NSW Maritime, as the State’s maritime safety regulator, responded to the nine relevant recommendations from the Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) report into the collision of the ferry Pam Burridge and the motor launch Merinda last year as follows:

Recommendation: Increase (NSW Maritime’s) presence within Port Jackson, by day and night, to ensure greater compliance with its requirements for safe boating and ferry operations, including those rules pertaining to the exhibiting of lights between sunset and sunrise.
Response: NSW Maritime has already introduced additional night patrols on Sydney Harbour in its compliance program and the authority will continue to review its operational effort.

Recommendation: Amend the Code of Conduct for Vessels Operating in Sydney Cove to more accurately depict the 8 knot ‘limit line’ and to incorporate a requirement that vessels that are bound by clause 12.2 of the North- South Rule must pass to the Starboard side of the Diamond Shape marking the centre of the Harbour Bridge as they pass under the bridge.
Response: NSW Maritime will amend the Code of Conduct for Vessels Operating in Sydney Cove to more accurately depict the navigation controls in the area.

Recommendation: Ensure that all operators permitted to operate out of Sydney Cove understand and comply with the requirements of the North-South Rule implicitly.
Response: NSW Maritime will raise awareness and compliance with the requirements of the North-South Rule for operators using the Cove.

Recommendations:
Require that all vessels that are manually powered exhibit an all-round white light when operating between sunset and sunrise in NSW.
Remove the provision that allows motor vessels of less than seven metres in length, and that are not capable of exceeding 7 knots, to exhibit a minimum of a single all-round white light and require all vessels under 12 metres in length, irrespective of their maximum speed, to be operated with a minimum of side navigation lights and an all-round white light when operating between sunset and sunrise in NSW.
Remove the provision that allows sailing vessels less than seven metres in length to be operated between sunset and sunrise in NSW with a minimum of white light and require such vessels to display a minimum of side navigation lights and a stern light.
Amend the requirements for obtaining a recreational boating licence in NSW to incorporate some form of practical assessment of basic boating competencies.
Remove, or further qualify, the provision that allows unlicensed persons to operate a vessel in NSW, provided they do so at less than 10 knots, to ensure that vessels capable of carrying a significant number of passengers or attaining high speeds are not operated by other than a person holding a boating licence.
Examine the feasibility of permitting only licensed persons to operate a vessel between sunset and sunrise in NSW.
Response: NSW Maritime will carefully review and consider all remaining OTSI recommendations and benchmark against internantional standards.