Port procedures and information for shipping manuals
The state of Queensland has 24 pilotage areas described in schedule 5 of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2004. In these areas, the regional harbour master has the authority to direct the master of a ship to navigate or operate a ship in a prescribed way.
There are 21 compulsory pilotage areas described in schedule 6 of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation where a person must not navigate a ship unless the person uses the services of a pilot.
Each pilotage area has a port procedures and information for shipping manual that defines the standard procedures to be followed in the pilotage area of the port. It contains information and guidelines to assist ships' masters, owners and agents of vessels arriving at and traversing the area. The manual provides details of services, regulations and procedures to be observed.
Mandatory sections of the port procedures and information for shipping manuals are subject to regional harbour master directions under section 86 of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994. It is an offence not to comply with regional harbour master directions without a reasonable excuse. A copy of the regional harbour master direction for each port is available before the table of contents in the relevant manual.
The manuals currently available are:
For information on other ports, contact the nearest Maritime Safety Queensland regional office.
