AMSA: Coastal Pilotage within Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait

AMSA-licensed coastal pilot is required for any vessel in a defined coastal pilotage area

AMSA has issued Marine Notice on Coastal Pilotage requirements within the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait.

An AMSA-licensed coastal pilot is required for any vessel that navigates in a defined coastal pilotage area:

1. that is 70m or longer in length overall; or
2. that is a loaded:
   1. oil tanker; or
   2. chemical carrier; or
   3. liquefied gas carrier

(not including naval vessels.)

Coastal pilotage areas are defined as:

• Hydrographers Passage;
• Inner Route;
• Torres Strait;
• Great North East Channel; and
• Whitsundays.

It is important to note that the master of a vessel is not relieved of responsibility for the conduct and safe navigation of the vessel whilst the vessel is under pilotage.

Masters or owners may apply to AMSA for exemption from the pilotage requirements of the Navigation Act. An application must also be made to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority to navigate without a licensed pilot in Hydrographers Passage, Inner Route and Whitsundays.

Coastal Pilotage Area Limits

Hydrographers Passage pilotage area means the area bounded by a line that progressively joins the following points:

Point Latitude Longitude

1 20º39.11′S 149º49.36′E
2 20º35.91′S 150º07.36′E
3 20º28.31′S 150º18.06′E
4 20º02.91′S 150º03.06′E
5 19º54.91′S 150º16.56′E
6 19º39.91′S 150º10.56′E
7 19º50.91′S 150º33.06′E
8 20º01.41′S 150º25.86′E
9 20º06.91′S 150º17.26′E
10 20º19.91′S 150º27.06′E
11 20º32.91′S 150º27.06′E
12 20º41.51′S 150º11.66′E
13 20º54.41′S 150º01.96′E
14 20º39.11′S 149º49.36′E

Inner Route pilotage area means the waters bounded by:

1. the Australian mainland; and
2. the outer eastern edge of the REEFREP reporting area, and
3. the northern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Region (latitude 10º41.00′S); and
4. latitude 16º39.91′S; and
5. the Torres Strait, excluding the waters to the north of latitude 10º28.00′S and east of longitude 142º39.00′E.

Torres Strait means the waters bounded:

1. on the south by latitude 10º41.00S; and
2. on the east:
   1. for a ship moving eastward – by longitude 143º22.00E; or
   2. for any other vessel – by longitude 143º24.00E; and
3. on the north by the line of Australias Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ); and
4. on the west:
   1. for a vessel of less than 8m draught – by longitude 142º05.00E; or
   2. for a vessel of 8m draught or more moving eastward – by longitude – 141º50.00E; or
   3. for a vessel of 8m draught or more moving westward – by longitude 141º51.70E.

Great North East Channel pilotage area means the area bounded by a line that progressively joins the following points:

Point Latitude Longitude

1 10º41.0′S 141º50.0′E
2 10º28.0′S 141º50.0′E
3 10º28.0S′ 142º27.0′E
4 10º18.0′S 142º48.0′E
5 9º48.0′S 143º08.0′E
6 9º30.0′S 143º24.0′E
7 9º45.0′S 143º24.0′E
8 10º20.0′S 143º00.0′E
9 10º41.0′S 141º50.0′E

Whitsundays pilotage areameans the area bounded by a line that begins at the northernmost point of Cape Gloucester at low water, at about latitude 20º03.94′S, longitude 148º27.51′E, and continues progressively:

1. to the following points:

Point Latitude Longitude
1 19º58.02′S 148º18.60′E
2 19º57.83′S 148º18.53′E
3 19º58.00′S 148º21.68′E
4 19º58.28′S 148º27.05′E
5 19º58.37′S 148º27.40′E
6 19º59.28′S 148º33.62′E
7 20º00.82′S 148º37.48′E
8 20º02.17′S 148º53.07′E
9 20º03.58′S 148º57.92′E
10 20º14.42′S 149º10.47′E
11 20º15.20′S 149º11.15′E
12 20º28.93′S 149º08.03′E
13 20º31.20′S 149º09.07′E
14 20º34.28′S 149º10.50′E
15 20º33.91′S 149º07.06′E
16 20º39.73′S 148º45.82′E

2. west along parallel of latitude 20º39.73′S to the coastline of the mainland at low water, near Midge Point; and
3. generally northerly, easterly, south-easterly and north-westerly along the coastline of the mainland at low water to the point where the boundary began.

You may download AMSA Marine Notice on Coastal Pilotage by clicking below

Source: AMSA