Address: Postal Address: Director: Email: Telephone: Fax: BRISBANE HEAD OFFICE 26 Love Street, Bulimba, Q 4171 PO Box 674, Bulimba Q 4171 Perry Sutton operations@torrespilots.com.au +61 7 3217 9544 (24 hours) +61 7 3217 9722 TORRES PILOTS PILOT BASE THURSDAY ISLAND (Torres Strait & Great North East Channel) ABN 71 053 843 646 Address: Postal Address: Email: Telephone: Fax: VHF: 65 Waiben Esp Thursday Island Q 4875 PO Box 622, Thursday Island Q 4875 tioperations@torrespilots.com.au +61 7 4069 2251 (24 hours) +61 7 4069 2252 79 and 16 Torres Pilots PILOT BASE CAIRNS (Inner Route) Address: Postal Address: Email: Telephone/Fax: VHF: Lot 9 / 36 Buchan Street, Portsmith, Cairns Q 4870 PO Box 7221, Cairns Q 4870 cairnsoperations@torrespilots.com.au +61 7 4035 5278 79 and 16 Torres Pilots PILOT BASE MACKAY (Hydrographers Passage) Operators: Email: Telephone: VHF: Flyon Pty Ltd operations@flyon.com.au +61 0 437 279 861 16 and 9 Torres Pilots Further details on the enclosed and other related Great Barrier Reef shipping information may be obtained from our website: http://www.torrespilots.com.au MARINE PILOTS for Torres Strait, Inner Route of Great Barrier Reef Great North East Channel and Hydrographers Passage (Licensed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority) Date of issue 2017
TORRES PILOTS www.torrespilots.com.au SAFETY The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) introduced on 1 January 2001 a Great Barrier Reef Pilotage Safety Management Code (PSMC). have been audited and is an AMSA licenced pilotage providor. QUALITY ASSURANCE has attained AS/NZ ISO 9001:2008 Quality Assurance certification and has complied with the rigorous standards set by the internationally recognised Maritime certification society Det Norske Veritas (DNV). CONTENTS Safety... 1 Quality Assurance... 1 Contents... 2 Compulsory Pilotage... 3 Designated Pilot Boarding Grounds (PBG)... 4 Pilotage Ordering Procedures... 5 Subsequent Communications... 5 VHF Radio Working Channels... 6 REEFVTS... 7 REEFVTS Reporting Chartlet... 8 Torres Strait and Great North East Channel Chartlet... 9 Hydrographers Passage Chartlet... 11 Draft Restrictions... 13 UKCM 14 Voyage Planning... 14 Carriage of Paper Charts... 15 Coastal Distances Table... 16 Sundry Distances Booby Island... 17 Sundry Distances New Zealand Ports... 17 Sundry Distances Australian Ports... 18 Sundry Distances Hay Point... 18 Contacts... 19 Thursday Island 1 2
INNER ROUTE COMPULSORY PILOTAGE The Australian Commonwealth Government has legislated an amendment to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 which became law on 1 October 1991. This requires all vessels of 70 metres or more in overall length and all loaded oil tankers, chemical tankers and liquefied gas carriers regardless of length, to carry a Pilot, licensed under Commonwealth, State or Territory law, when taking passage through the inner route of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) between Cape York (latitude 10 41 S) and the vicinity of Cairns Roads (latitude 16 40 S) or when transiting Hydrographers Passage (latitude 19 43 S). TORRES STRAIT & GREAT NORTH EAST CHANNEL The IMO has adopted the designation of Torres Strait as an extension of the GBR and defines the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area to include the Great North East Channel (GNEC). On 6 October 2006 the Australian Government introduced compulsory pilotage for the Torres Strait and GNEC to Dalrymple Island (latitude 9 34 S). DESIGNATED