Private mooring licence and rules
A NSW private mooring licence allows you to moor your vessel at a specific site on navigable waters. Here's how to apply and the rules you must follow.
What is a private mooring licence
A private mooring licence permits you to moor your vessel on navigable waters. The licence is valid for 12 months and is renewed on payment of your annual private mooring fees.
This licence is not a lease of the seabed and there is no guarantee of tenure. The general position of a mooring site is determined at the discretion of Transport and sites are subject to a range of assessments to ensure they are suitable, including safety of navigation, the environment and the amenity of the area.
Transport conducts a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) before granting a mooring licence and approving the occupation of a mooring site. A REF examines and assesses factors such as the proposed location, type and size of the vessel and the sensitivity of the environment to ensure it is appropriate and that any impacts are avoided or mitigated accordingly.
Should a significant environmental impact be likely, the mooring licence would not be granted for that site, and (if possible) an appropriate alternative site would be identified. See Moorings REF FAQs (PDF 445.34KB) for more information.
Any costs associated with buying, installing and servicing mooring apparatus are the licensees responsibility. On cancellation, licence holders may need to remove the apparatus from the seabed and are responsible for any costs associated with the removal.
Find a private mooring
Use our private mooring map to search and apply for a mooring.
The map will state the site availability in your preferred area. If there are no moorings available, you can apply to join a priority wait list.
If your preferred area has immediate availability, you’ll need to:
- have a suitable vessel registered in your name
- complete an online application through the Private Mooring Map
- attach a recent photograph of the vessel that you intend to attach to the mooring
- provide proof of your identity
- pay the private mooring licence fee, plus the establishment fee. The licence fee is determined by the mooring location and length of your vessel.
Note: Mooring sites are subject to a range of factors in assessing their suitability, including safety of navigation, the environment, and the amenity of the area. Additional approvals/permits from other agencies may also be required in order to grant a mooring licence. Some mooring sites may not be permitted to proceed based on these factors. Existing moorings may also need to be relocated or removed based on ongoing consideration of these factors.
What to do next
Once your application is approved, a private mooring licence certificate will be issued. This will prompt the next steps:
- contact the Boating Safety Officer to arrange an appointment to allocate a suitable position – you'll receive contact details for the Officer when your licence is issued.
- arrange the purchase and positioning of a suitable mooring apparatus at the allocated site by a mooring contractor; it is the responsibility of a mooring contractor to ensure that the mooring and its location are suitable for your vessel
- secure your vessel to the mooring.
Eligibility
Private mooring licences are only issued to individuals.
They are not issued to a:
- partnership
- company
- organisation
- association.
A person may not have more than 2 private moorings in the one designated mooring area.
A private mooring licence is only issued when the vessel licensed to the mooring is:
- 5.2 metres or more in length
- registered in NSW or holds a Certificate of Operation or Unique Identifier issued under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012.
Before the licence is issued, the vessel will be subject to a visual assessment. See visual suitability of vessels on moorings to ensure that it’s suitable for your preferred mooring area.
Licence conditions
All private mooring licences are subject to standard conditions and may also be subject to site specific conditions.
Non-compliance with these conditions may result in the cancellation of your licence which may also result in any liability insurance for your vessel becoming null and void. See private mooring licence conditions for more information.
A private mooring licence cannot be sublet or traded in any way.
For information or issues relating to these specific conditions, contact Transport For NSW on 13 12 36(option 2).
Changing a vessel on a mooring is subject to a range of factors in assessing suitability, including safety of navigation, the environment, and the amenity of the area.
Additional approvals/permits from other agencies may be required in order to change a vessel on a mooring. Some change of vessels may not be permitted to proceed based on ongoing assessments of these factors or other approval/permit requirements.
We recommend contacting Transport for more information before purchasing a vessel.
The annual mooring licence fee is determined by the mooring location and vessel length. For an initial private mooring licence you also need to pay an establishment fee.
If you need to change the vessel on a mooring or relocate a vessel to a different mooring site within the same area, conditions and additional mooring fees will apply.
