned to the boat of the corresponding number on the opposite side of the deck.\n\n(8) The “officer in charge” of each boat shall be supplied with a copy of the Boat Station List in so far as it applies to the boat under his charge.\n\nWhen boat is disabled.\n\n6. If on any occasion a life-boat is disabled, or for any other reason cannot be launched, the crew assigned to her shall, at the direction of the “officer in charge,” cross over to the life-boat of the corresponding number on the opposite side of the deck, whereupon the senior deck officer present shall be the “officer in charge” of the combined crew:\n\nProvided that the master, or in his absence the senior officer in charge of the boat-deck, may distribute the crew of the disabled or use-less boat among the other boats as he thinks fit.\n\nNumbering of life-boats.\n\n7. (1) The life-boats on every ship to which these Regulations apply shall be numbered consecutively on each side of the ship, from forward, and shall be distinguished by an initial letter indicating the port or starboard side, as the case may be, as, P1, P2, P3, &c S1, S2, S3, &c.\n\n(2) Where two or more life-boats are served by the one set of davits, the second and subsequent boats shall, in addition to the letter and number required under the preceding sub-regulation, he distinguished, in the order of launching, with an additional letter; as P1A, P1B, &c.\n\n(3) The distinguishing letter and number of each life-boat shall be painted in a conspicuous manner on the bluff of each bow and on the inboard quarter of the boat as stowed.\n\nBoat musters and boat drills to be held.\n\n8. (1) On every ship to which these Regulations apply, and which is in commission, boat musters and boat drills shall be held as provided in these Regulations:\n\nProvided that when a boat-drill is held, it shall not be necessary to hold a boat muster within, in the case of a foreign-going passenger ship, one week, or, in the case of any other ship, two weeks, thereafter:\n\nProvided further that when a ship is at sea when a boat-drill falls due, or is in port but her total stay in port does not exceed twenty-four hours, it shall be a compliance with this regulation if the boat drill is held at the next port at which the ship calls and remains for more than twenty-four hours.\n\n(2) In the case of a foreign-going passenger ship, a boat-drill shall, subject to sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, be held at intervals of not more than one month, and a boat muster at intervals of not more than one week.\n\n(3) In the case of other ships a boat drill shall, subject to sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, be held at intervals of not more than one month, and a boat muster at intervals of not more than two weeks.\n\n(4) Before the first departure of a ship from port after the opening of new agreement with the crew, there shall be held, in the case of a foreign-going passenger ship, a boat-drill, and in the case of any other ship, a boat muster, in accordance with these Regulations.\n\n \n\n(5) In the case of ships whose agreements with the crew were opened before the commencement of these Regulations and are then current, the first boat-drill shall be held as soon, as practicable after the commencement of these Regulations, and, subject to the first proviso to sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, a boat muster shall be held within one week of that commencement.\n\nSignal for boat or fire muster.\n\n9. The alarm signal for a muster at boat or fire stations shall be the continuous ringing, for approximately ten seconds, of the ship’s bell.\n\nBoat musters.\n\n10. (1) A boat muster, under these Regulations, shall be conducted as follows:—\n\n(a) On the alarm signal being given, the whole of the crew (excepting only those who in the opinion of the master cannot be relieved from immediate duties) shall at once assemble at their stations;\n\n(b) Each person shall be provided with a life-jacket and shall put on and properly secure the same;\n\n(c) The “officer in charge” of each boat shall call the roll of the persons assigned to the boat, and shall satisfy himself that every member of his crew fully understands the, nature of the duties assigned to him, and that his life-jacket is properly adjusted and secured;\n\n(d) In the case of a foreign-going passenger ship, at least one-fourth of the total number of boats, selected by the officer in charge of the muster, shall, weather permitting, be prepared for swinging out, the covers and spreaders removed, the stores and equipment checked, the painters passed forward and made fast, life-lines, oars and boat hooks cleared, plugs put in, and rudders shipped;\n\n(e) The “officer in charge” of each boat shall report to the Chief Officer or other officer in charge of the muster the total number of persons (including himself), who attended at his boat;\n\n(f) The crew may then, at the option of the master, be exercised in fire drill.\n\n(2) A boat muster shall not be regarded as in compliance with these Regulations unless at least three-quarters of the crew are present and take part.\n\n11. (1) In the case of a passenger ship, the members of the Stewards’ Department shall be properly instructed in their duties as regards the mustering of passengers in time of emergency.\n\n(2) These duties shall include—\n\n(a) the warning of the passengers and seeing that they are dressed and have put on their life-jackets in a proper manner;\n\n(b) assembling the passengers in the saloons;\n\n(c) the guarding of stairways and passages; and\n\n(d) generally, the regulation of the movements of passengers,\n\n \n\nBoat drills.\n\n12. (1) A boat drill, under these Regulations, shall be conducted as follows:—\n\n(a) On the alarm signal being given, the whole of the crew (excepting only those who in the opinion of the master cannot be relieved from immediate duty), shall at once assemble at their stations;\n\n(b) Each person shall be provided with a life-jacket and shall put on and property secure the same;\n\n(c) The “officer in charge” of each boat shall call the roll of the persons assigned to the boat, and shall satisfy himself that the life-jacket of each is properly adjusted and secured;\n\n(d) In the case of a ship with seven or more life-boats, at least one-third, and in the case of other ships at least one-half, of the boats carried shall then be manned with a full complement and lowered into the water, and their crews exercised for not less than twenty minutes in pulling the oars and boat-handling; and\n\n(e) The “officer in charge” of each boat shall report to the Chief Officer or other officer in charge of the boat drill the names of each person (including himself) who attended at his boat and took part in the exercises on the water.\n\n(2) A boat drill shall not be regarded as in compliance with these Regulations unless at least one-half of the crew of the ship are present and take part.\n\n(3) The selection of the boats to be manned and lowered in connexion with a boat drill shall be so arranged that at least once in every three months every life-boat carried shall have been manned and lowered and its crew exercised in accordance with this regulation.\n\nEntry in official log-book.\n\n13. (1) At the conclusion of every boat-muster and boat-drill, an entry shall be made in the official log-book containing the following particulars:—\n\n(a) In regard to a boat muster—\n\n(i) The total number of the crew attending and taking part;\n\n(ii) The number of boats prepared for swinging out, with their distinguishing letters and numbers; and\n\n(iii) Whether the seamen attending were exercised in fire drill.\n\n(b) In regard to a boat drill—\n\n(i) The total number of the crew attending and taking part;\n\n(ii) The number of boats lowered into the water, with their distinguishing letters and numbers;\n\n(iii) The total number of the crew exercised in pulling: the oars and boat-handling.\n\n(2) An entry shall be made in the official log-book on every occasion on which a boat muster or boat drill falls due, but is not held, stating the reason why it was not held. \n\nReport as to seaman’s ability.\n\n14. On the discharge of a seaman before a Superintendent, the master shall report as to his ability to pull an oar and handle a boat.\n\nCharges for forms.\n\n15. The following charges shall be made for forms prescribed by these Regulations:—\n\nBoat Station Muster Book (Farm B.D.—1; reg. 3), per copy of—\n\n| 3 folios (90 entries)............................................. | 0 | 6 |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- | --- |\n| 9 folios (270 entries)............................................ | 0 | 9 |\n| 17 folios (410 entries)............................................ | 1 | 3 |\n| Muster Badges (Form B.D.—2; reg. 4), Manilla board, with brass holder and clasp, per doz. | 5 | 0 |\n| Muster Badges—Cards only, per 100.................................. | 3 | 6 |\n| Boat Station List (Form B.D.—3; reg. 5), on cardboard, per copy— | | |\n| For 4 Life boats........................................ | 0 | 3 |\n| ,, 8 ,, .............................................. | 0 | 6 |\n| „ 12 „ ............................................. | 0 | 9 |\n| „ 16 „ ............................................. | 1 | 0 |\n\nSCHEDULE.\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nIssued under the\n\nNavigation Act s. 235\n\nand Nav. (B.D.) Reg. 3. Form B.D.—1.\n\nBOAT STATION MUSTER BOOK.\n\n| Date. | Name of Seaman. | Rating. | Badge No. | Life-boat. | Station. | Signature of Seaman. | Badge No. |\n| ----- | --------------- | ------- | --------- | ---------- | -------- | -------------------- | --------- |\n| | | | | | | | |\n\nReg. 4. Form B.D.—2.\n\n| Badge No |\n| ----------------------------- |\n| Name..................... |\n| BOAT |\n| Station...................... |\n| ........................... |\n| Date / /19 |\n| [Form B.D.—2.] |\n\n \n\nCommonwealth of Australia.\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nIssued under the\n\nNavigation Act s. 235\n\nand Nav. (B.D.) Reg. 5. Form B.D.—3.\n\n#### BOAT STATION LIST.\n\n#### S.S..........\n\n```html\n