PILOT BOARDING GROUNDS (PBG) TORRES STRAIT West of Booby Island (1) Lat 10 36 S Long 141 50 E West of Goods Island (1) Lat 10 34 S Long 142 04 E GREAT NORTH EAST CHANNEL 5nm South of Dalrymple Island (1) Lat 9 34 S Long 143 24.5 E HYDROGRAPHERS PASSAGE Off Blossom Bank (2) Lat 19 43 S Long 150 26 E CAIRNS Cairns Fairway Buoy (1,3) Lat 16 47 S Long 145 53 E Note: 1. Board by Launch 2. Board by Land-on Helicopter only 3. Board by Land-on Helicopter by arrangement Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels more than 70 metres and all loaded oil, gas or chemical tankers through the Torres Strait. Marine Notice 10/2015 requires vessels with a draft of 8.0 metres or more to engage a pilot to/from Booby Island PBG (latitude 10 36 S). HYDROGRAPHERS PASSAGE Refer to above. Hay Point 3 4
PILOTAGE ORDERING PROCEDURES Please give four (4) days notice to Torres Pilots Brisbane Office by:- Email: operations@torrespilots.com.au Fax: +61 7 3217 9722 Please advise following details:- Pilot boarding ground Time / Date pilot required (LT = UTC + 10 hrs) Destination and Intended route Disembarkation PBG Maximum transit draft Vessel s operational speed Vessel s IMO and call sign Vessel s email, Sat C or fax numbers SUBSEQUENT COMMUNICATIONS PILOT BOARDING TORRES STRAIT. VHF RADIO WORKING CHANNELS Call Sign = TORRES PILOTS Please call TORRES PILOTS 2 hours before arrival at PBG if by launch Call Sign = TORRES PILOTS Dalrymple Island (GNEC) 79 and 16 Thursday Island (Torres Strait) 79 and 16 Cairns (Inner Route) 79 and 16 Please call TORRES PILOTS 30 minutes before arrival at PBG if by helicopter Hydrographers Passage 16 and 9 After ordering pilot with Brisbane Operations, ETA updates at 72 / 48 / 24 / 12 / 6 hrs should be sent to Brisbane Operations and copied to Thursday Island Pilot Base TORRES PILOTS THURS- DAY ISLAND Email: tioperations@torrespilots.com.au PILOT BOARDING CAIRNS FAIRWAY After ordering pilot with Brisbane Operations, ETA updates at 72 / 48 / 24 / 12 / 6 hrs should be sent to Brisbane Operations and copied to Cairns Pilot Base TORRES PILOTS CAIRNS Email: cairnsoperations@torrespilots.com.au PILOT BOARDING HYDROGRAPHERS PASSAGE (at Blossom Bank) After ordering pilot with Brisbane Operations, ETA updates at 72 / 48 / 24 / 12 / 6 hrs should be sent to Brisbane Operations and copied to Mackay Pilot Base TORRES PILOTS MACKAY Email: operations@flyon.com.au 5 6
REEFVTS REEFVTS REPORTING CHARTLET MANDATORY SHIP REPORTING SYSTEM Ships transiting through the Great Barrier Reef and the Torres Strait must report to the REEFVTS. A full summary of the reporting requirements can be found in the Great Barrier Reef & Torres Strait Vessel Traffic Service (REEFVTS) User Manual A copy of this user manual can be obtained from AMSA and Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) or from the internet at https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/- /media/msqinternet/msqfiles/home/shipping/reefvts/reefuser-guide-2017 PRE-ENTRY REPORT Ships must provide a Pre-Entry Report at least one (1) hours prior to entering the REEFVTS area. REEFVTS CONTACT DETAILS Phone: +61 1300 721 293 Fax: +61 7 47 210 633 *courtesy of ReefVTS Pilot launch Alpha 7 8
TORRES STRAIT AND GREAT NORTH EAST CHANNEL CHARTLET LOCATION OF PILOT BOARDING GROUNDS 9 10
HYDROGRAPHERS PASSAGE CHARTLET 11 12
