Focus on the safety of shipping within the Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait and the Coral Sea
The North-East Shipping Management Group has recently established a dedicated working group for water space management issues. With a focus on the safety of shipping, the working group’s aim is to facilitate the efficient coordination of diverse maritime activities and uses of water space within the Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait and the Coral Sea. The working group held its first meeting on Thursday 20 September at Maritime Safety Queensland’s (MSQ) office in Brisbane.
Attendees at the first meeting included representatives from the Australian Hydrographic Office, MSQ, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, Shipping Australia, Queensland Ports, and the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
The working group addressed an initial list of issues, which included amendments to the existing Two-Way route north from Lucinda and proposals for ship routing measures south of Lucinda; port, pilot and security limits; pilot boarding places; port anchorages; port and coastal VTS interactions; and clarifying the depiction on navigational charts of marine reserve and designated shipping area limits. Working group participants will be progressing a list of action items over the coming months.
The working group will report its progress to the next meeting of the North-East Shipping Management Group, and then hold a further meeting in early November.
Background information: North-East Shipping Management Group
The North-East Shipping Management Group is comprised of representatives from:
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority
- Maritime Safety Queensland
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
- Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Transport
- Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
- Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
- Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
This group is working closely with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that decisions about the safety of shipping into the future will meet the expectations of the Australian public, including protecting the marine environment and supporting sustainable economic growth.
Source: AMSA