Life-boats on Port Side.

Life-boats on Starboard Side.

Index.

Life-boats on Port Side—(con.)

Life-boats on Starboard Side—(con.)

P.............

S.............

Badge No.

P............

S.............

Position........

Position........

Boat No.

Position........

Position.........

1........

2........

Badge No.

Rating.

Station.

Badge No.

Rating.

Station.

3........

Badge No.

Rating.

Station.

Badge No.

Rating.

Station.

&c.

\n```\n\nDate / /19 .\n\n.....................\n\nCommander.\n\nPrinted and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":2614},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument appears to be the original 1923 regulations. The scope remains tightly focused on boat drills, emergency musters, and lifeboat assignments as indicated by the title, without significant expansion into unrelated maritime safety areas."},"complexity_factors":["Conditional application rules based on vessel type, tonnage, and trade area (regulation 2)","Three distinct prescribed forms with specific material and formatting requirements (Forms B.D.-1, B.D.-2, B.D.-3)","Differentiated procedural requirements for 'boat musters' versus 'boat drills' with varying crew participation thresholds (three-quarters for musters, one-half for drills)","Hierarchical command structure for emergencies with specific succession rules when boats are disabled (regulation 6)","Color-coded identification system (red/green badges) and alphanumeric boat numbering scheme with multiple suffixes","Nested provisos regarding timing exceptions for drills when ships are at sea or in port briefly (regulation 8)","Specific equipment standards for badges (stout card, metal holder, pin clasp) and painting requirements for boats"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations require Australian and certain foreign ships trading from Australian ports (and coasting-trade vessels) to run regular lifeboat drills, musters, and passenger safety training so crews can launch boats and manage emergencies. Crews are assigned to specific boats, wear colored muster badges, and boats must be clearly numbered; masters must record drills, missed sessions, and discharge reports on seamen’s boat-handling ability. Exemptions cover small river, bay, and some short‑trade vessels."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/navigation-boat-drills-regulations","history":"/api/acts/navigation-boat-drills-regulations/history","analysis":"/api/acts/navigation-boat-drills-regulations/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/navigation-boat-drills-regulations/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/navigation-boat-drills-regulations/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/navigation-boat-drills-regulations/documents"}}