TORRES STRAIT DRAFT RESTRICTIONS The two (2) tidally restricted, and therefore controlling, areas for transiting Torres Strait, the Inner Route and the Great North East Channel (GNEC), are Varzin Passage and The Prince of Wales (POW) Channel. Utilisation of daily tide rises enables the Service to pilot vessels through these areas with a maximum sailing draft not exceeding 12.2 metres. Minimum under keel clearances (UKC) required are as follows:- Draft Varzin Passage POW Channel 11.9m or less 1.0m 1.0m over 11.9m 1.0m 10% of draft The 12.2 metre draft limitation applies from Booby Island to Cairns in the Inner Route and from Booby Island to Dalrymple Island in the GNEC. Vessels over 10.5 metres are advised of the safe tidal windows after ordering the pilot. Torres Strait tide gauges are transmitted via a 24 hour broadcast. All stations broadcast on the one frequency VHF Marine Channel 68 (156.425 MHz). The tide heights are broadcast in the sequence: Booby Island Goods Island Turtle Head (Hammond Island) Ince Point (Wednesday Island) Nardana Patches DRAFT RESTRICTIONS (cont) HAY POINT / DALRYMPLE BAY & ABBOT POINT The maximum draft between Central Queensland Ports and Hydrographers, Palm or Grafton Passages is limited only by the permissible draft at the loading port. UKCM Torres Pilots is using AMSA-approved UKCM transit plans for Torres Strait using the AMSA UKCM system. The system was developed by the world leader, OMC International. Our transit plans will more accurately calculate tidal windows, UKCs and optimize vessel speeds whilst allowing for squat, pitch, roll and met-ocean conditions (wind, tidal flow and wave sensors) effecting deep draft vessels transiting Torres Strait. The UKCM system allows Torres Pilots and vessel operators to plan and monitor the safe and efficient passage of deep draft vessels transiting Torres Strait. The AMSA UKCM system has been mandatory from 1st January, 2014. TP Pilots will assist Masters with use of the new UKCM system. VOYAGE PLANNING Standard Passage Plans (SPP), are supplied to vessels by Torres Pilots operations after the Master has indicated the intended draft and ETA but prior to pilot boarding. The pilot will conduct a briefing and confirm with the Master the SPP, complete with off course limits, hazard identification, risk management and way points consistent with AMSA s Further information on draft limitations and UKC may be found in Annual Australian Notice to Mariners No.23 published by the Hydrographic Service RAN. Pilot launch John Francis 13 14
CARRIAGE OF PAPER CHARTS COASTAL DISTANCES Moderate Draft AMSA expects all vessels navigating in the GBR and Torres Strait, which are subject to SOLAS Chapter V, and which are relying on paper charts, to carry a complete folio of fully corrected paper charts for the areas visited. In particular, the correct large scale charts should be available such that pilotage is always conducted on the best scale chart available. For ships operating with an approved ECDIS system, the corresponding chart permits and updates should be available. Vessels navigating inside compulsory pilotage area shall carry on board the following Australian charts: Outer Route: Great North East Channel Aus 292 Aus 293 Aus 296 Aus 376 Aus 377 Aus 839 Aus 840 Inner Route: Torres Strait to Cairns Aus 270 Aus 281 Aus 292 Aus 700 Aus 293 Aus 296 Aus 830 Aus 831 Aus 832 Aus 833 Aus 834 Aus 835 Aus 839 Hydrographers Passage Aus 821 Aus 823 Aus 824 Vessels intending to employ ECDIS to meet the chart carriage requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter V (i.e. not carrying a full folio of paper charts) must conform to the relevant performance standards of the IMO