Australian Builders Plates (ABP).

All Australian states (and the Northern Territory) apply the ABP standard, either through maritime safety or consumer protection law. There are some differences between states in the enforcement mechanisms, resulting from difference in the way the local legislation was drafted. However; if somebody is trying to sell a new boat without an ABP, they may be in breach of the law and it may not be possible to register the boat.

The Australian Builders Plate Standard was first published on 1 March 2005. The law was introduced at different times in each state (and the NT) but generally considered to commence in September 2006.

New powered recreational craft supplied in Australia, are required to have an ABP fitted unless subject to an exemption.

An ABP is not required on the following:

• aquatic toys

• amphibious vehicles

• canoes, kayaks and similar boats designed to be paddle-powered such as surf skis

• hydrofoils and hovercraft

• pedal-powered boats

• personal watercraft intended to carry no more than two persons

• personal watercraft compliant with ISO 13590

• paddleboards

• racing boats

• rowing shells used for racing or rowing training

• sailboards

• sailing boats

• stand-up paddleboards

• submersibles

• surf row boats

• boats more than 24m in length.

The exception for rowed or paddled craft applies only to those that, as designed and built, are incapable of being fitted with an outboard motor.

A sailing boat with an auxiliary engine is exempt from the requirement to have an ABP fitted. The Standard applies to inflatable boats, except where the boat has a plate attached that complies with EU Directive 2013/53/EU–Recreational Craft Directive or NMMA requirements.

Personal watercraft intended to carry more than two persons must either comply with ABP requirements, or with ISO 13590, or have permanently marked information regarding the total mass of persons and equipment, and the total number of persons, the craft can carry. Vessels subject to a Certificate of Survey (commercial vessels) have different requirements. Details may be obtained from your local Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) office.

The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 allows for the importation and sale of New Zealand built vessels into the Australian market, on the condition that the vessels comply with the requirements of the New Zealand market. It’s still desirable that New Zealand built vessels are affixed with an ABP when imported into Australia.

Although second-hand boats without an ABP that have previously been registered in the State can still be re-registered without the need to fit an ABP, it is preferable to fit an ABP so the operator is aware of the maximum permissible ratings. A boat that has never been registered or is newly imported may be treated like a new boat, subject to local requirements.

The ABP is not required on a PWC designed to carry up to two people. An ABP is required on PWCs intended to carry three or more persons unless the craft already has information clearly and permanently marked that states:

• the maximum number of persons the vessel may carry, as recommended by the builder, and;
• the total mass of persons and equipment (expressed in kilograms) that the craft is designed to carry, as recommended by the builder.

Alternatively, a PWC may have a capacity label compliant with the requirements of ISO 13590.

In general, regardless of where a boat was built, it will be required to comply with the ABP standard. The importer will be treated as the builder of the boat for the purpose of the ABP legislation and will need to fit an ABP.*

*NOTE- The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 allows for the importation and sale of New Zealand built vessels into the Australian market, on the condition that the vessels comply with the requirements of the New Zealand market. It is still desirable that New Zealand built vessels are affixed with an ABP when imported into Australia.

The information on an ABP must be determined by a competent person.

A competent person is defined as a person who has acquired through training, qualification, experience, or a combination of these, the knowledge and skills enabling that person to determine the information on a builders plate.

The competent person is either:

• the builder

• a third-party competent person.

In general, a commercial boat builder is deemed to be a competent person for the purpose of the ABP standard.

In the case of an owner-builder or importer, they may not meet the definition of a competent person, in which case a third-party competent person may need to be engaged to determine the information. Where this occurs, the name of the third-party competent person should be shown on the ABP, along with that of the builder or importer.

Any person whose name appears on the plate is assuming responsibility for the information on that plate.

Examples:

• Built by Sunhope Boats, Australia.
• Imported by RayStan Holdings, Australia.
• Information approved by E.R. Smith, Naval Architect, Sydney, Aust.

Boat dealers have a responsibility to ensure that the boats they supply comply with applicable ABP Standard requirements.

If a dealer modifies a new boat so that the information on the plate is no longer correct, then the dealer will need to ensure that:

1. the modification can be conducted in compliance with ABP Standard requirements;

2. a new builders plate is placed on the boat prior to sale, with values calculated by a competent person.

The dealer can request that this be done by the builder, if the builder is agreeable, or alternatively by another competent person.

Boat dealers should not modify a boat in a manner that cannot be supported by the ABP Standard.

Persons determining ABP values must comply with the requirements of the Standard when conducting their ABP assessments.

They may advise that some modifications/ABP changes are not possible. This requirement may vary according to local legislation. Check with your local marine safety agency to confirm the regulations in your state or territory.

Contact one of the recognised certifiers who has access to or can determine the information.

For each person, we allow 80 kilograms plus another 10 kilograms per person for any carry-on stores.

Several factors influence ratings and similar boats may not be identical, so it is also ways best to verify with your certifier.

You must immediately replace it with a new plate which your certifier can arrange.

The ABP must be placed in a position where it will be readily visible to the operator of the boat when getting the boat underway, preferably in the cockpit or near the steering position. Placing the ABP on the outside of the transom of a boat is not acceptable.

The plate must be permanently fixed to the boat so that it cannot be removed without leaving some obvious mark.

Examples of ways in which a plate might be attached include riveting, gluing, embedding, engraving or printing the plate directly onto the boat, provided that whatever method is used, the plate is permanently fixed to the boat.

The maximum load capacity represents the maximum mass a boat has been designed and tested to safely carry when underway, determined in accordance with the specified technical standard.

This includes the mass of persons, the outboard motor, including any auxiliary outboard motor, portable fuel tanks, and carry on equipment such as personal equipment, personal safety equipment, spare parts, tools, dry provisions, fishing tackle, portable tanks and their contents.

It does not include the mass of the contents of fixed fuel and water tanks when full (these masses should be included in a boat builder’s calculation of hull mass).

States may require boaters to comply with the maximum loading capacity listed on an ABP (with or without modification). Check with your local marine safety agency to confirm the regulations in your state or territory.

The maximum outboard power rating is the power that the boat builder or certifier has determined that the hull can safely handle. Vessel overpowering can cause a boat to experience fatal manoeuvrability issues such as flipping, or structural failures. Boaters must comply with the outboard power capacity listed on an ABP.

Basic flotation means that a boat has a form of buoyancy (typically foam or air chambers) that ensures it will float in some form, at any angle, if swamped. If the boat capsizes, basic flotation will keep part of the hull out of the water.

Level flotation means that a boat has a form of buoyancy (typically foam or air chambers) that will keep the swamped boat floating level, and significantly reduce the likelihood of capsizing in calm water.

Level flotation does not provide a self-righting capacity, but in calm water it should allow for self-rescue through the bailing of the boat. When compared to basic flotation, it provides a better place of refuge in the case of a marine incident, better access to safety equipment and a larger target for rescuers to spot.

Level flotation is a significantly better safety feature than basic flotation.

The Standard does not require that boats are designed, constructed or certified against technical standards. A boat with an ABP may or may not be constructed in accordance with technical standards.

The ABP will only identify which standard has been used to determine the information provided on the plate. This does not mean that the boat complies with other aspects of that standard, such as fire protection and hull construction.

Regardless of the minimum requirements of the Standard, consumers should always aim to purchase boats that are independently certified against technical standards. Technical standards promote safety and quality in various key aspects of a boats design, manufacture and operation.