Shipping

Pilotage

All ships that are 50m or more, proceeding within a Queensland pilotage area, must carry a licensed marine pilot or be under the command of a master who holds a pilotage exemption certificate for the area. The Transport Legislation (Port Pilotage and Document Verification) Amendment Act 2013 makes legislative amendments to transfer the responsibility for pilotage services from Maritime Safety Queensland to port authorities designated as responsible pilotage entities for compulsory pilotage areas, except in Brisbane, Southport and Abbot Point, effective from 2 November 2013.

Ship movements, plans and procedures

  • Regions—find out more about shipping in these regions:
  • Passage plans for Queensland ports
  • Port procedures
    Port procedures manuals outline the procedures to be followed in each port in Queensland.
  • Shipping movements in Queensland
    View information about current shipping movements in Queensland ports—ships in a particular port, movements in the port yesterday, today and tomorrow, and monthly statistics on shipping activities.
  • Ship navigation areas
    Interaction between large ships and small craft is rapidly increasing in Queensland coastal waters. Skippers of small vessels should, where possible, keep clear of ship navigation areas such as:
    • major shipping routes
    • pilot boarding grounds
    • anchorages
    • channels
    • swing basins
    • berths.

Vessel traffic services

  • Vessel traffic services
    Vessel traffic services (VTS) are recognised internationally as an aid for safe and efficient movement of vessels. Maritime Safety Queensland is the VTS Authority for VTS in Queensland.
  • REEFVTS
    REEFVTS is a 24-hour coastal vessel traffic service which has been put in place by the Australian and Queensland Governments to improve navigational safety and minimise the risk of a maritime accident in the Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef areas.
Last updated
29 June 2023