specified in Resolution A.817(19) including back-up arrangements. Such vessels must have loaded the official ENCs for the voyage. Official ENCs are those produced by a recognised authority such as a national Hydrographic Office. Commercially produced ENCs may not meet the IMO carriage requirements. Further information can be obtained from AMSA Marine Notice 15/2010 and its associated information sheet. Pilots will expect Masters and mates of ECDIS vessel (no paper charts) to demonstrate that they can safely operate the equipment. Port Kembla Port Kembla 1787 1770 1388 1280 1276 1221 1174 1179 1132 1050 1015 944 939 784 747 700 508 105 43 32 Botany Bay 1756 1739 1360 1251 1245 1190 1143 1148 1100 1019 984 915 910 753 716 669 478 73 11 Sydney 1747 1730 1351 1240 1236 1181 1134 1139 1092 1010 975 906 906 744 707 660 468 62 Newcastle 1692 1675 1296 1185 1181 1126 1079 1084 1037 955 920 851 846 689 652 604 418 Point Cartwright 1285 1268 889 780 774 719 672 675 631 548 511 445 440 283 244 198 Bundaberg 1134 1117 738 632 623 573 521 521 475 397 362 292 288 199 79 Gladstone 1059 1042 661 551 546 493 446 448 404 322 287 218 210 44 Port Alma 1026 1009 630 521 515 459 413 414 370 289 254 185 177 Hay Point 864 847 468 358 353 297 251 253 209 127 122 12 Mackay 859 842 462 353 347 294 246 246 205 122 121 Hydrographers Passage 934 917 547 425 371 321 279 199 Abbot Point 738 721 347 235 230 177 127 125 86 Townsville 670 653 274 164 159 105 54 68 Palm Passage 652 635 261 143 91 46 Lucinda 617 600 226 114 110 57 Mourilyan 567 550 170 60 55 Cairns 514 497 116 28 Euston Reef 534 517 138 Cape Flattery 398 381 Goods Island 17 Botany Bay Sydney Newcastle Point Cartwright Bundaberg Gladstone Port Alma Hay Point Mackay Hydrographers Passage Abbot Point Townsville Palm Passage Lucinda Mourilyan Cairns Euston Reef Cape Flattery Goods Island Booby Island 15 16
SUNDRY DISTANCES PILOT TO PILOT Distances from Booby Island Amamapare 555 Panama (Balboa) * 8491 Jakarta 2132 Paradip 4067 Gebe Island 1076 Port Moresby * 344 Gove 334 Singapore 2506 Groote Eylandt 391 Suez 7309 Hong Kong 2739 Suva * 3266 Kaohsiung 2558 Darwin 717 Kobe 3132 Daru 148 Manila 2192 Umuda * 195 Melbourne 2273 Visakhapatnam 4075 Noumea * 1713 Yokohama 3226 * Via Great North East Channel Distances from Booby Island to N.Z. Ports Auckland via Cairns Fairway 2495 via GNEC 2571 SUNDRY DISTANCES (cont) PILOT TO PILOT Distances from Booby Island to Australian Ports via Great North East Channel & Outer Route Abbot Point 887 via Palm Passage Brisbane 1445 - Cairns Fairway 689 via Grafton Passage Gladstone 1349 via Capricorn Passage Hay Point 1015 via Palm Passage Lucinda 775 via Grafton Passage Mackay 1009 via Palm Passage Melbourne 2290 - Mourilyan 721 via Grafton Passage Newcastle 1858 - Port Kembla 1944 - Sydney 1913 - Townsville 930 via Palm Passage Note: Distance from Booby Island to Hydrographers Passage (Blossom Bank PBG) via the GNEC & recommended Outer Route is 992nm. Lyttelton via Cairns Fairway 2779 via GNEC 2933 Nelson via Cairns Fairway 2576 via GNEC 2730 New Plymouth via Cairns Fairway 2428 via GNEC 2582 Tauranga via Cairns Fairway 2573 via GNEC 2641 Distances from Hay Point To Jomard Entrance via Hydrographers Passage 643 To Rossel Island Via Hydrographers Passage 675 via Palm Passage 790 via Palm Passage 905 via Grafton Passage 834 via Grafton Passage 949 via Capricorn Channel 964 via Capricorn Channel 909 Wellington via Cairns Fairway 2604 via GNEC 2754 Whangarei via Cairns Fairway 2436 via GNEC 2528 17 18