Remote controlled or autonomous towing drones

What is a remote controlled or autonomous towing drone?

This information is current as of September 2023.

A remote controlled or autonomous towing drone is a small unoccupied vessel operated by a person being towed by the vessel on a water ski, surfboard, foil-board, wakeboard or other device. This allows the operator to conduct towing activities without requiring additional people to operate the vessel or act as an observer. 

Remote controlled or autonomous towing drones may be similar in appearance to a personal watercraft (PWC), designed with a watertight hull, propelled by a propellor or jet drives, and operated remotely by the towed person or on a pre-determined route.

Risks when using a remote controlled or autonomous towing drone

Remote controlled or autonomous towing drones have been linked to a number of safety issues on NSW navigable waters including:

• Risks to safety of the operator while operating at high speeds near other waterway users, infrastructure, and waterway obstructions (eg. shallow areas and submerged or floating hazards) 
• Risks to the operator and other waterway users due to the inability of the towed operator to maintain a good lookout at all times – especially ahead of the towing drone and behind the towed person.
• Risks to the operator and other waterway users due the limited manoeuvrability of the vessel.
• The significant skill and training required to operate and manoeuvre the vessel safely while simultaneously focusing on being towed.
• Risks associated with the vessel operating separate to the towed person eg. where the vessel has a ‘return-to-base’ or ‘follow-me’ function but does not have appropriate collision-avoidance features. 

Regulations

The remote controlled or autonomous towing drone is considered an 'unsafe vessel' under Section 44 of the Marine Safety Act 1998 and is not suitable for registration or general use in NSW.

Remote controlled or autonomous towing drones registered in other jurisdictions are not suitable for use in NSW waters. 

Remote controlled or autonomous towing drones may be suitable for demonstration or exhibition purposes, under strict aquatic event licence conditions and when the operator has provided Transport for NSW with documentary evidence of having satisfied the necessary training or experience to safely operate the vessel.

Operation of a remote controlled or autonomous towing drone may result in a penalty under Section 45 of the Marine Safety Act 1998 and/or the operator being subject to a safety direction under Section 15A of the Marine Safety Act 1998.