Find out what mooring fees will apply for you.
Where the area has no immediate site availability, you can apply to join a wait list. These lists have been developed to ensure fair and equitable access for all users.
To join a wait list, you’ll need to:
- complete an online application for a priority wait list through our Private Mooring Map
- provide proof of identity
- pay the appropriate fee.
When a site becomes available and you’re at the top of the priority wait list, you’ll receive an offer by email or SMS with a link to complete your application. Once you access this link and if you accept the offer, your application will then be available to complete via My Applications.
You'll need to respond within 14 days from the date of the offer.
Accepting an offer
If you accept the offer, you’ll have a further 31 days to:
- have a suitable vessel registered in your name
- complete your application for the private mooring licence
- provide a recent photograph of the vessel you plan to attach to the mooring
- provide proof of identity
- pay the remaining fees.
Once the private mooring licence has been issued, you'll need to:
- contact the Boating Safety Officer to arrange an appointment to allocate a suitable position - you'll receive contact details when your licence is issued
- arrange the purchase and positioning of a suitable mooring apparatus at the allocated site by a mooring contractor - it is the responsibility of a mooring contractor to ensure that the mooring and its location are suitable for your vessel
- secure your vessel to the mooring.
Declining the offer
If you decline the offer, you can request in writing to remain on the wait list. This will place you at the bottom of the list.
If you decline a second offer, you will be removed from the priority wait list. A refund will be issued provided you make a written request.
Not responding to the offer
If you don’t respond to the offer within 14 days, we’ll take reasonable steps to contact you. If we can't contact you, your name will be removed from the priority wait list.
To receive a refund of fees, complete and sign the Request for refund form. You can submit it at any service centre, or post it to the address on the form.
The transfer of your private mooring licence is subject to conditions and approval by Transport.
Note: Mooring sites are subject to a range of factors in assessing their suitability, including safety of navigation, the environment, and the amenity of the area. Additional approvals/permits from other agencies may also be required in order to transfer a mooring licence. Some transfers of mooring licenses may not be permitted to proceed based on ongoing assessments of these factors or other approval/permit requirements. Where this occurs, the mooring may need to be removed and the new vessel owner will need to apply for an alternative mooring site for the vessel.
How to transfer
To transfer a private mooring licence, you must have bought the vessel and its associated mooring apparatus and be the registered owner of the vessel. You can then complete an Application for Transfer of Private Mooring Licence. You can submit it in person at any service centre or by post or email.
Maritime Product Services
Locked Bag 5100
Camperdown NSW 1450
Location | Email address |
---|---|
Hunter/Inland and North Coast | psnth@transport.nsw.gov.au |
Hawkesbury River/Broken Bay | psgos@transport.nsw.gov.au |
Sydney Harbour and tributaries | psnth@transport.nsw.gov.au |
Botany Bay, Port Hacking, South Coast and Murray/Inland | pssth@transport.nsw.gov.au |
Non-priority wait list area
Your private mooring licence can only be transferred in a non-priority wait list area, as long as:
- the vessel currently licensed to the mooring site has changed ownership
- the vessel has been registered into the name of the person seeking the transfer
- the vessel and mooring are compliant with all Transport for NSW requirements.
Priority wait list area
A private mooring licence in a priority wait list area is not transferable, except when the licence holder is deceased and the licence is transferred to:
- a legal or defacto spouse on a once only basis, without restriction. The spouse must be at least the equal majority shareholder of the vessel
- to the beneficiary, other than the legal or defacto spouse of a deceased licence holder. A maximum period of 12 months applies if the vessel is retained by the beneficiary.
Change of address
You must advise us immediately if your address or contact details change. Fill out an Change of records - Maritime products only form and submit it at any service centre or email it using our contact details on the form.
Having your correct details means we can contact you if there's a problem with your vessel or mooring and know where to send correspondence.
Cancellations
If you wish to cancel your place on a priority wait list, complete and sign the Request for refund - Maritime customers only form. You can submit it at any service centre, or post it to the address on the form.